Re-Cap October November 2009

Karl - Rescue Diver Extraordinaire

Well hello everyone!  We would like to thank you for all your emails that have been firing through lately.

It’s really nice to hear from you all and that you are all still diving! AWESOME to see, loved the photos too.

Congratulations to Karl Johnson for completing his Rescue Course – Karl is going on to become Divemaster & a good DM he’ll make too, with his quick and ready wit he keeps everyone entertained!  Only problem is – he insists on all his gear being yellow & black!

Our winter maintenance on Molly is now completed and we’re back up and running – a well deserved break for both Molly and ourselves, now fully re-charged for the up and coming season, with maybe a few surprises in store?

The water temperature at the moment is fluctuating between 14.5 and 15.2 degrees, the average viz in the Bay of Islands and the Cavallis is approximately between 5 and 8 metres, we’ve had an average S to SW wind of 18 knots for the past month.

Pauline & Jane dive the Rainbow Warrior

Last night, Jane texted and decided to do another dive with us before heading home, she VERY gladly joined Pauline for the Rainbow Warrior.  We duly collected them both at the Paihia Wharf at 7.20am and towed to Te Ngaere Bay, where we launch for a 10-15 minute trip to the Rainbow Warrior.

Both Pauline & Jane were absolutely thrilled after they had dived the wreck and really enjoyed their second reef dive – the friendly Sandagerwrasse following them around waiting to be fed was a huge highlight for them.

Water Temp today was 14.8 degrees & Viz – AWESOME!!

Porpoise Dive & Pauline – Scuba Review

Pauline is out from the UK & wanted to dive the Rainbow Warrior – a life long dream; but hadn’t dived for 7 years.  We suggested she do a Scuba Review, followed by a reef dive to which she agreed.  Pauline had a wonderful time and no sooner had she finished her dives when she exclaimed “that reminded me of why I took up diving – I’ll not leave it so long the next time” to which she promptly booked us for the Rainbow Warrior the next day! 

Water temperature today had dropped back a little to 14 degrees, but the viz still around 15 metres.  (sorry no photo available)

Girls “Dive Out”

Received a phone call from Jane, who came out with us for a Scuba Review, back on Easter Weekend – wanting to get wet again before she has to “reluctantly” return home to the UK. No worries, that same evening, we received a text from Clare (who we taught to dive on Boxing Day 2008), saying she is back in Paihia and wanted to get wet too! As we are one big happy family we called Nadia to see if she’d like to join us for the dive.

Girls Dive Out-bottom row from Left - Jane, Clare & Nadia

As we all knew each other, it was the most wonderful day out, we tried for the scallops, but they were so far and few between – after a 35 minute dive of searching everywhere, we abandoned the project coming up with only 5 between us!  The water temperture has come back up to 14.5 degrees, the viz is a bit of a surprising 15 metres.

It was such a good atmosphere aboard Molly today and having my dive buddy Nadia alongside again was fantastic!  Both Clare & Jane now have to return back to the UK & Wales – but are already making plans to return to the Bay of Islands, we look forward to it!  Take care from all of us.

Ant & Bev dive the Rainbow Warrior

We received a call from Ant to dive the Rainbow Warrior if possible please?  Of course we would – so we collected Ant at Waipapa at 7.45am, on the way, we received another call from Bev who is staying at Matauri Bay holiday camp, and she too wanted to dive the Rainbow Warrior – well, we’re on our way up there, so we did a slight detour and collected her.

Both Ant & Bev enjoyed their dives on the Warrior & Reefs, and both say they’d like to come back to New Zealand and dive there again.  We wish you both well for the future, and stay in touch please, it was good to meet you.

(sorry no photos available) water temp today was 13.8 degrees and viz around 15 metres.

Rob dives the Rainbow Warrior

Rob is over on a flying visit to New Zealand – just one week only – as he says, not enough time to see it all, but fell in love with Paihia and the diving we have here.

Rob after his dive

Rob is over from Washington, where back home he has his own construction business, he only had this week in New Zealand and was trying to take in as much as he could.  He fell in love with the Bay of Islands, especially the diving that is offered.  Rob was amazed at the Rainbow Warrior, especially our indigenous fish life.

