The Lermontov Lodge was put to the test this last weekend with a full complement of divers and staff. The dive group which come down from Auckland arrived late Thursday night and made the first half of the trip into the Portage Hotel where they stayed the first night, continuing their trip in the next day arriving in time for breakfast.

Unfortunately we couldn’t have experienced worse weather with a gale force South Easterly blowing all that day and into the next . However this didn’t discourage most from diving on the Mikhail Lermontov.

The Lodge come into its own when returning after each dive, with Go Dives staff having kept the place warm and prepared a hot home cooked meal. Cylinders were filled and gas blended while guests relaxed and warmed up with a hot shower.

During the course of the weekend, Karl and Dean completed their TDI Advanced Nitrox and Deco procedures course with me. Other than a few unplanned entanglements in DSMB lines and buoyancy issues, everything went according to plan. Congratulations guys on a job well done and thanks for training with Go Dive.

The vis on the Lermontov was quite poor for this time of year, but in places like the engine room it was crystal, with nearly everyone getting a guided tour through at some stage. Aaron and Hamish who were diving twins and slings spent every dive exploring inside the wreck.

Saturday was our best day weather wise and dive wise, we managed to get four dives in with the last being on our house scallop bed, and finishing the trip off with scollop’s cooked in cream, garlic and white wine that were only 2 hours out of the sea. A barbecue finished the meal off, followed by a game of cards and a few drinks. You simply can’t get better than that any where.

Thanks guys and girls for diving with Go Dive and putting up with New Zealand’s inclement weather. Also to Guy for doing such a great job with the meals and making sure the ferrying backwards and forwards to the mooring went smoothly, I simply could not have done it without you mate.

I look forward to catching up with you all again sometime in the near future.

Safe Diving

Brent

PS: The scallop hound is up next weekend so scollop’s beware.

What a week we have had, diving every day and experiencing fantastic visibility. 

Our new location is certainly proving popular, and to be honest I have been caught with my pants down on a number of occasions by having to turn visitors away for trips and courses. Fortunately Andrea is due back in two weeks from her winter escape in Aussie and Mike is all but finished his team teaching requirements prior to teaching solo.

Congratulations to Yolene Ors whom just finished her PADI openwater course today and Photo Adventure Dive with me, sorry Yolene we couldn’t take you right through the Advanced Openwater, but hope you get the opportunity to finish off up North. Maybe see you early October for our Lerm Lodge Trip.

YOLENE CHECKS OUT THE CHEEKY BLUE COD ON HER LAST PADI OPENWATER DIVE

 As mentioned earlier the visibility is fantastic at the moment, on the Koi it is the best I have seen and the first time I have been able to see the wreck stern to bow. By all accounts it is also great further out.

SEAHORSE ON KOI, PHOTO TAKEN BY YOLENE ON HER PHOTO ADVENTURE DIVE, NOT BAD A.

The weather is a bit blowy this weekend and Monday looks a wash out, this is typical for this time of year, but with the vis the way it is who cares. Next week we start our Lermontov Lodge trips which are proving extremely popular with only a few weekends left through to Jan 2010.

Have a blast if you are heading out this weekend for a splash and don’t measure how good the dive is by the amount of scalloys in your catch bag but by the amount of amazing critters you can see and how dive sites transform themselves when we are blessed with such good visibility.

Safe Diving

Brent

Congratulations to Rebbecca Scott, Mike Barton and Aaron Bolton, who all successfully completed their PADI Instructor Examinations this last weekend in Auckland after completing their 7 day PADI Instructor Development Training with Go Dive in Picton. This was the first complete PADI IDC run in Picton, it will become a regular event with candidates already booked onto our next instructor program.

MIKE, BECKY AND AARON AT THE END OF THEIR IDC IN PICTON

By all accounts they performed at the top end of the scale during all their presentations, a testament to their hard-work prior to the IDC and during it. Mike will join the Go Dive team, Aaron is co owner of the Dive Shack and Sterlings in Auckland two very popular Dive Centers and Becky who hails from Canterbury will be putting her skills to use during overseas travel.

All the best guys and girl as PADI Instructors.

Safe Diving

Brent

PADI Course Director

PS: Kai-Dive this weekend, still a few spots left.

Go Dive has a couple of really good deals this week, each special limited to two units only.

 Apollo 2 piece 7mm mens wetsuit

• Size L/4 and XL/6

These are current models, but I just don’t have room on my wetsuit racks to hang them.

• Normal recommended retail price $549.00
• Friday Special price $275.00 each

Dive Rite Duo Multi Gas wrist computer

These are great computers ideal for those who are keen on Enriched Air diving.

• Normal recommended retail price $1099
• Friday Special price $595.00 each 

Call free on 0800 GODIVE if your keen.

Info on both items can be found at www.splash.co.nz

cheers

Brent

Finally a good weekend, after a run of average weekends the one ahead looks good for diving in Marlborough. We have big high planted right over the South Island so it looks like light SE winds for the weekend with clear sky’s.

Due to our IDC this week we haven’t ventured to far this week, but the vis is pretty good in-close, around 8 meters on the Koi. Water temp is a bit chilly still and running around 12, but that will change pretty quickly with the warmer days ahead.

NOT LONG BEFORE WE WILL BE SUN BATHING BETWEEN DIVES AGAIN, ROLL ON SUMMER

It is only one week to go before our first club Kai-dive next Saturday and then underwater clean-up on the Sunday, still a few spots available and non club members get the Sundays dives at club price if you help with the first dive which is a clean-up dive.

The following week marks the official opening of our new shop in High Street Picton, so come in and check us out as well as the opening specials, also I will be more consistent with our Friday Specials and Dive Reports from now on, starting today.

Safe Diving

Brent

What a windy week it has been, not much hope of getting around the corner to the Mikhail Lermontov for a splash. Luckily I have kept myself amused while running our first course in our new shop, the PADI IDC or Instructor Development Course. The PADI IDC is the most respected dive instructor development process in the market today and one that other agencies attempt to emulate but don’t come close.

The process is intensive yet rewarding, not only focusing on how to teach the PADI system of dive education but overviewing the entire dive industry and how to become a valuable part of it.

GETTING READY FOR CONFINED WATER PRESENTATIONS

Tomorrow is the last day for the three candidates, Becky, Mike and Aaron, then its off to Auckland where they will be objectively evaluated by members of PADI AP at the Instructor Examination.

All three have performed above average during the IDC and I am confident they will do well as Open-water Scuba instructors and I wish them well in the future. 

Safe Diving

Brent