Meet Henry Thorp, who works for Dive HQ Christchurch as a Dive Instructor and Dive Shop Retail Superstar. Henry qualified as an Instructor with Dive HQ Christchurch, completing his Diploma in Scuba Diving in 2017.

 Henry can regularly be found teaching our Open Water, Advanced Open Water and Spearfishing  Students both locally and at Kaikoura.

When he’s not teaching, Henry will be found working in our dive shop and providing his technical  expertise and unending enthusiasm to help our customers make the best choice of gear to suit their  individual diving  needs.

Henrys favourite spearfishing site is off Banks Peninsula in the many bays both North and South of ‘The Heads’.

Henry dives from shore and from boat in order to access a wide range of dive sites.

The Bays around the Akaroa Heads provide a range of habitats with boulders and cracks on the bottom for Crayfish, weed beds for Butterfish and exposed pinnacles for Moki and Blue Cod.

The challenge of getting the visibility right makes these dive sites even more rewarding.  Henry loves the peacefulness of spearfishing.  Asked about his  favourite aspect of spearfishing, Henry explained that he likes the selectiveness spearfishing provides, which fish to spear and when and where to spear… It’s a good days diving for Henry when everything comes together and everyone goes  home with a feed.

Check out our spearfishing courses on line Here     http://www.divehqscuba.co.nz/spearfishing

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  https://www.diveskiworld.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.

Meet Louis Kimber, who works for Dive HQ Christchurch as a Senior Dive Instructor, and teaches our full time Diploma students.

Louis qualified as an Instructor with Dive HQ Christchurch, completing his Diploma in Scuba Diving in 2014.

Louis is an experienced Senior Instructor, and his recent group of full time Diploma students all passed, achieving a 90+% pass rate.

 Louis’ favourite dive site is a wreck dive, the Mikhail Lermontov in Port Gore.

  The Mikhail Lermontov is a 180m long Russian cruise liner, which sunk 30 years ago when the

  Marlborough harbourmaster, Captain Don Jamison who was piloting the vessel, misjudged Cape

 Jackson and hit  rocks.

A wreck dive, with boat only access, this beautiful dive is

14m to 35m in depth,  with visibility of 4m to 15m.

The Lemontov has created its own mini ecosystem,

with an amazing and diverse variety of fish to see.

Blue Cod, Octopus, Leather Jackets, Kahawai, and a resident Eel,

make this an amazing dive experience.

  Louis says that he most enjoys swimming through the Winter Gardens and on

  to the swimming pool.

  It is a favourite dive for many of our full time Diploma Students too, who

take a trip to this dive site as part of their Dive Master training.

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.

We all heard about the Kaikoura seabed floor lifting 1 metre upwards in the Nov ’16 quake, and following the subsequent media reports of stranded Paua and Crayfish, we wondered what the future would hold for diving in Kaikoura. 5 months on, and things are looking much brighter.

Dive HQ Christchurch have surveyed various new dive sites, and found that the intertidal reefs around Kaikoura continue to offer an awesome experience for scuba divers. Whilst the whales, sharks and squid prefer the depths of the canyon, the intertidal reefs are still alive with reef fish, starfish, anemones, sponges, molluscs and crustaceans.
One of our new learn to dive training sites, off the south side of the Peninsula walkway has a flat table top limestone platform, surrounded by beautiful soft sand and rocky reefs. With good visibility and a maximum 7m dive depth at high tide, our team have reported some exciting dives with 3 resident stingray around 2m in length keeping them company.

Photo by Patrick Rose

During a dive on this particular site there is no shortage of sea life with Banded Wrasse, Triple Fin’s, Blue Cod and an abundance of a fluorescent pink anemone. One minute from the platform in any direction a smorgasboard of crayfish and sea life are clearly visible.
SCUBA Diving off Baxter’s Reef shows the different rock formations visible post-quake, with previous reefs sunken and new rocks and reefs apparent. Visibility has been slightly reduced probably due to silt from the dredging of the harbour area, but our team report that the crayfish are not put off by the silt and are still plentiful. Baxter’s reef has a maximum dive depth of around 12metres and the reef fish and kelp gardens are an excellent example of the colourful ecosystem of the area.

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

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 18 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 15 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 diving instructor with Dive HQ Christchurch. Enrol now in the Diploma in Professional Scuba Instruction, starting February 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!

Are you considering enrolling on a scuba diving course, but not yet entirely sure whether it is for you? Breathing underwater is not a natural human trait, but once you have experienced it – believe us – you won’t want to go back.

Here, we aim to answer some of the questions you may have before jumping into the deep.

