What a fantastic weekend, it might be the middle of winter and the water temp only 11.5, but the consolation is that the sea conditions can be calm and clear, with this past weekend being a very good example of that. It is very rare during the summer to get two days in a row with a forcast of, variable 10 knots, which basically is as good as the forcast gets. But during the winter due to less variation between seawater and land temperature the conditions are inevitably a lot calmer.

Guy, Georgie, Glen, Steve and Warren made the most of the diving conditions, with two dives on the Lermontov on Saturday, a dive on the Rangitoto and a final dive on Kokomohua Island on Sunday and not a breath of wind in between.

GUY ARRANGES HIMSELF READY FOR A DIVE ON THE RANGITOTO WHILE WARREN WAITS

Vis on the Lermy was up to 12 metres, which allowed us to have a very good look at areas like, the Prop, Funnel, Lifeboat Davits, Bridge, Pool and Mast, but as usual the Bolshoi Lounge took the prize for the most favorite spot to visit,(there is just something third world about the Bolshoi)

The trip back into Port for the evening was quite unusual as we encountered a fog bank that blanketed our entry into Queen Charlotte and was more usual to an early morning event. The next day, elated after watching the All Blacks go down to France,(time for a new coach) we headed out to the Cape for a dive on the Rangitoto. The Rangi sunk in 1873 fortunately without any loss of live, the fish life on this wreck has to be one of the main points of interest, with big schools of Taraiki, Moki and Butterfly Perch, this is  a really nice dive with plenty going on.

KOKOMAHUA ISLAND MARINE RESERVE

Last dive of the weekend, we headed over to Kokomohua Island which is the Northern most Island of the Long Island Marine Reserve, this is a very pretty spot which offers some good photographic opportunities. Warrens navigational skills were put to the test here, with interesting results and not to mention the inevitable remarks from you know who. 

WARREN, STEVE & GLEN. PHOTO BY YOU KNOW WHO……

Thanks Guy’s and girl for diving with Go Dive this last weekend. I’ll have to find a way of keeping you warm Georgie, so you can splash again on next months scallop dive.

Safe diving

Brent

August 8/9 has been set aside for a club weekend to the Lermontov Lodge. Plan is to head out 3pm Friday by van for those who can make it to Picton by then and for those who can’t we will head around in the boat early Saturday morning.

Included in the weekend will be meals, cylinders, diving on the Lerm and hopefully the Lastingham and Rangitoto,  a scallop dive and transport in and out. For this two day trip the cost will be only $330.00 or $300 for those who can’t make it in on Friday night.

Trip will be limited to 6 so let me know if your keen.

Also waiting on a cost from the Solomon Islands for our club trip to Tulagi July/August 2010. Included in this trip will be diving on the Aaron Ward the only diveable US capital warship out-side Bikini Atoll. I have been to the Solomons once before and it has to be the best coral, big fish and wreck diving I have done, out side Picton that is.

Cheers Brent

This past weekend Guy, Chrissie, Tania, Jack, Myself and Bill headed about as far north as you can drive in the South Island to trial run our live-a-shore option for diving the Mikhail Lermontov and other wrecks and reefs in the Port Gore, Cape Jackson area. Normally we access this world class wreck via our day boat from Picton or multi day live-a-board trips. However with increasing prices for boat charter and the lack of suitable vessels for big dive groups, I decided to look at alternatives.

View down into Port Gore from the Titirangi Saddle.

The Lermontov Lodge, named by Kevin Dekker who used to run trips from it during 2003/4 was built in 2001 and is only a very short 5 minute boat ride to the Mikhail Lermontov. The lodge is modern and unlike cramped live-a-boards is spacious, has endless hot running water and 230volt power. The Lodge has largely been unused since Kevin stopped doing his trips in 2004 and Go Dive have secured it for our multi-day tours for the future. It sleeps up to 12 people in comfort, has laundry facilities and a full size kitchen, no more cooking for 8 people on a two burner stove in a 1m x1m live-a-board galley.

Guy prepares his boat ready for a morning of fishing.

The road trip in takes around 2.5 hours from Picton, with some stunning scenery as it winds up the Keneperu Sound up over the saddle into Queen Charlotte Sound, the road then skirts around Endeavor Inlet to a height of 700 metres and over into Port Gore. I had my reservations about the quality of the road, but was pleasantly surprised as 1.5 hours of the trip in is sealed and then onto very well maintained metal surface, the last 15 minutes down to Lodge is steep but has a very good surface, easily accomplished in a two wheel drive vehicle.

Comfy and spacious Lermontov Lodge lounge

Once at the lodge it is only a short stroll down to the launching beach, where our tender will take guests out to our day boat, which will be moored in the bay. The huge advantage of the live-a-shore trips is that due to the speed of the day boat and preparation of meals on shore, the time spent diving can be increased and more dive sites can be accessed. It will also make it a fun experience for non-divers as they can walk, swim, snorkel or fish while the boat is out diving.

Launching the tender, the Lermontov is just past the Point on the left of the Picture

Trips will depart Picton early evening and with guests transported in by road, arriving at around 8am. The day boat will meet you early the next morning ready for your first taste of the Lermontov, we will come back to shore between dives for lunch, prepared by our shore based staff and out again in the afternoon for another dive or two. Depending on how keen you are and one whether you have enough bottom time left, a night dive or evening dive will also be available. Imagine that a night dive on the Lermontov.

On the last day you will be brought back to Picton by boat due to post dive altitude considerations. This way you will get to see the Sounds literally from top to bottom, first by road, then by boat.

Go Dive Marlborough’s day boat used for Live-a-shore Multi-day Port Gore trips.

Go Dive have 2, 3 and 4 day trips scheduled right through summer 2009/10, dates etc will be listed on our new web site page which will be added to www.godive.co.nz very soon.

In case you are wondering full gas blending/Nitrox facilities and compressor will be on site.

Dive Club Marlborough members will have access to a special rate and club only trips, the first of which will be within the next month or two. Let me know if you are keen and I will email you some info.

Two day trips $495.00 inclusive, meals, accommodation, cylinders, air, unlimited diving ex Picton.

Club members $395.00

cheers Brent

Dive Club Marlborough has just hit a mile stone this weekend, we now have 101 club members.

Once we move into our new location we will be increasing club activities and will have some pretty good things going on. Keep an eye on the club page by clicking Dive Club on our home page for upcoming events etc.

For those who are not members check the site out to find out why the club is so popular or give me a call on 0800 GODIVE

Safe diving

Brent

Dive Club Marlborough welcomes new  club members Steve and Georgie Walker, Ryan Winslade, Andrew Winslade and Mary Beech.

Its great having you in the club with us, I have enjoyed diving with you over the last couple of weekends and look forward to seeing you again soon.

Club membership is now just short of 100, watch out for the celebrations when we reach100, I will keep you posted on that one.

Safe diving

Brent