Since the beginning of the dive season, my eye has largely been drawn towards the simplicity and freedom of spearfishing. A lot of my spare time has been spent researching spots, looking over marine charts, researching gear, and of course, getting in the water!

This particular journey took me out to Akaroa on the inside of the harbour.

Opting for a shore dive this time around, my dive buddy and I started the swim out to the area of rocky reef where we’d previously scored a feed. The first half hour or so provided us with plenty to see, but not a lot to bring home. Lots of Moki were spotted, but none that would have surpassed the legal catch limit of 40cm. Thankfully, this wasn’t the story for the rest of the day.

Hunting the relative shallows, between 5-7 metres, I managed to secure my first fish, a butterfish measuring just shy of 60cm (still my personal best for this species).

Next up came a much more surprising catch for the area, a decent sized Kahawai. Luck was undoubtedly on my side with this shot, as I’d descended almost directly on top of the fish, which was sitting in about 9 metres of water.

Despite only having an additional 5cm of length over the butterfish, the Kahawhai put up a much greater fight, something I wasn’t used to for a smaller fish.

Nevertheless, I hauled it to the surface and secured the catch. It was good timing, as a large short-tailed stingray cruised up to me, looking for a free meal!

The evening was drawing to a close so my buddy and I decided we would aim for one more fish each then call it a night. I dropped down into some deeper water, surrounded by long kelp strands, and sure enough locked eyes with a school of Blue Moki. Lining up the biggest of the bunch, I took my shot, and added that to the days catch as well.

With the head Torches on, we cooked up a feed and packed up our gear, and after marking out the spots for next time, headed home for a well-deserved rest.

I never realised that a hobby would take over my life and become a passion… some say an obsession! I was always unsure about my career after finishing school and after muddling my way through university, I decided to enrol on a scuba dive instructor course at one of the local dive stores in Palmerston North. It changed my life.

Over the past 24 years as a PADI Instructor I have been able to share my passion with over 2500 students from swimming pool experiences to certifying as a speciality instructor.

It is such a buzz when you catch up with someone you taught 20 years ago and you can see where the underwater world has taken them, compare stories and talk about great dive locations.

Thankfully I found scuba diving early in my career so I have been able to learn many things and I am still learning now; – I am currently completing courses as a student to build my knowledge and keep my enjoyment and passion alive.

You too can love your adventurous life and become a divining instructor with Dive HQ Christchurch. Enrol now in the Diploma in Professional Scuba Instruction, starting August 2022 and February 2023 and find your way in life, having fun, meeting great people and diving.

There are so few industries where your hobby is genuinely your work. It’s such a thrill to be paid for something you truly love

So pop into the shop, have a chat and see where scuba diving can take you.

As a diver you know that you are limited on bottom time due to the Nitrogen we breathe in.  When diving 16 metres or shallower, you can stay for up to an hour if you have enough air.  But go a little deeper and your bottom time is reduced dramatically.

Well why not extend your bottom time by using Enriched Air Nitrox?  With more Oxygen and less Nitrogen, you get longer under the water as long as you take enough gas with you.

You will then need to come for 2 fun dives with your instructor, (what a shame), so they can sign you off.

The PADI Enriched Air Nitrox specialty also counts towards one of the 5 PADI specialties you need to gain the Master Scuba Diver qualification.

Spend $100 in store this month to go in to win an Enriched Air Course!

PADI Rescue diver

Scuba diving is a great sport and like any activity it is not without its risks, and that is what attracts some divers. Other divers pick up the sport for the weightlessness, to see the beautiful marine life, or as an added activity for their vacations. These are all great reasons and they bring a lot of value to our lives as well as make for fun stories of adventure.

Learning how to dive encompasses a whole range of skills and advances your abilities in many ways. Your initial step into the world of diving as a PADI Open Water diver touches briefly on safety, and managing the risk factors we all face as divers. Along with teaching you how to dive. The certification following falls under the PADI Advanced Open Water diver- this is a course geared towards advancing your skills as a diver (surprise surprise). The next step up in your PADI adventure is then a PADI rescue diver course.

Becoming a PADI Rescue Diver brings many benefits, and is the course put in place to further outline safety concerns when diving and to delve deeper into the concept of risk management.

Like all sports or activities, people gain a level of comfort with time and experience, and many times right after that comes complacency. We often read of people tramping that ventured beyond their ability to navigate back, or failed to bring enough water, food, or protective clothing. They may have also not paid attention to the weather and now find themselves in a pretty sticky situation and in need of rescue.

