Some girls wear dresses, but real girls wear a wing. After untold years of diving in a jacket style BCD, Andrea has been introduced to the freedom of diving in a harness and wing. In this case a Dive-rite Transpac and REC Wing, these units are REAL nice and even better priced below that of a jacket style BCD.

Andrea gives her Wing a loving hug.

This is the weekend to head out for a dive, the forecast is as good as it gets,  with excellent dive conditions all round.

We have just returned from a great days diving on Cape Jackson, have a look at the following photos for evidence of spectacular conditions.

At the site of the Lastingham wreck, looking down Port Gore to the site of the Lermontov Wreck.

Cape Jackson light house as calm as it gets, notice the upwelling current on the surface. This is where the Lermontov struck bottom.

Divers on their way down to check out the wreck of the Rangitoto.

Vis is good, surface conditions are good and Christmas is just around the corner, it doesn’t get better than this.

Have a great weekends diving.

Brent

Congratulations to William Kirtlink on completing his PADI Open water course with Andrea and Go Dive Marlborough. William enrolled on a Discover Scuba Diving experience with Go Dive and loved it that much he enrolled straight on to the Open-water course.

Mug shot of William, look out for him at your local dive spot in his new Cressi kit, he’s a keen man

 Also congrat’s to Stefan Kahlert on the completion of his PADI Advanced Open-water course with Brent and Nine. Stefan, spent three days with Go Dive doing Deep, Navigation, Wreck, Boat and Digi Photo dives. Unfortuanetly we couldn’t get Stefan out to the Lermontov for a dive, next time Stefan.

Stefan at the Fish Reserve being attacked by hungry blue cod. Just as well he had 10 fingers to start with.

Thanks to William and Stefan for training with Go Dive Marlborough and safe diving.

Brent

On the Sunday before last it was blowing 50 knots from the North and the Sunday after it blew 50 knots again from the North, in between however the weather was great and our first SOD trip went off with out a hitch.

SOME OF THE KIT LINED UP READY TO DIVE

For those not in the know, SOD’s stands for Southern Oceans Diving Society, a group of diving enthusiasts from around the country that keep in contact through their internet forum and regular diving expeditions.

Rob Edwards and Sel Davis ex mainland dwellers now immigrated to Wellington, Phil Atkinson, Karen McIver, John Lee, Karen Anderson, Christian Blascltke (the mad dentist) and Greg Wilson from Auckland, joined up at Go Dive Marlborough early Sunday evening, ready to head out on Topaz for a 5 day live aboard charter to the Lermontov.

CHRISTAIN THE MAD DENTIST

As we headed out into the tail end of a Northerly weather system and torrentail rain, we opted for a Monday scallop dive and a reef dive at Motuara Island, both proving to be good shake down dives and an opportunity to set up twin systems, and for the loan Breather diver to see if his Inspo still worked.

Monday night saw a torch off with the boys trying to out shine each other with their home made and very expensive production HID and LED torches, it seemed the home made job out-shone them all, but one of them unfortuanetly wasn’t to water proof when submerged.

TOPAZ AT ANCHOR IN MELVILE COVE PORT GORE

The next 3 days were spent exploring the Lermontov with nearly perfect weather, Christain and Phil ventured into the Leningrad Restaurant while others visited the engine room, bars etc. The final two days were spent diving the wreck of the Lastingham and Waihi Point.

Overall it was a very successful trip, with the wreck diving supplemented by a number of feeds of Port Gore Scallops and fresh blue cod courtesy of John and his fishing rod.

Thanks to all the SOD’s members, especially Rob the organiser and look forward to seeing you again soon.

Brent

It was a busy week last week for training at Go Dive Marlborough.

DIVERS GETTING READY FOR ANOTHER DIVE

Ten Americans that had wintered over at the South Pole had too much time on their hands and decided they would learn to dive on their way home.

They chartered EJ and Phoenix from Compass Charters and took to the water with an instructor on board. Five Open Water and two Advanced Open Water divers was the result after a week at sea around Queen Charlotte Sound.

The first day was spent in the pool in Blenheim. Then it was on to confined open water and eventually open water. Classroom work was done aboard on a day by day basis.

The group had everything the ‘Sounds could throw at it. Hot and calm with blue sky (read sunburn), through to 50 knot westerlies on the mooring at Furneaux, and everything in between.

JAMES WITH HIS NEW VIDEO SETUP

The students trained in the relaxed environment of their own boats with plenty of time for the lessons. After being locked up at the Pole for nine months they had a lot of partying to catch up on… Furneaux lodge and Lochmara lodge were popular stop overs!

