It’s been a while since my last blog, sorry about that all you dedicated bloggers. Reason being I have been a bit crook so not up to doing to much, especially diving.

Good news is that its nearly Spring, the daffodils are out and things are looking pretty damn good for the coming summer. I have just listed a job vacancy on the PADI web site and have been wading through dozens of email replies to the position. If your a PADI instructor looking for work then get in touch if your up for a summer of action in Picton.

FUNNEL OF THE MIKHAIL LERMONTOV

Our Poor Knights trip is all go for next weekend, really looking forward to that, especially doing a  few sea caves up their with Jamie Obern who has just returned from France where he got his Cave Diving Instructor rating. The week after were out to the Lodge with the Dive Shack for 4 days from the 9th to the 12th, they have had a couple just pull out from this trip, so if your keen for a few days out at the Lodge, diving the Lermontov during the clear water season let me know.

I have just landed the first shipment of Apeks regulators, which are technical divers regulator of choice. I have both the XTX100 for $1095.00 and the DS4 with XTX 40 second stage $795.00 available, both in 300 bar DIN. All with full warranty. These are pretty hot prices if you compare to what they cost in local dive shops and very comparable to what you might pay on the net by the time you land them in NZ, but with full warranty and back up service from a qualified technician.

Those who are members of the club will have just received the Spring Newsletter, which outlines the new developments at Port Gore, including the permanent basing of the boat out their and Tomo being permanent staff at the Lodge from October. Tomo will be running the Lodge for the summer including handling casual air fills for visiting divers and boats, plus providing meals and entertainment for guests at the Lodge. If your keen on a few days in one of New Zealand’s most remote and beautiful places then the Lodge is available for casual bookings from October on.

This weekend is looking bit average with northerly weather system looming, the boat is out of the water for a bit of pre season TLC, so no diving for us in Picton until the next Lodge trip.

Have a good weekend and dive safe if your going for a splash.

cheers

Brent

Gale force winds, rain and snow to 400m, not the sort of forecast you like to hear when you have a planned weekend away diivng. However if its one thing I have learned over the years, I have to have confidence in the very reason why I set up a dive operation in Marlborough, "you can always get a good dive in, no matter what the weather"

With a full boat load of club members making up the weekends group we headed out on Saturday to East Bay where we planned to check out the scallop population. We were rewarded with visibility in excess of 15 to 20 metres and nearly the boat limit of scallops after the very first dive. The scallops seem to be as abundant as ever and in very good shape for this time of year.

MARLBOROUGH SCALLOPS YUM (Great in a white wine and garlic sauce)

Sunday dawned clear, calm and sunny, I decided to head out to a site I seldom dive due to its location and need for experienced well kitted out divers. Surprisingly we discovered a highly populated bed of scallops, again in very good condition and very large for the area. Also, in residence were Southern Pig fish and Carpet sharks, along with some huge Sand anemones and Tube worms, ideal for close-up and macro photography.

We played out the final scenario for Tomo’s and Hamish’s PADI Rescue course after the first dive, by springing on them a realistic dive accident scenario. Katie joined the 40m club on the last dive, along with completing her PADI EANx course over the weekend.

HAMISH TENDS TO TWO DOWNED DIVERS DURING HIS AND TOMO’S RESCUE TRAINING

Overall it was a very pleasant weekend with a very good group of keen and enthusiastic divers. Congrats to Hamish, Tomo and Katie who finished off of their rescue and Nitrox courses. Also thanks to Warren who acted the perfect victim in the rescue scenario and Guy his dive buddy.

Next weekends Lodge trip is now full, with the long range forecast now looking good, I am looking forward to getting back out to the Lermontov and experiencing the good visibility.

safe diving

Brent