Ask any Kiwi diver where they want to explore and the ‘Poor Knight Islands’ and ‘Fiordland’ undoubtably arise. This Easter we decided to visit the Poor Knights Islands. Nine excited Christchurch divers met at Auckland airport, on route to our next stop – Russel. Our travels up north were eventful, we experienced traffic delays and […]
Are you a Safe Scuba Diver? We hope so! One of the easiest ways to stay safe is to ensure your Scuba gear is in good working condition. That means getting your BCD, Regulator, and Tanks serviced and tested regularly. If you periodically get your gear serviced, then you are already a winner in our books, but we […]
One of the most common issues for Divers is equalizing your ears. There can be many reasons for this such as congestion due to a cold, swimmer’s ear, narrow Eustachian tubes, or other pre-existing issues and damage from barotrauma. I have always had sensitive ears, and after suffering a barotrauma I worried that this would […]
Imagine this: soft, sandy beaches, warm, clear water, a colourful array of tropical fish surrounding you… But you can’t enjoy any of it because your rental mask doesn’t fit properly and starts leaking the moment you are submerged in water! You asked for a replacement, but they are all the same! Now you are kicking […]
In August of 2014 the Hikurangi marine reserve opened off the coast of Kaikoura along with a few other protected areas. These included a Fur Seal and Whale sanctuary and also some areas that are off limits to commercial fishing. The areas were designed to protect marine species and the environment that they live in. […]
With winter now upon us, the air temperature has started to drop and the ski fields are finally open. Most of you have probably hung up your dive gear for the season and swapped it for a nice warm fire place, or a jacket and beanie when you dare to head out and about. The […]
“Been there, done that” and you know what? It doesn’t matter. I could have dived the same site a hundred times, and yet I still feel that same bubbling excitement as I gear up for the dive. The drive or boat ride hums with anticipation as everyone discusses what we might see this time. I […]
Nananu-I-Ra; the name itself conjures up spectacular images of somewhere warm and tropical, but once you discover that the English translation of the Fijian name is ‘Daydream of the West’ it takes it to a whole other level. Breath-taking white sand beaches, clear turquoise waters, listening to the soft lapping of the ocean while you […]
With just over a week to go, I am getting increasingly excited about the release of Pixar’s new film, Finding Dory. After marveling at the accuracy when portraying the underwater world in Finding Nemo, I look forward to seeing what new levels Pixar will go to in their most recent masterpiece. Following the story of […]
As winter draws nearer, it is time to start preparing for the cold. Bring out the woolly jumpers, stock up on hot chocolate, (and don’t forget the whisky!) Shorter days, chilly weather, and cooler waters are no reasons to stop you from diving – so long as you know how to keep warm. It is […]