Stepping up to become a PADI Rescue Diver can sound like a daunting task – but nearly anyone can do it. Learning how to manage accidents can have a hugely positive impact on more than one diver. Challenging and rewarding are the 2 words commonly used to describe the PADI rescue course. Expanding your diving knowledge and experience level will give you the confidence and dive ability to not only consider the safety of yourself, but other divers too.

Coming back to the analogy of the tramper, becoming a rescue diver will take you to the next level of experience. You’ll know how much food to bring, what protective clothing to wear and always know to keep a keen eye on the weather. By the end of your PADI Rescue Diver course you’ll have a sound knowledge of basic first aid, be able to provide life support in and out of the water, understand how to recognize stress and be able to manage dive emergencies.

Just do it! The rescue course is serious – but also a hell of a lot of fun. Your confidence will grow right along with your abilities as a diver. And to make things even more tempting, you have a chance to WIN a full PADI Rescue Diver course with Dive HQ from the 1^st of January. No excuses now.

Once you’ve finished your Rescue Diver course, you may decide that now is a good time to change your life and turn your love of diving into a career. The next step up the PADI ladder is into the PADI Pro realm, maybe even becoming a Divemaster is on the cards? See you in the water!

Spend $100 in store to win yourself a Rescue course during the month of January!

Meet Jack Broad, who works for Dive HQ Christchurch as a Dive Instructor. Jack qualified as an Instructor     with Dive HQ Christchurch, completing his Diploma in Scuba Diving Instruction in 2015 with specialties in night  dive, deep dive, nitrox, navigation, and O2 provider.

  Jack  teaches our Tertiary Students who are taking their one year Diploma in Professional Scuba Instruction, here at  Dive HQ Christchurch (rated a 5 STAR Instructor Development Centre by PADI).

Jack says his favourite thing about teaching Instructors is seeing his student’s progress from inexperienced and unsure to confident, experienced divers ready for a career in diving.

Jack also teaches recreational courses to students in Open Water and Advanced Open Water, both locally and at Kaikoura.

Jack’s favourite dive site is one he experienced for the first time in 2015.

The Great Barrier Reef in Australia is Jack’s favourite dive site.  Leaving Port  Douglas in November sunshine, this boat dive took Jack exploring in 30 degree  water.  With depths of 25-30m and visibility of 40+ metres, Jack describes the  water as warm and crystal clear.

This dive saw Jack experience turtles, sharks, mauri wrasse, and giant clams, together with an abundance of coral of all types, shapes and sizes.

Interested in making diving your job? 

Our August intake of the Diploma of Scuba Diving has a couple of spaces available with the next intake in February 2018. This is a full time, one year course that provides everything you need to work in a dive related industry or to become a dive expert while you decide on your next move. You can find out more about this here http://www.divehqscuba.co.nz/tertiary-courses

Interested? Then call me on 0800 348347 or email me at richard@divehqscuba.co.nz or my mobile 0274 348347, and we can organise a meeting to chat it through.

Meet Akita Kees, who works for Dive HQ Christchurch as a Dive Instructor and Dive Shop Retail Superstar. 

Akita qualified as a Dive Instructor with Dive HQ Christchurch, completing her Diploma in Scuba Diving in 2016.  Akita enjoys taking new divers out for their Open Water and follows  them through their Advanced Open Water and on to their Dive Master courses.  Akita is especially talented at teaching younger divers.  Akita’s  cheerful smile and technical expertise are always available to our dive shop customers.

 Akita’s favourite dive site is Barney’s Rock in Kaikoura, which she first dived in 2015, at the start of her year-long Diploma course, here at Dive HQ  Christchurch.  A manageable 200m swim from the shoreline at the Hikurangi Reserve, Akita describes Barney’s Rock as having ‘a crazy amount of sea life!’

Huge Blue Cod, Moki, and Butterfish are to be found swimming amongst the playful dolphins and seals.  Climb onto Barneys Rock to view the seabirds,  or explore the massive crevasse for Crayfish.   Barneys Rock is Akita’s number 1 dive spot.

Interested in making diving your job? 

Our August intake of the Diploma of Scuba Diving is filling up fast. This is a full time, one year course that provides everything you need to work in a dive related industry or to become a dive expert while you decide on your next move. You can find out more about this here http://www.divehqscuba.co.nz/tertiary-courses

Interested? Then call me on 0800 348347 or email me at richard@divehqscuba.co.nz or my mobile 0274 348347, and we can organise a meeting to chat it though.