• I really want to learn to dive, but know nothing about scuba. Is this a problem?

You do not need to have any knowledge about diving prior to starting your PADI course. The theory and practical sections are designed to teach you everything you need to know!

• I am not much of a reader. Will this make the theory difficult for me?

The PADI Open Water Course caters to students from the age of 10. The book is designed to be an easy read for all students. It isn’t just text, but images, quizzes, and schematics too, along with a series of videos on DVD. There is also an online version (eLearning), if you prefer to be computer or tablet based. If you are worried about the theory, you can always leave yourself plenty of time, and discuss extra sessions with your instructor.

• Do I need to be a strong swimmer?

You do not have to be an Olympic swimmer to learn to scuba dive, however you will have to pass a swim test at the beginning of the course. You do not have to know how to swim well, you will just have to be able to go 200m without stopping. You also have to be able to tread water/float for 10 minutes.

• How long will my certification last?

The great thing about a PADI certification is that it never expires! However, once you are certified, if you go a long period without diving, we recommend you take a refresher to go ever your skills with a trained professional. Or you could consider the PADI ReActivate program!

• How long does the course run for?

At Dive HQ Christchurch, the course runs over two weekends. The first is a theory and pool weekend, the second is for the four required open water dives. All are full days. This may differ in places.

• I wear glasses/contacts. Can I still dive?

There is no reason why your eyesight should prevent you from diving. If you cannot go without any form of corrective lenses, there are several options for you. You can wear contacts while diving. It is important to find a mask that fits you well, to avoid any leaks (purchasing your own would be my advice). During the course you will have to flood and remove your mask. Inform your instructor that you wear contacts, and you will be able to perform the skills with your eyes kept shut.

If contacts are not an option for you, it is possible to get lenses suited to you prescription fitted in most masks. We can organise this in store. We also have a few masks with a selection of prescription lenses that we can fit on the spot, such as Oceanic’s ion 4 mask.

• What about sharks?

Sharks are awesome! Chances are, you won’t get to see one on your open water course, but if you are that lucky then enjoy the experience! Sharks are generally very passive and peaceful creatures, and you have no reason to fear them.

If you would like to experience breathing underwater before enrolling onto the Open Water Course, we offer try dives where you can trial the gear, take your first breath underwater, and attempt some skills with an instructor. Inquire for more info!

 It is completely normal to have queries before learning to dive. If there is anything you are wondering about, or any questions you would like answered before enrolling on an Open Water Diver Course, then do not hesitate to get in touch with us! We can talk you through how the course will be run, and everything it will entail. 

Call us on (03) 379 5804, email us at sales@diveskiworld.co.nz, or visit us in the Dive HQ Christchurch shop at 103 Durham St South!

Waking up in the morning to leave for a job that you love is everyone’s dream. Not dragging your feet, no dreading feeling in your stomach – they say that ‘he who loves his job never works a day in his life’ and I’d say I would have to agree. However, finding a job that you are passionate about, and can remain so, can be a bit of a challenge.

It seems that jobs such as diving instructor, ski instructor, crewing on yachts, and working for the likes of Lego, Google etc. are often classified as ‘dream jobs’. I would say any arrangement that combines your favourite hobby with a profession could be said to be a dream job. But maybe we can broaden our horizons and think even more outside the box? If it is a career in diving that interests you, there are more opportunities out there than you might think!

Obviously there are the jobs that spring to mind immediately, such as underwater photographer and commercial diver, however whatever your interest may be, there is a subject for it: marine life, education, construction, conservation… Here are a few of the wackiest ones for you to choose from:

1. Underwater Pizza Delivery Boy

Yup, you read that right. There is an underwater lodge in Florida – a converted research lab – where the services include a delivery service! It is not uncommon for guests to request their dinner be delivered. The job involves collecting dinner (or whatever needs delivering) and placing it in an air-tight box, gearing up, and heading the 6.4m down to the air-lock hatch situated under the lodge. Voila! That’s one deep dish for you.

2. Marine Archaeologist

Are you interested in both history and science, along with a passion for diving and the ocean? Then maybe this is the job for you! Explore shipwrecks and lost underwater cities in order to gain a better understanding of the past. You need to have studied archaeology (duh) and be a proficient diver in order to land a job in the field… but if you do, you could end up doing some seriously awesome research, like scrutinizing the remains of pirate/privateer shipwrecks to establish more facts on their era!

