I have just posted dates for trips on the Godive web site through to April 2012. Dates include Waitangi weekend and Easter, which I hope to keep clear of group bookings, so our growing number of club members can get together at the Lodge for some exploration dives,

Bruce Curlow and Fraser turner both club members from Christchurch have just put their new Senator boat into survey and are running trips out from Banks Peninsula and Motunau Island. They only need four to run a trip and their rates are very reasonable when compared to other operators in Christchurch, they will also run trips to where you want to go, so if you have three mates that want to head out for a days diving then these are the guys to contact. I hope to have some more information, images and rates on their trips very soon, but in the mean time if you want to organize a trip to collect a few crays for Christmas etc, get in touch with me.

Looking up though the Bolshoi lounge in the Lermontov, photo thanks of Gerald V

I have been pretty busy over at the Lodge lately, just returning from a 6 day trip. The visibility is dropping a bit on the wreck but still a respectable 8 to 10 metres, Fraser Turner just completed his Advanced Wreck course with me over the later part of this trip, while some of the others got to explore areas like the restaurant etc.

The weekend weather is looking pretty good and with it being Christchurch Show weekend, Picton is very busy. Oceanz is also running up in Tauranga, this is the first time NZ has had a dive show for quite some time, so hopefully is will become a regular event.

safe diving

Brent

One of the challenges of operating in such a remote environment as Go Dive does in Port Gore, is keeping the machinery up to a reliable standard of maintenance. The salt water environment is naturally harsh and machinery maintenance is paramount to a reliable operation. What would normally be a simple repair such as a puncture or replacing brake pads, can turn into a major and expensive task.

Adrian from Tractor Spares & Repairs sorts out Fergy

Normally a major repair, like a tractor clutch replacement would be done in a well tooled, well staffed workshop. Fortunately Port Gore isn’t one of those places, thus it’s main appeal, unfortunately when things go wrong you need to deal with it the best you can. This proved to be the case recently when Fergy our tractor decided to spit the dummy big time and demand a new starter motor, a new water pump, a new trust bearing and to top it off, decided that it would only steer in straight line. All these issues happened one after another, as I had several attempts to get the beast back to Blenheim by road to Tractor Repairs and Spares in Renwick to sort out the dickey thrust bearing and clutch. Finally we decided to do the major job of splitting the tractor in half on-site. Surprisingly a job that was much easier than first thought, due to the experience and service Adrian from Tractor Spares brought with him.

Mikhail Lermontov prop

Other than the issues Fergy has presented me, we have just run a series of very successful trips over the last few weeks. In fact last weekend, which was a mainly all club member weekend, we experienced the best visibility I have seen on the wreck for over three years. Michael Keller from Christchurch completed his TDI Adv Nitrox and Deco Procedures course with Go Dive over an extended 5 day period, doing 10 dives on twins and slinging deco gas. The visibility was such on the Lermontov, that on some days you could see bow to bridge, thats well over 20m.

Next week sees Go Dive heading into our busiest November yet, with nearly back to back trips right through to December, we have a new compressor and huge air storage set up now at the Lodge and are looking forward to the settled weather Nov offers. There is still the odd day left unbooked, with space over Christchurch Show weekend still available.

Although I might be a bit busy to write regular Blogs over the next few months, I will still try to stay in touch with club members via TXT and email, for visitors I will be able to answer your messages and emails most evenings from our new improved cell coverage service in Port Gore. Tania and Sarah will be monitoring the phones during the day, for course, local and Lermontov trips.

Have a great summer.

safe diving

Brent

Although we have had a mild, dry winter it has been pretty quite on the diving front. I think due to a combination of visitors delaying their trip to NZ until the Rugby World Cup, the Christchurch Earthquake and a slow economy.

However it looks like that is all to change from next weekend on. Go Dive has groups booked into the Lermontov Dive Lodge nearly every weekend through to the end of November, along with quite a number of mid week groups.  I have a EANx course on the 23/24th Sep while at the Lodge and an Advanced Wreck course early November, so if your looking to develop your dive skills and knowledge give me a call, there is still a limited amount of space on both these courses.