Done your Open Water and now ready for your Advanced Open Water?

We have courses running all year.

Kaikoura Advanced Open Water 16 August (local theory) and 19/20 August (Kaikoura)

Kaikoura Advanced Open Water 27 September (local theory) and 30/1 September/October (Kaikoura)

Interested? Then call us on 0800 348347 or call in to the shop.

This Newsletter is the first in a series to tell you about the fabulous team working here at Dive HQ Christchurch, and their favourite dive sites.

Meet Kane Clare, who works for Dive HQ Christchurch as a Dive Instructor and Dive Shop Retail Superstar. Kane qualified as an Instructor with Dive HQ Christchurch, completing his Diploma in Scuba Diving in 2016.  Kane can regularly be found teaching our Open Water and Advanced Open Water Students both locally and at Kaikoura.  When he’s not teaching, Kane will be found working in our dive shop and providing his technical expertise to help our customers make the best choice of gear to suit their individual diving needs.

Kane’s favourite dive site is one he experienced for the first time during his Diploma course with Dive HQ Christchurch, when the students took off to Fiji, as part of their year-long course.

Mellow Yellow, Vatu-i-ra, Fiji, is a boat dive of 15-28m depth.  Departing from the resort at Safari Lodge in August sunshine and into warm waters, Kane describes the dive as his favourite yet.

With reefs of yellow soft coral stacks in open water, and schools of barracuda, black tip reef sharks, parrot fish, lion fish, angels, butterfly and trumpet fish all seen on the 40 minute dive, it’s not surprising that this is Kane’s number 1 dive site.

Kane describes traversing the pinnacle wall and checking the crevasses for nudibranchs and macro life surrounded by soft yellow coral, as an amazing dive experience.

Interested in making diving your job? 

Our August intake of the Diploma of Scuba Diving is filling up fast. This is a full time, one year course that provides everything you need to work in a dive related industry or to become a dive expert while you decide on your next move. You can find out more about this here

Interested? Then call me on 0800 348347 or email me at richard@divehqscuba.co.nz or my mobile 0274 348347, and we can organise a meeting to chat it through.

After many years of Scuba diving I have managed to search the ocean flora and fauna to hunt for nudibranchs. Some of you will be asking yourself what a nudibranch is, let alone how to find one?

So what are they? Well they are a group of soft jelly-bodied gastropod molluscs. There are over 3000 different species that are known and many that are not yet discovered. They are part of the sea slugs family and have such amazing vivid colours and fascinating shapes. The size will vary dramatically from different species but generally you will find from between 6mm to 300mm in length. Since they are carnivores they graze on algae, sponges, anemones, corals, barnacles and even known to eat other nudibranchs.

While I was diving in the Solomon Islands last year I was fortunate enough to see dozens of the little guys. The great thing about them is that they are so photogenic and because of their slow moving nature you can take your time and create awesome pictures.

If you haven’t been lucky enough to dive overseas then you will find Nudibranchs around the New Zealand coast line and around Canterbury. So on your next Scuba dive don’t just look for the big things and be that focussed on catching crayfish that you miss seeing some of the most beautiful creatures in the sea.
Remember to take your time and start looking at the little underwater things.

Cheers
Richard

My first certification came from co teaching a local PADI Open Water dive course with an experienced instructor. The first two Open Water dives were at Lake Coleridge and we completed the last day at Wainui over on the Banks Peninsular, the weather was awesome! Sun shining, no wind, and flat bay to dive in.

We got geared up and walked down the rocky path to the water’s edge, where we briefed the dive and entered the water to complete the dive skills. We found a nice flat patch of sand at six meters deep to complete the skills, first up was mask removal and replacement and second was an oral hover (for anyone how isn’t familiar with open water skills this this is a neutral buoyancy skill were you inflate your BCD orally and hover mid-water as if you were an astronaut in space). Then we swam around and explored the dive site a bit more, we swam through a mini kelp forest and saw two HUGE Blue Moke! Everyone was buzzing. When we had reached our turn pressure for the dive we swam back to our ascent line and surfaced.