3. Underwater Model

Looking amazing underwater definitely requires a significant amount of skill. You need to be relaxed, comfortable in the water, and constantly aware of your positioning to make it in the underwater model world. Although it does not require any specific qualifications to get started down this career path, being a qualified diver is a start. Getting in to freediving and breath hold is a plus, as you will need to be able to hold your breath without looking like a puffer-fish! If this is a profession that interests you, start practicing in a pool until you comfortable with your surroundings. Soon you could be posing as a mermaid/merman!

4. Underwater Criminal Investigator

A UCI diver is primarily trained in recovery, be it a bullet, gun, knife, body, or vehicle. Once they have located their target, there are steps to follow, ensuring that correct evidence handling and chain of custody procedures are adhered to – even though you are underwater! Conditions are almost always deep, cold, and in near to zero visibility making a career in underwater criminal investigating a challenging yet fascinating one.

Learn more by reading PADI’s interview with Public Safety Diver, Mike Berry.

5. Underwater film crew

Lots of movies involve submerged scenes. No matter where it is shot (unless it is 100% CGI) there will be divers involved; safety divers, underwater videographers, stunt divers, and models (see above). Regardless which aspect you are involved in, it would be an incredible way to partake in such a production. If you have an interest in the medias, and a love of the underwater world, you may well have found your niche. If this is something that interests you, PADI does an Underwater Videographer course.

There is a dream job out there for everyone, we just hope yours involves diving too! If you haven’t quite found the ideal career yet, keep honing your diving skills by working your way up through the courses, and expanding your knowledge base by enrolling on some PADI specialty courses!

We would love to hear about your dream job! Tell us all about it in the comments.

If you have a diving profession in mind but are not too sure what the best path is to take you there, get in touch so we can point you in the right direction. If you are dreaming of becoming a dive instructor, click here to learn more about our Diploma in Scuba Instruction. Visit us at Dive HQ Christchurch at 103 Durham Street South, call us on (03) 379 5804, or email us at sales@diveskiworld.co.nz

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 water is definitely getting chilly – I will not argue with that, but it could be a lot colder… Imagine if you were diving in somewhere like Iceland, in the Silfra fissure where the water is a freezing 2-4 degrees all year round. You would be crazy to do this without a dry suit.

The Silfra is known as one of the top dive sites in the world because of its crystal clear water and the crack in which you are diving. When you head down into the water you are between two continental plates; the North American plate and Eurasian plate. The water visibility between these two plates can be up to 100m, as clear as drinking water. The water comes from the Langjokull glacier and is then filtered through the ground for up to 100 years until it reaches the Thingvellir Lake. There is not a lot of life in this ravine other than trout, but it is beautiful none the less. The rock walls at some points almost meet, and you can touch both sides on the plates. There is a crazy green algae that grows on the bottom which they call ‘troll hair’. This UNESCO world heritage site is unlike anything you will have seen before.

So the next time you are thinking it’s too cold to go diving in New Zealand, remember it is about 10 degrees at the moment and that there are a lot of colder places in the world where you could be getting in the water! Also, some of the best diving around the South Island can be done over winter. The weather normally calms down and we get a constant Southerly swell rolling through. Think of all those amazing dive sites on the North side of Akaroa or Kaikoura that you missed out on diving over summer and do them now!

Remember we are having a Drysuit Demo Day on Saturday 30th July, so if you want to experience the toasty warmth of drysuit diving, let us know!

Give us a call on (03) 379 5804, or email us at sales@diveskiworld.co.nz. You can find us from Monday to Saturday, 8:30am until 5pm at Dive HQ Christchurch, 103 Durham St South!

“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 will grab a tank and set up my equipment – a comfortable and familiar procedure. The sound of waves on the shore, the salty sea wind on my face; the feeling of going home. People are spitting in masks, swilling them out. It isn’t elegant, and we don’t care! Others attach strobes to cameras, and buddy teams help each other gear up. Buddy checks complete? Let’s go.

It begins. Wading out through the waves, letting the cool water wash over you, or back-rolling into the blue. Looking down at that whole other world that lies beneath us – just waiting to be explored!

70% of the planet we live on is covered with water, making it hardly surprising that some of the most spectacular spots on earth lie under the ocean’s surface. Non-divers only get the chance to experience 30% of what is on offer – imagine what you are missing out on!

Regulator in – my lifeline that will supply my air during the dive – I start my descent. Deflating my BCD, I’m in free fall, I can twist and turn in any way I please. I am weightless, I defy gravity, I am flying! Lying face down, arms and legs splayed slowing my descent. I am sky-diving in slow-mo, watching as the sea bed rises to meet me. I will twist over to lie looking up at the surface, as it slips slowly away from me, or maybe let my whole world flip upside down as I plunge – Superman style – onwards; one of my favourite moments of a dive is the descent. It is that sudden sense of weightlessness, when the laws of physics exerted on us on land no longer apply. Ever wanted to experience zero gravity and what it feels like to fly unaided? Then diving will give you a pretty good idea.

