Talk about coming up for breath. The last few weeks have been hectic dive wise, I have just spent 8 days hosting the MY Blue Star a 44m vessel specially set up for dive expeditions around the world. The vessel is set up with Halcyon dive equipment, membrane Nitrox system, two professional dive guides and even has its own chef.

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THE BLUE STAR ANCHORED UP BELOW THE LERMONTOV LODGE IN PORT GORE.

Over the first week of the Blue Star’s visit we experienced exceptional visibility on the wreck for this time of year and with professional photographers and videographers on board they got some awesome photos and footage.

My job was to guide the guests through the more difficult parts of the wreck, visiting the restaurant, crews mess, engine room amongst other areas. With most of the divers being very experienced cave and deep divers it made my job a breeze.

 RADIO AERIEL’S ON THE MIKHAIL

The start of 2012 looks like it is going to carry on like the end of 2011, with trips booked nearly very day to the Lermontov. Go Dive will be running shuttle service back and forwards from the Lodge and Picton, so if your up for a day or two diving, call us on 0800GODIVE to check availability or to book.

January is really the start to our Kiwi summer so expect some great diving and some nice long hot days. Have a great Christmas and all the best for the New Year.

Dive safe

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

The good visibility that we are blessed with at this time of year has finally arrived. I just spent a few days diving on the Lermontov and enjoyed vis up to 15 metres plus. The wreck could be made out from the surface, the port prop easily seen from below the rudder and you can see all the way across the Bolshoi Lounge. Diving the wreck while the vis is so good is just spectacular and for those who are used to the wreck in lower vis conditions it seems like whole new wreck.

Looking out from the Winter Garden

Table in Bolshoi Lounge

We can expect good vis for the next 6 weeks or so, even though it can come and go depending on the weather patterns it is generally pretty reliable. During Labour Weekend I have a TDI Adv Nitrox and Deco Procedures course running, this is a great way to start to extend your diving times and make the most of your trips away. Although specialized kit is required this can be supplied as part for the course and it doesn’t necessarily involve diving twins cylinders, although this can be an option for those who really want to extend their run times. There is still space on this trip and the TDI course.

Keep an eye out hopefully next week, for a report on a new wreck we are about to dive. I have been planing to dive it for a while now and had hoped to do so this last weekend, even though I found it and were preparing to dive it, the weather didn’t prove favorable so I decided to leave it for another day.

safe diving

Brent

Go Dive

Last weekend Nathan Aldridge from the Napier Dive Center brought down a group of keen divers to experience their first dive on the Lermontov. Other than missing the Ferry from Wellington on Friday night, everything went like clockwork and the group experienced some great dives on the Lermontov, collected some Port Gore and East Bay scallops, crays and caught or shot a number of Blue Cod and Moki.

The weather over the three days of the trip was very good, with Sunday morning being the only wet point of the weekend, other than that, the sea was flat for most of the weekend, with the vis ranging from 8 plus metres. As most of the group hadn’t dived the wreck before, I guided them for much of the dives, with Damien and Andy joining me on a dive into the engine room. This would have to be one of the better dives on the wreck and a must do if your up for it.

HEAD OF AN ENGINE ON THE MIKHAIL LERMONTOV

On Sunday morning we headed out to Cape Jackson for a dive on the historical wreck of the Lastingham which sunk in 1883, this is a very nice reef dive come wreck dive with some of the guys saying the fish life equaled if not bettering the Poor Knights. We then headed around to East Bay for a feed of scollop’s and some lunch, before making our way back to Picton arriving in time to catch the Ferry.

Damien with a Cape Jackson Moki

Thanks guys for diving with Go Dive and to Nathan for organizing the trip through his dive shop in Napier. If your ever up that way, drop in and see him, Nathan runs regular local trips and on the occasion trips up to the Knights.

safe diving

Brent

With Autumn well and truly here and the days cooling down, the time has come to shake the dust off the drysuit. In fact last weekend was my first dive in my trusty Otter for quiet a few months, and I must say it is nice to arrive back on the boat dry and warm. But in saying that the water temp is still up around 16 degrees so still comfortable in a good wetty so don’t be put off.

Sunrise on the road into the Lermontov Lodge Port Gore

Go Dive has had a couple of recent trips to the Lermontov, the recent last weekend where we had some very nice weather and improving visibility. Lydia run a PADI Advanced Openwater course over the weekend and has a Rescue course due to start this Thursday. We are still running regular trips every week and have a three dayer over Easter. Over the winter I have scheduled regular weekend trips and hope to do a D’Urville Island trip sometime in July. Remember visibility is better during the winter and with a warm Lodge and hot shower to arrive back to after a days diving it makes for some good times.

With the Rugby World Cup not to far away now, I am expecting busy start to the season as visitors travel up and down to the games, fortunately we managed to retain a few of the lost Christchurch games in the main land and with the Russian rugby team staying in Blenheim it will be a good  opportunity for diving visitors from Russia to dive the Lermontov.

safe diving

Brent

Hi everyone 

We have another Club weekend planned for Feb 5&6 (2 days of diving), and if you want to extend, you can stay from 4-6 (4 days of diving!) We don’t have many divers booked yet, so sign up now to save your spot! Special price for Club Members, but non-club members and want-to-be-members are very welcome.

This is a perfect opportunity to imrove your experience and skills, to meet our old and new club members and other divers!