Hope you enjoy the photos Rob & congratulations on recently becoming a qualified PADI Divemaster – well done!

Quick Re-Cap July

Just a quick re-cap of whats been happening so far this July; with the camera away AGAIN for repairs all I can do is a brief for you.

Those that have been aboard Molly are:

Courses – Open water

Congratulations to young Scotty – you’ll remember he came along for a junior discover scuba dive back in August 2008?  Well, he’s just completed his Junior Open Water Course – and took to it like a duck to water.

Scotty is really into his water sports (a typical kiwi kid!) Swimming, sailing, snorkelling and now DIVING!  what a joy for the whole family as dad is an instructor and mum is a divemaster.

Advanced Open Water

Congratulations to Karl, who earlier this year completed his Open Water Course with us, had so much fun decided he wanted to go further and discover more about diving.  Karl has already turned his thought to Rescue Diver and will be joining in with us again very soon.

Rescue Diver 

Congratulations again to Melanie – you’ll also remember Melanie originally came to us for a Scuba Review back in Feb 09, then went on to complete her Advanced Open Water with us.  Now having completed her Rescue Course Melanie has decided to go further and take that step to being a Dive Professional – DIVEMASTER Trainee.  Congratulations once again Melanie!!

Guided Dive Tours – wreck & reef

Nico; Jarred (no, another Jarred), Matt, Joe, Peter & his mum n dad, Brian, Dennis, Jess & two friends.

The water temperature has been an average of 13 degrees – some will say its the fresh water sitting on the surface – but I don’t think fresh water sits everywhere (thermo climes excluded) at 14 metres.

The vis of late in the bay has been an average of 5 metres, soon (we hope?) things will settle and the viz will start to improve..ever optimistic.

Our weather has been somewhat chaotic – some days, winds gusting up to 113 km/hour – then others absolutely zero wind!  We’ve (in Paihia) have experienced a record amount of frosts in the past two months  – remember we’re right on the water and to go out in the morning and have to pour water on the windscreen and door seals is quite unusual for us.

Porpoise Dive, Mel, Chelsea & Clare

Well, what a surprise we had!  Mel came back to complete her Advanced Open Water bringing her daughter Chelsea to have a Scuba Review and was joined by Clare who had completed her Open Water Course with us back in December 2008.

Chelsea picking out the "red ones"

It was an extremely fun day out for all of us, and we were very lucky with the weather window as the “big blow” was about to close in on us later that afternoon.

Clare being the "model"

One of the specialties that Mel took was underwater photography, so Clare was her “model” and they had a good dive together, on the second dive, Mel and her daughter buddied up and I could swear blind that I could hear giggling underwater! 

Mel, Advanced Open Water Diver - Congratulations

Clare and I buddied up for the second and we were stopped in our tracks when a huge Eagle Ray came “flying round” a boulder and literally put on the brakes and there was a stand off between us and him!  We must not have appeared to be a threat, as he gently settled to the bottom under an overhang, but still kept his eyes on us.

Porpoise Dive & Glen

Glen is over from California – on a travelling holiday in his camper van & likes the independence of being able to come and go as he likes.  He wanted to experience our local fish population and so we had 2 reef and photography dives with him. 

Glen was blown away by the fish life

Glen has been diving since 1968 and had a wealth of information and experience to share, thank you for your photography tips, very much appreciated!  Enjoy the rest of your stay here, and your photos should be arriving soon.

Porpoise Dive & Jane

Jane is living locally and after some while of being out of the water decided to “get her gills wet” again! 

A wave to her brother

She wanted proof for her brother back home in the UK, so was extremely happy that we take photos underwater, so here’s the proof.

Jane had no worries being back in the water at all, her sense of humour kept us constantly entertained the whole day.

Enjoy your holiday Jane and we can’t wait to have you back in the bay – your spot is already booked for you!

The water temperature had dropped to 19 degrees on the surface and to 18 at 20 metres, the viz is still around 15 metres.