Seconds before making contact with the bottom, I take a slow, deep breath, stabilising myself, stopping me inches short of the sea bed. I hang momentarily, then begin my dive. Learning to control your buoyancy is the key to ‘underwater flying’, and you will find that once you have it mastered, you can perform impressive underwater gymnastics with next to no effort. You think it, you do it – your body unquestioningly following your brain and imagination’s orders. Honestly, there is no other feeling quite like it! (You can perfect your buoyancy with a Peak Performance Buoyancy Course!)

Now that you are here, it is time to look around. The whole universe has gone quiet – something else that I love. All you hear is the sound of your own breathing. In, out, in, out… Slow and steady, you are in total control. Every now and then you may hear the unmistakable sound of a parrotfish chomping on nearby coral, or maybe the annoying whine of a boat engine, but you relax, knowing it will soon pass and fade.

How many of you like to spend ages in the shower because it is your ‘thinking place’? Somewhere you can be alone with your thoughts and finally make those decisions that have been hanging over you for a while? Being underwater is kind of like that, but a hundred times better. Your troubles, worries, and problems all fade for that time you spend out in the blue.

No matter where you are diving, there are always a million sights to distract you.

“Whoa! Look at that giant crayfish, right there” *frantic hand signals*

“Seal! Seal behind you!” (What is the signal for seal, anyway?)

Sharks, turtles, pretty colourful fishes… The kelp and coral itself a delight for the eyes. The light playing through the water, floating rainbows, sparkling off the sand… Everything about our underwater world is mesmerizing.

I have been diving for almost fourteen years and yet even now, nothing can match the feeling I get before and during a dive. I still catch myself in complete wonder, halfway through a dive, as I realise I am breathing underwater (a look at my dive computer confirms that yes, I have been breathing underwater for a full 45 minutes now). So I will grin and perform a series of flips, just because I can.

Diving is so much more than a sport; it is a passion, it is true love, it is a life-style! Once you learn to dive, enter into that whole new world, and join the community made up by scuba divers, you will never want to turn back.

If you would like to learn to dive, or continue your diving education, get in touch so we can help you pursue your passion!

Dive HQ Christchurch 2013 Ltd

103 Durham Street South

Sydenham,

Christchurch,

New Zealand

Phone: 03 379-5804

Email: sales@diveskiworld.co.nz

www.diveskiworld.co.nz

William Trubridge is a special sort of man. I bet some of you will think he is insane, which maybe he is – and others will think he is amazing. The things he can do with his body, most of us would never dream of trying. His personal best stationary breath hold is 7 minutes 29 seconds - this is massive! Most people would be able to hold their breath for a couple of minutes, max. He has 16 World Records in 2 disciplines and continues to break his own World Records. This man is tough to beat, no one even comes close.

Watch this incredible video of Trubridge as he sets his 101m record in 2011. See if you can watch it without subconsciously holding your breath!

William Trubridge is going to try  to break his own World Record of 101m againf this month, on the 21^st of July at 7.40am on TV One. The record will be attempted at Dean’s Blue Hole, in the Bahamas. The blue hole is the deepest salt water hole known which starts below sea level and goes down to 202m. He was the first person ever to freedive this site in 2005. Trubridge will do this freedive on a single breath, using no fins and without pulling himself down the rope! He can only hold the rope to stop the descent and start the ascent.

Dean’s Blue Hole – Bahamas

Constant weight without fins is the most challenging free diving discipline because of the effort your body needs to swim without assistance. This is not an easy task he is trying to complete. It’s cold and dark down there, and the pressure exerted from the overhead water is crushing his lungs. His heat slows and his mind will be blurry, but through a lot of training his body can overcome these issues.

The record that currently stands has not been broken since 2010, and was set by him. The last time he tried to break his own World Record he didn’t quite make it. Trubridge passed out 12m below the surface and the safety divers had to grab him and pull him up. He was disappointed with himself for not breaking his record. However we all wish him luck later this month!

To find out more about the wonder that is William Trubridge, you can visit his website, here.

If you would like to learn the theory behind breath holding, take a look at our freediving courses!

Get in touch with the team at Dive HQ Christchurch to find out more! Call us on (03) 379 5804, or email us at sales@diveskiworld.co.nz