GUE
Its been a few weeks since I last posted a blog, which is a reflection on how busy we have been.
Over this time we have run a very successful Live-a-board trip to dive the Mikhail Lermontov and had Jamie Obern, Mel and his group of GUE/Halcyon divers down for a 4 day Live-a-shore last week. Although the visibility on the outside of the Lerm is at its summers worst, inside is spectacular. I laid a permanent line through the Leningrad Restaurant where the vis was as good as my light, this dive would have rated as one of my best dives
for a while. With an element of calculated risk, no light conditions, great visibility and heaps to find and see, my 3 dives through the restaurant certainly had me buzzing for a few days afterwards.
.gif)
Buoy on Lermontov Wreck
Even though the weather was at its worst on the first day of Jamie’s trip we still manged to dive, with the remaining three days being like a Mill Pond. The location of the Lodge really proves its worth when the weather is bad, there’s nothing like being able to get onto Terra Firma after a good dive, for a good meal, shower and to relax before heading out again, sure beats sitting on a cramped live-aboard that is being buffeted by the winds and has a noisy compressor rattling away disturbing your beauty sleep. Jamie’s group managed three dives on most days using their twins, with a good surface interval in between. I had a dive in the new Affinity Halcyon harness system which I think is a winner, ideal for warm and cold water diving and for those wanting a harness system that is robust and adaptable. Up to now the Dive Rite Transpac meet this market, I reckon the Affinity is a far better option than the Transpac and bound to sell well, even better it cost less.
This winter we will be making some improvements to the Lodge facilities, one of these will include the installation of a continuous blending Nitrox system to speed up the "between dives blending" and to maximize the O2 supply. October, early November are now nearly full with bookings, so if your keen on getting a group together or joining a scheduled trip, be in quick.
Quick calender
- Jan 18 & 29 Day trips to the Lerm
- Jan 20 Riwaka Cave trip
- Jan 22 to 25 4 Day Lermontov lodge Trip (Full)
- Jan 30/31st 2 Day Lermontov Lodge Trip (Full)
- Feb 2 day 6/7 2 Day Lermontov Lodge trip (3 spaces)
- Feb 12/14 3 Day Lermontov Lodge trip (Full)
- Feb 15,19,25th Day trips to the Lerm
- March 14 Riwaka Cave trip
- April 23/24/25th TDI Advanced Nitrox and Deco Procedures (2 spaces)
Safe diving
Brent
March 5th, 2010 at 11:10 am
Hi Brent,
How are you?
Well looking at that picture conjures up some great memories and makes me extremely jealous! What i would give to be in the sounds with water like that! Wow, what a dream! looks like great viz.
The Lermy is such a great dive, it leaves the rainbow warrior standing. I have recently been up to Scapa Flo in Scotland to dive the scuttled WW1 German wrecks, very similar and both world class cold water wreck diving, as I remember Brent, you know that wreck like the back of your hand too.
Sorry I never made it up to dive with you last time I was in NZ! Just was’nt possible in the end unfortunately.
Great to see your right into the tech as well, looks awesome!
Take care mate,
Matt.
March 8th, 2010 at 2:43 pm
Matthew…good to hear from you, sounds like your getting in some good dives in, over in the UK, I would love to dive Scapa and it is on my list. You will have to catch up next time you are in NZ and stay over at the Lerm Lodge, I can take you through the restaurant etc.