RELAXING AFTER A HARD DAY WITH A BEER AND BOOK

Once finally qualified, diving for scallops and pulling mussels off the moorings added to the tons of food on board.

Congratulations to Jason, James, Josiah, Jeff, Mandi, Andy and Todd on their new diving qualifications.

A huge thanks to Guy, Nine and Andrea, Go Dive Marlborough instructing staff, for there excellent job in taking the group for their PADI courses and and a big thanks to the group for diving with Go Dive..

Report written by Guy, photos by Josiah. 

Currently there is a New Zealand shortage of Faber Steel cylinders with none expected in to the country by Christmas.

Faber is the accepted standard steel cylinder world wide and Dive Marlborough has a limited stock of 12 litre standard and dumpy cylinders in stock.

We are selling them for $599.00 with DIN valve, this is at least $100.00 under normal suggested retail so first in first served.

Hi…summer has arrive with a vengeance with courses and  charters coming from all directions. Due to time on the water and no time at all on the computer, I have no time to give a full report of what has gone on this week.

However keep an eye out for reports over the following week on the following:

SOD’s 5 day charter to the Lermontov.

Guys course from the South Pole.

Andrea’s first Open Water course.

As a very brief dive report, vis is down to 6 metres on the Lerm, 10 metres at Waihi Point, with a deteriorating northerly weather pattern threatening to stuff up our Outer Sounds diving again this weekend.

cheers Brent

Hi…just a quick update of this weekends conditions.

Visibility is pretty good, with 6 to 8 meters on the wreck of the Koi and the same around Long island and the Outer Sounds. With the strong Northerly we haven’t been out to the Lermontov this weekend, but have 5 days out there starting this Monday so will let you know what it is like next Friday.

The water temp is really warming up, with it being recorded at 16/17 degrees on the surface in the Inner Sounds.

Welcome to new club members Glen, Rob and Andy, and congratulations on catching your first cray yesterday Glen. 

 Big Northerly today with it predicted to go to 50 knts tonite so stay in the Inner Sounds. 

Safe Diving

Brent

With the weather being a bit unpredictable over the past 4 weeks, we were hoping to score a good one this weekend. Luckily the weather gods were smiling on us and just as well as we ventured out with 4 full boats of keen wreck divers hoping for a look at the Mikhail Lermontov.

GO DIVE MARLBOROUGH GUIDES NINE AND ANDREA WITH WATERWORLD EXPEDITION DIVERS FROM ESTONIA

Paul and his group from Underwater Sports in Christchurch and  a group from Nelson Underwater Club ventured out in near perfect conditions on Saturday. Enjoying an early 7.30 start they landed above the Lerm at around 10am and kitted up for the first of their three dives. It was the first time for most of the group on the Lermontov, with the wreck living up to their expectations. Visibility varied between 6 to 10 meters, with it being much better inside for those who were prepared for penetration.

On Sunday Paul and his group enjoyed another early start and headed out again for the day. Followed closely by a large group from Estonia fresh from a 5 day charter at the Poor Knights. The weather unfortunately contrary to the forecast was overcast and a slight Northerly building up throughout the day. However surface conditions were still good on the wreck with dive guide Guy mentioning the visibility being up to 15 to 20 meters in places. The trip back got a bit hairy for a time as the boat rounded Cape Jackson, this is where tide meets swell and it can be a bit nasty, it is also the place where the pilot of the Lermontov made his fateful error of judgement hitting the rocks between the Cape and Lighthouse.

The Underwater Sports group dropped in for a Scallop dive on their way in from the wreck, and also a look at the wreck of the Koi, a nice way to finish off a good weekends diving by taking home a feed of fresh shell fish for the family.

SKIPPER TANIA WITH UNDERWATER SPORTS DIVERS

A big thanks to all the groups and especially the dive guides and skippers. Paul from Underwater Sports is keen on making the Lermontov weekends a regular event, so if you are living in the Christchurch area and keen on visiting this world class wreck drop into Paul at his shop in Tuam street for a chat.

Brent 

Go Dive Marlborough

Things have got a bit hectic lately and I have haven’t posted a dive report for a while. This weekend we are exceptionally busy with trips to the Lermontov and we are being treated to some really nice surface conditions for a change. 

Visibility on the Lermontov is steady at around 8 metres with it much better inside. Visibility in the Inner Sounds is around 4 to 6 metres and likely to stay like this as the water warms up and the alga blooms.

Surface conditions on Cape Jackson today are reasonable with a moderate Northerly and slightly choppy surface, On the Lerm the wind is approx 5 knots and calm surface. 

Wind is expected to get up to 25knts tonite so Saturday and Sunday are the days to venture out further.

Safe diving

Brent