Go Dive Marlborough has just gained dealer status for the Sheawater Predator the new generation of dive computers. 

 Shearwater Research a Canadian based company have been around for a while now and by no means are a new comer to the market, their Pursuit computer has been around for quite some time. One of my on going quests is to search out and marry up easy use, reliable and intuitive kit based on the "KISS" principle and balance with quality training and exciting and challenging diving opportunities. It’s taken me a year or two to find a computer capable of meeting the expectations of club members, customers and the type of diving we are performing and have planned for the future.

The Shearwater Predator meets these demands, with its OLED color display that automatically adjusts intensity based on available light, and when values are not normal displays them in yellow or red, it  is energy efficient, suitable for OC and CCR use, has 5 open circuit gas pre switches for any mix of air, nitrox or helium and utilizes the Buhlmann ZHL-16C algorithm with gradient factors.

Shearwater offer a number of models, that can be upgraded using PIN upgrades and all utilize Bluetooth technology. The unit is also compatible with CCR’s has automatic "set point" switching, external PO2 monitoring, amongst many other features. The units come with dive log software, which is constantly evolving and down-loadable, a new version hitting the market today. 

Prices range from NZ$1795.00 for the PROT-SA OC Trimix unit to NZ$2995.00 for the PROCTE OC/CC Trimix unit with Fisher connector for external O2 monitoring. Given the features and down-loadable features, it allows OC divers to get the full benefit of a state of the art computer and upgrade as they move toward’s CCR diving with out having to purchase a new computer. You might find the old VR3 on the internet at discounted prices at the moment, and as my blog of a last week warns; reason being they are now old technology, absolute and being replaced by the VRX, so why by a Skoda when you can buy a Rolls.

safe diving

Brent

Go Dive

PS: Diving locally this Sunday if your in the area and up for a splash.

The internet is a powerful media and opens up the world for news, entertainment, advise and deals. I am the first one to admit that buying from the net can save a hell of a lot of your hard earned cash. But buyer be aware, for sometimes your purchases turn out not to be as good as you would have hoped.

As a diver, business owner and dive trainer, I pride myself on providing the best possible advise to my valued customers and have on many occasions pointed customers to the internet for sales. I have also seen a number of people get burnt from impulsive buying on the net or Trademe and can foresee an ever increasing number of net buyers getting their figures burnt in the future.

Here are a few buyer beware tips:

• Brands are continuously changing and those special deals on the net are generally because the product is out of production or have a high failure rate. Case in point, one well known brand of dive computers has a 60% failure rate.
• There has recently been a number of recalls for a number of high profile brand regulators and BCD’s, if you buy one from the net, forget about getting notified about these recalls or getting a local dive shop to fix the problem.
• As we should all know by now, if its seems to good to be true it generally is. Case in point a customer who brought a cheap Drysuit, it flooded on the first dive and is unrepairable due to very poor seal seaming.
• When it comes to getting that annual regulator service from your local dive shop, don’t expect them to be to sympathetic when charging you for the service if it was brought from the net, service kits can cost upward of $100.00, if you buy locally service parts can cost nothing in some cases. It doesn’t take to many years for your good deal to start costing you much more than expected.
• One well know brand of  BCD’s and Regulators has for some time been available at prices that shops can not compete with. Result, many shops have discontinued selling them and will not service them, and don’t blame the retailer for high margins, as in this case they are cheaper on the net than the retailer can get them from the local importer.

Yeah, this might sound like a bitch session from a  grumpy old dive shop owner with nothing better to do on a cold winters day. But facts are facts, if you buy a a high cost piece of kit off the net or Trademe like a BCD, Cylinder, Reg or Drysuit, expect it to bite you in the arse in the long run, and don’t get all upset if the price for airfills, dive trips or courses at your local dive shop go up, they have to make money somehow. 

