Dive Picton, in the Marlborough Sounds of New Zealand

Midweek Mission: Koi/ Cod Hole
Posted on Thu 30 April, 2009

Todays forescast meant that we stayed a little closer in and what better spot than the reliable Koi wreck. Always a great little dive spot.

Rainy and cold on top but surprising good viz today with 6-7metres on the wreck. Lots of moki and sweep, leatherjackets- all the usual suspects.

Rod and Murray have to improvise!

2nd dive at the Cod hole was awesome but as luck would have it the camera battery died just a s a monster was taking the biscuit out of Harry's hand! Oh well another time!

Sorry team for forgetting the cups but it's amazing what you can improvise with!

Rod taking time to get to know himself

Ben, Markus, Harry on the Port side of the Koi wreck

Also Murray you did well to come diving on your wife's birthday! (Make up for it tonite?)

This weekend is more Lipstick on the Regulator as we have a womens only dive course starting!

I'll tell you more about it on Monday!

What an awesome Weekend!!
Posted on Tue 28 April, 2009

Once more another hugely successful 3 day weekend at Cape Jackson. With glass calm conditions Friday and Saturday, we were able to really explore the Mikhail Lermontov including the library, Nevsky Bar and Engine room. Thank you legend divers Stefan, Cora, Tex and Grant for making such a fun weekend. And of course Charlie the snorkelling guru at holding the fort at the homestead!

Stefan and Cora on the Propeller of the Lermontov

Sunday saw a more wild and wet day but didn't stop us from exploring the reefs including my favourite, Jessies Point, where the stunning Marcrocystis Kelp didn't fail to impress once more.

Aside from a little memory loss over the chilli bin for lunch - go the banana cake - and Stefan trying to raise the Lermie with his drysuit :) the weekend was a blast! Although next time we must remember to set aside 24 hours to properly complete a game of cranium!

The Cape is also a great place to get the ratbags into it!

Thanks gurus for a great time!

Dale and Ben

Sunday Success at Long Island Marine Reserve!
Posted on Mon 20 April, 2009

Today the plan was to take advantage of the great conditions we have been having a sneak a dive on the North face of Long Island.

Flat seas on the way out

It turned out to be an awesome dive- heaps of fish-moki, cod,butterfly perch, carpet sharks, terakihi! the list goes on.

Can't forget to mention the XXXOS crayfish that are everywhere. They actually come out to shoo you away if you get to close!

Everyone was in on the photograhpy action and here are some pics. Lots of video taken as well but still working out how to upload to here?

Rob, Garth,Dale, Jake-image by John Lyons kinas appear coutersy of Long Island Marine Reserve

R&R at Cape Jackson
Posted on Sat 18 April, 2009

Having had a pretty busy Easter it was decided to take a short time out staying at Queen Charlotte Wilderness Park this week. We loaded up and shot out on Tuesday. Fantastic dive conditions meant we were able to dive all over the place!

Dale and Murray (Bro-in law) heading off to explore the funnel on the Mikhail Lermontov

Tucked in Port Gore-look how flat it is!

We dived the Lermie, the Lastingham wreck and some other spots around Cape Jackson. Wow! Visibility was great at 12-15m and Dale's Crayfish was the icing on the cake to a great mid-week break (although out of Sympathy she was about to let it go free, i was able to convince her underwater to put it in my bag!). Reality check see's me here at work on a Saturday planning for the next trip tomorrow!

Loving it.

Later

Ben

Lipstick on My Regulator
Posted on Mon 13 April, 2009

Today Dale had some some lovely ladies trying diving for the first time. With our onsite pool heated to 28 degrees, its the perfect place to try diving for the first time. Mind you does a wetsuit hood keep your hair do dry so it doesn't get messed up? Is make up waterproof?- These were the only worries as the girls nailed it. Well Done Janine and Sherie, we look forward to getting you out to the ocean soon.

Big round of OK's