Winter brings marine mammals into the Inner Sounds in Marlborough. Bottle Nose dolphins and NZ Fur seals, pretty much become residents over these months and can be seen on a daily bases.

 Over the last week a group of 20 odd seals have made the entrance to the Waikawa Marina home, and can be seen frolicking and sleeping close into the breakwater. Close by to the entrance to the marina is a small beach where we run some of our open water dives. Recently the seals have been spending time with us during these dives, coming within touching distance. The NZ Fur Seal would have to be one of the most entertaining marine mammals to dive or swim with. If you get the opportunity don’t pass it up and make sure you have your camera with you.

 We have been fortunate so far in NZ to have had a pretty mild winter, with regional records being set on low rain and warm temperatures. Unfortunately, this seems to have come to an end with a cold snap now passing over the country, good for the snow bunnies I suppose. I am off to the Cooks Islands to run a IDC for Dive Rarotonga, there are a few spots on the course so if you are in the area and want to do your PADI OWSI I am sure Ed of Dive Raro would give you a super good deal. Email him at info@diverarotonga.com

Welcome to Dive Marlborough’s journal page. We hope to keep you informed of what we are up to and what is happening on the dive scene in our area on a regular bases. It’s pretty much in the middle of the winter in New Zealand; however that doesn’t stop us from enjoying some good diving. It helps if you have a dry suit of course, but the visibility is great at this time of year with heaps of dolphins and seals seen of a daily bases.Congratulations to Selina Davis, Rob Edward and Greg Powell, whom have just completed their PADI Rescue and EANx course with Dive Marlborough. The two courses were run consecutively over a 6 day period. All three excelled in both practical and knowledge development phases of the courses. Sel and Greg also took the opportunity to complete orientation dives in their new dry suits. Keep an eye on this page, we will have some interesting developments over the next few months; including a new live-aboard vessel adapted specially for recreational and technical divers, this will be the only one of its kind in NZ.