I have never before seen six fifteen year olds with such big toothy grins, the quietest and shy kid of the group spat his Reg out of his mouth and could not stop talking bout how awesome that dive was! I knew at that point that being a dive instructor was all about sharing my experiences with people and give them the ability to make and share new adventures and memories with friends, family and other divers all over the world.

After our second briefing for the final dive of the course, we descended and completed the last couple of skills, and explored more of the dive site. Akita was leading the way and I was following from the rear, after exploring the reef more it was time to ascend. We started our ascent with the other half of the group from about ten meters deep. As we approach five meters, I signal for the students to stop and do a safety stop, so we all adjust our buoyancy and hover mid water to do what is called a blue water safety stop (this is where you conduct a safety stop in mid water with neither the bottom or surface of the water is visible and no other visual reference available). We float there like astronauts in space completely weightless for three minutes, then complete our ascent to the surface.

I thought to myself while we were doing our safety stop that wow these students have gone from being clumsy and uncoordinated in the first pool sessions to doing one of the hardest and most disorienting skill in diving without even batting an eyelid, I was gob smacked with how far these kids had come in just four days of learning to dive.

The whole hour and a half van ride home was filled with stories of what they had all seen, plans of where they all wanted to dive around New Zealand and in some cases other countries. This was the moment that we had trained for, seeing new PADI Open Water divers so happy and enjoying themselves it really makes becoming an instructor so rewarding.

Kane and Akita

“Don’t Touch The Coral” If you have ever been diving or snorkeling by a beautiful coral reef, you would have heard the strict instructions not to touch, or break the delicate coral which takes years to grow.  We are increasingly aware of the threats to our underwater ecosystems caused by bleached and damaged coral, but did you know about the increasingly popular movement of “Coral Gardening” which is helping to restore healthy coral reefs?

Causes of Coral Destruction

Coral has been measured to be declining at an increasing rate with roughly one quarter of reefs worldwide already damaged beyond repair.  Cyclones, pollution, warmer waters, and ocean acidity, as well as competition from seaweeds and predators are some of the main culprits.  Of course Scuba divers and snorkelers also can take some of the blame if they accidentally break coral, or contribute to pollution through use of destructive sunscreens. Destructive fishing methods such as dynamite fishing, or bottom trawling play a big part of the destruction in some areas. Coral mining is also an issue in some countries, where the living coral is harvested for use in bricks, building, road construction, and to be sold to tourists.

Coral Gardening – Aquaculture of Coral

Coral Reef Farming is the concept of extracting segments of larva of live corals from a reef and then proceeding to grow them in a nursery until adulthood. The technique involves treating coral as if it were a plant, leading to the name ‘Coral Gardening’. Coral Gardening has been enjoyed by many who have a coral display in an aquarium, and there are businesses who grow it for this purpose.  Now Coral Gardening is taking off as a popular conservation effort to restore and create beautiful coral gardens which help to provide the important part of the ecosystem for many underwater species.

How are Coral Gardens made?
Coral can either be reproduced sexually, or asexually by budding polyps. In the first method, spawn is collected, collonised in tanks then into floating nurseries in the ocean. The next step is to transplant it into the sea and secure it, then wait for it to grow!  The Coral can be secured with cable ties, rope frames, and other inventive measures to hold the coral in place.

The more current method is to source coral seedlings from reef colonies or stray coral fragments, by harvesting coral branches, fragments, or nubbins (pieces of coral pruned from the tips). This fragmentation is the most practiced method.

Become a Coral Gardener!

Although you may not go out and set up your own home coral gardening facility, there are places all around the globe where you can become involved in the process. Volunteer projects are available in places such as Fiji, Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia, etc… You can learn more about coral conservation and restoration by getting stuck in, and join an educational dive, such as a Project AWARE Reef Conservation Course where you can incorporate learning to recognize a reef in distress to you dives. Be sure to research the facility you plan to volunteer at to ensure you are working towards the greater good, in a sustainable manner. Remember it isn’t always necessarily hands-on; doing things like educating locals on how to preserve the reef can go a long way! Find out more about actions you can take within your own community too!   

In the meantime, here are some good dive practices to help you help the reefs! Consider taking our Peak Performance Buoyancy specialty to perfect your positioning in the water to avoid damaging vulnerable marine life! Fish ID is another awesome specialty that will help familiarize you with the underwater world; conservation starts with education.

If you would like to learn more ways to help the underwater environment, get in touch with us at Dive HQ Christchurch – 103 Durham Street South – 03 379 5804 – and we will introduce you to Project AWARE!