As you have seen from my earlier blog on Apeks, Suunto and Scubapro, some of us are being pro active in trying to supply our local market with good quality kit at reasonable prices and then being able to follow it up with the service you need and would expect with life support equipment. Spending a bit more on that item of kit at your local shop, might just mean a hell of a lot bigger saving in the long run, it might even save your life.

Buy wisely.

safe diivng

Brent

Well another weekend is nearly on us. Weather this week has been again, very wet, but at least today the sun is shinning and warming things up. We have another team heading over to the Lodge for the long weekend, with a few doing their TDI Adv Nitrox and Deco procedures training.

Big development this week has been the setting up of direct imports of Apeks, Suunto and Scubapro dive kit. These brands are world reknown brands but expensive to buy through local dive shops. Bringing them in direct means Go Dive can now offer these brands at prices similar to what you can get them for on the internet, but without all the importing hassle and we can still offer a warranty and full after sales service. An example would be a local shop selling an Apeks XTX200 1st and 2nd stage for over NZ$2000.00, Go Dive will be selling them with an XTX Oci for around the $1450.00 mark. That’s nearly a $1000.00 saving  not bad a.

We will be building up our stocks soon, ready for summer, so get in touch with us now, if you are after a new regulator, computer or fins. I will be offering a special introductory price on some items if you order early, so watch this space, or contact us so we can put you can keep you up to date with emails etc.

safe diving

Brent

Last weekend we spent another perfect weekend over at the Lermontov Lodge diving the Lermontov with Paul Trainor and his group from Wellington. 

Also along was Arnaud Deboel, who had along his new Cressi Apnea freediving wetsuit that he had just brought from Go Dive. Scuba diving in a freediving suit is a relatively new idea in NZ, but common practice in Europe, I had my doubts about how warm the suit would be. Following is Arnuad’s review of his new suit.

“I was searching for a suit that I could use either for freedive , either for Scuba and I think I found it!

This wetsuit is amazing; it’s like a second skin. I was a little bit worried last weekend because it’s only a 5mm and I tried it for the first time on a Lermontov dive in a 12°C water but after a few seconds I felt even warmer than usual with a 7 mm suit. I could even took 3 Kg off my weightbelt and the freedom of movement is quite unusual.

Just have to be a little bit more careful when you put it on and when you take it off. The inside part is glued so it make it easier to tear”.

I was pleasantly surprised with how Arnaud found the suit so warm, especially given most his dives were at 30 meters which at 12 degrees would have been pretty nippy in a normal wetsuit. On the negative side and only if you are a rough bugger, the suit is prone to tearing if you do not soap when donning and be very careful when taking it off.

Another suit that we have just got into stock is the ladies MEDA’s this is a very smart 2 piece 7mm wetsuit that we had specially imported. We have had the mens MEDA’s in rental for over a year now and it has proving a very warm and robust suit. We have sold a number off the ladies suit all ready and at $550.00 are a good price.

Hi, just a quick up date to let you we have a few of the Facile suits left, make an offer if want one. The Cressi package posted on our last blog is still with us, so must have been to dear.  Meaning I have to reduce it more, give me a ring me on 0800 GODIVE and make me an offer if you are looking for new kit. Once kit is posted as a special it will be sold no matter what the price so there’s bound to be some real bargain’s come up, keep an eye out.

Next special will be on ladies ICE and LONTRA semi drys, list of sizes and price will be posted tomorrow.

Our PADI Open-water courses are looking good for both September and October, remember the free gift of a Cressi Mask and Snorkel, value $189.00 for bookings prior to November. Remember also all our course dives are done from one of our boats, none of this, off beach stuff in the Waikawa Marina or Karaka point, yuk.

We have an Apnea or free diving course (no its not free) scheduled for mid December, this is about half full or half empty depending on how positive or negative you are. So if you are keen on skin diving, this is a great course run by Fran from NoBubbles that will really extend your breath hold and depth limits. Check club page for dates.

Weather is still a bit miserable at the moment but looking like clearing up for our Long Island dive this weekend. Still a few spots if you are keen, probably do a scolly dive on the way back in.