Not all these weekends are booked by groups and I have saved a few for club members, Labour weekend being one of these weekends which is open to everyone. October is generally a great time visibility wise on the wreck so a good chance to come along and enjoy some good company and good diving. You can book on this trip by calling me on 0800GODIVE of email info@godive.co.nz

Road sign at the head of the Keneperu Sound about 20 minutes past the Portage Hotel, follow the road to Titrangi, this leads to Go Dives Lermontov Lodge 

A major development this summer is that we will no longer have a Dive Shop in Picton. I have decided to focus solely on trips and training, Go Dive will no longer retail dive kit through a shop, but will still be able to access brands such as Halcyon, Shearwater, Apeks, Tusa, Pro-Dive and Cressi for those who are looking for new kit. The fact that I will no longer have very large overheads with leases, wages etc, means that I will be able to sell equipment at very good prices, so if your looking to save some money and get quality kit, you know who to call.

Local trips, air-fills, equipment servicing, club dives and training will still be available through Picton, with Nine helping out with the trips using his boat. I will also expand the options for club dives to include dives outside the Marlborough area.

It’s going to be a great summer, so shake the dust of that dive kit, get it checked and get ready to splash.

safe diving

Brent

Sorry to all the regular Go Dive Blog readers, it’s Been a while since I last blogged. However this is not due to there being nothing to report, but more due to not having enough time.

The last three weekends have been spent over at the Lodge, the  weekend before last was a Dive Club Marlborough 3 day trip where we explored a few new dive areas, as well as diving the Lermontov. Titi Island was one of the new areas, this small island is 20 minutes from the Lodge heading in North Westerly direction, due to it’s off shore location it is blessed with reasonably clear water and plenty of bio diversity. Guy, Warren, Katie and Thomas found a real nice wall which was covered in invertebrate life of all forms and colours, unfortunately no one took a photo to show. We also dived inside Alligator head in search of crays, but unfortunately come up a bit short, however the abundant Blue Cod fishing made up for that and we feasted on a meal of Blue Cod and marinated mussels fresh from the sea that night.

Last weekend I hosted a group from NZ Sea Adventures from Wellington, the group consisted of rebeather divers, twin cylinders divers and recreational single cylinders divers. Paul Trainor a regular Go Dive client come over as guide as well to help with showing some of the group around the more technical dives on the wreck. The vis wasn’t crash hot on the wreck, but those who visited the engine room with Paul were blown away by the sheer size of the room and the clear water it offered.

SCALLOP AND KAIKOURA DIVE WEEKENDS

After talking to a few club members I have scheduled a number of dates where we can focus on dives based a little closer to home than Port Gore. The first one is a weekend on Saturday the 24th and Sunday 25th of July based in Picton where we will be running scallop dives.The plan with this trip is to base everyone at Parkland’s camping ground and organize a social evening on the Saturday night along with a scallop cook-up.

NOT LONG NOW TO THE SCOLLY SEASON OPENS

The second trip is scheduled for Saturday the 10th and Sunday 11th in Kaikoura. In September Kaikoura often gets a  strong upwelling which brings in very clear water, it is hoped we can coincide the club trip to take advantage of this clear water. Again the plan is to book a Lodge or cabins so we can enjoy each others company on the Saturday night, only this time with a Crayfish cook-up. The plan with this trip is to make it shore based diving so the cost can be kept down.

Strong interest has been shown in both trips and I am confident that they we will get good numbers and have a damn good time. If your keen on one or both of these trips let me know, non divers are more than welcome and there is no limit on numbers for the Kaikoura trip, but subject to boat space on the Picton weekend. I have yet to finalize the accommodation in Kaikoura so not to sure of the cost, but it won’t be to much. The Picton weekend will be $225.00pp for the two days diving plus accommodation costs of approx $60.00 for two nights. (Trip costs subject to getting 6 divers or more on each weekend)

Thanks for those who dived with Go Dive over the last few weeks and I look forward to catching up with you on the Scallop or Kaikoura weekends.

safe diving

Brent

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