Call on 0800 463 483 or e-mail to info@godive.co.nz to find out more or make a booking.

Looking forward to hearing back from you.

Cheers

Lydia

Hi everyone,

I just came back from the Lermontov yesterday. It was such a treat to be out there. I did an Advanced Course with Two students who did their Open Water Course with me before Christmas. Congrats to Felix and Charlotte from Germany on becoming Advanced Divers! We had 5 beautiful dives and they got experience in wreck, deep, navigation, boat and peak performance buoyancy. We were also very lucky and saw a big pod of bottlenose dolphins and got the chance to swim with them. They were very friendly, curious and interactive and also had two little ones.

We had a big weekend planned for the weekend on Jan 22-23. Unfortunately, we didn’t get as many divers as we hoped to, so we are selling the trip now for a really good special deal and there is still plenty of space for anyone to join. It’s $325 incl. dives, transport, 1 night accomodation, buffet-style food etc. Club members get required rental equipment included in the price. For non club members a $95 fee applies for rental equipment (other than tanks and weights).

Just give us a call on 0800  463 483 or e-mail to info@godive.co.nz for any enquiries.

Cheers

Lydi

PS we have one diver (a club member) coming up from CH-CH. If anyone from CH-Ch area wants to book on, let me know. He can give you a lift up here, to share the fuel prices and for good company:)

Just a quick reminder about Go Dives plans to mark the anniversary of the sinking of the Mikhail Lermontov 25 years ago.

We will be based at the Lermontov Dive Lodge between the 12th and 20th of February with a special anniversary dinner on the 16th along with a night dive on the wreck if the conditions are suitable. A 4day/5 night package is being offered at a special rate from Monday 14th to Friday 18th, which includes 4 days diving, 5 nights accommodation, all meals, t-shirt and lerm dive slate.

Cost for club members is $650.00 or $750.00 for non club members, inclusive of t-shirt and Lermontov dive slate. Currently there is 6 spaces available.

The opportunity to complete your Adv Wreck diving course will also be offered if your keen on learning how to really explore this world class wreck using proper techniques and equipment. Give me a call on 0800 GODIVE for chat if you after more info.

safe diving

Brent

Go Dive

I have just come back to civilization after 14 days straight out at the Dive Lodge, diving the Mikhail Lermontov and hosting a number of groups of divers. I would have to say these weeks would have been the best stretch of weather I have had while running our operations in Marlborough, which translates to excellent diving conditions and for this time of year awesome vis on the wreck. The Lermontov can be clearly seen from the surface while standing on the boat and in areas like the Bolshoi Lounge, Nevsky bar etc the vis must be up o 25 metres.

Greg in his revo, with Christian the mad dentist in the back ground

The first group were from SOD’s and included a couple of breather divers, congratulations to Scott who completed his Nitrox course while on this trip.

The second group were from Christchurch and lead by Bruce Clulow, over the period of their stay Petra completed her Advanced training, Fraser his TDI Adv nitrox and Deco procedures course and Bruce and John their Adv Wreck diver course.

Overall each group had a brilliant time, thanks to you all for diving with Go Dive. Also thanks to Guy for relieving Tomo for a few days while he headed out to get to know his girlfriend again and go to the U2 concert. Thanks Tomo for all your efforts on the hospitality front, although the boating skills leave a bit to be desired , a bit like that hat.

Completing the Adv wreck "blind line walk" in prep for the real thing.

This weekend we are back out for three days and  looking forward to good conditions again. We still have few spot’s left so if keen on making the most of this great weather and good vis give us a call on  0800 GODIVE.

safe diving

Brent

Sorry to all Go Dives regular Blog readers, it has been a while since my last blog. Fact is I have have been as busy as a lizard drinking over at the Dive Lodge with trips/charters etc.

Conditions have been up and down on the wreck lately, with it being more up than down. Last weekend we had fantastic vis of 12 plus metres and ideal surface conditions the week before the vis dropping down a to 5 meters or so. Go Dive has hosted groups from Welling Dive HQ, the States, Nelson Underwater and Wellington clubs as well as our own Dive Club Marlborough members.

LOOKING ALONG THE PANORAMA LOUNGE IN THE LERMONTOV YESTERDAY

Tomo is fast becoming legendary for his cooking and for his choice of hats. Speaking of which finally made its way back to the Lodge this weekend. Katie completed her PADI Wreck diving course, while Ryan and Julian completed their PADI Advanced Openwater course.

I am picking its going to be a long, hot, dry summer, so looking forward to some good diving and wearing my crocks. The next few weeks is full with groups from Auckland and Christchurch, the later doing their Advanced Wreck diving course which I am really looking forward to running.

 BOTTLES OF PORT, GIN ETC IN THE LERMONTOV

The only down side of such a good few weeks is that divers from a visiting charter boat have admitted to removing a permanent line that was placed through the Restaurant, which I used for guiding trained & experienced wreck divers. The unknown and unexpected removal of the line contributing to an incident that had the potential to be fatal. The divers who removed the lines were misguided in their actions, diving outside their normal environment and have been spoken to since. The take home message here though, is never follow a line unless you laid it or are following someone who did lay it and never enter a wreck unless you have the right training, experience, dive plan and equipment. If we all follow this simple rule then we won’t get paranoid divers chopping out other peoples lines.

On that sober note, until next time.

safe diving

Brent

Go Dive