Hot out of the Design Hub at Atomic Aquatics are two awesome products. First the Atomic Venom ARC mask is a blend of the Atomics SubFrame and Frameless Masks. It has a reinforcing internal frame that’s molded directly beneath the surface of the silicone rubber skirt, like on the Subframe, yet it offers the relatively low profile of the Frameless. A single window like the Atomic Frameless, but it has a high bridge and tear-drop shape similar to the SubFrame’s dual-window design. Its easy-to-use squeeze-to-adjust buckles are soft-mounted to the mask skirt, which allows flexibility in strap positioning, plus they can be folded flat for packing.

How the Venom differs from its SubFrame and Frameless cousins, is how the bright sparks over at Atomic have constructed the lens. The Frameless and SubFrame mask use Ultraclear glass, which in itself has almost unrivalled clarity and a reputation for optical quality. On the Venom Mask Atomic import and even higher-quality glass imported from Germany, this Schott Superwite glass allows even more light to pass through the lens unobstructed compared to the Ultraclear glass.

In addition to the Schott Superwite glass the Atomic Venom ARC mask has an Anti-Reflective Coating which allows more light to enter the mask and reduce light reflection. This makes seeing through the mask better above and below the water. Atomic Aquatics developed ARC (Anti-Reflective Coating) Technology to Reduce Reflected Light and actually Increase the amount of Available Light Transmitted to a Diver’s Eyes. The result is a greatly Improved Transmission of 98% of Available Light, compared to a loss of more than 14% of light with standard green “float” glass used on the majority of masks on the market. Anti-Reflective Coatings or ARC” is a Multi-Layer Metal Oxide Coating Process applied to both sides of the Ultra-Clear Lenses. This allows more light to enter the mask by Reducing Light Reflections off the inside and outside surface of the lens. The Metal Oxide Coating is only a few Microns Thick. ARC will give you Clearer, Crisper Vision.

And Second the All New Atomic SV2 Snorkel. As many of you know diving with a snorkel can be more of a burden than a help, whether it be the way it sits on the side of your head or that when you do go to use it is just not that easy to clear. I know I noticed this the most on a dive trip while I was on holiday in Rarotonga, nearly every diver was not diving with a snorkel. The bright sparks over at Atomic have come up with what I think is an almost perfect snorkel. The Atomic SV 2 Snorkel is easy to clear is Low in Profile and one that stays Dryer inside is what you are looking for. SV stand for Scupper Valve, also known as a One-Way-Valve. Just like the One-Way-Valve in your Regulator which when you exhale drains water from your regulator the Scupper Valve basically works the same. The SV2 uses an additional feature that keeps water away from your mouth a Small Tube located just below the Mouthpiece is designed to keep the Breathing Airway path Free of Water Droplets. To keep water from easily entering the top of the snorkel the SV2 incorporates a Grill Grid Opening which Deflects Water that would go down the end of a conventional snorkel tube. The Flexible Lower Tube makes the Atomic SV2 Snorkel perfect for Scuba by Automatically-Swinging Out-of-the-Way when you are using your Scuba Regulator. So if you hate to use a snorkel, but want more bottom time this is the solution you are looking for

Spend $100 in store anytime this month to go in to win these bad boys!

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!

Hollis F1 Fins

With a name Like F1 fins you would expect speed, efficiency and high end performance – These fins deliver on all fronts!

The Hollis F1 fins are made from a single piece of high strength industrial monoprene rubber. Basically that means with no seams, no plastic and no joins the Hollis F1 Fins are as tough as they come. For me that makes them perfect for almost any keen diver. Having a durable fin gives you confidence to take on even the toughest conditions from technical diving with multiple tanks to bashing them in and around rocks on a cray hunt!

 Being made from a single piece of monoprene rubber gives the Hollis F1 fin a substantial weight. This makes it a great choice for divers wearing drysuits or 7mm wetsuits to help control the dreaded floaty foot syndrome. Because of this weight and strength of the fin the designers at Hollis have included three vents on the fin just past the tip of your toes. On any fin this zone at the very tip of your foot is a bit of a dead zone. Typically that part of the fin offers nothing in terms of increased performance and simply makes it harder to kick. Having three vents here allows water in the dead zone to move through the fin and reduce your physical effort and increase efficiency.

In the past using slimmer softer fins I struggled to turn on the sport without kicking up a wee cloud of silt but with a Technical fin like the F1 those big rails act almost like side panels and give you a much better surface to turn with. Using this style of fin I can also finally back kick (move backwards) without flapping my arms around like an underwater chicken! With all that strength and rigidity all moving through the water becomes a breeze.

The Hollis F1 fins are also much easier to get on and off compared to other fins I have used. To start with they have a stainless steel spring strap which has three tension setting to make sure you get a perfect fit. The beauty of a spring strap is that there is no more flopping and flailing about trying to get your rubber straps in place and secure. The F1 fins also have a thumb large thumb loop to make life easier actually pulling the strap into place. In terms of getting the fins off the F1 stands apart from others like it because of two seemingly insignificant drain holes in the foot pocket. These drain holes stop the fin from sucking onto your wetsuit boot so hard that you need to call on your buddy to yank them off.

All in all I think the Hollis F1 fins are fantastic option for divers who are looking for a high performance fin. The fins combine performance, ease of use, and power seamlessly to give divers a fin that will meet the even the most demanding of dive situations. It is an extremely well designed and well thought out fin – looks cool too!

Spend $100 in store anytime during April to go in to win!!

February monthly price draw

Winner will receive an Oceanic Atmos BCD!

Oceanic has a saying.. “Innovation first”. As a brand they are known for their dependable products that are loved by all divers, and the Atmos is no exception. It’s easy to use and the highly adjustable design is awesome for pretty much any recreational diver.

The Atmos has plenty of steel d-rings, and as divers we all know that you can never have too many d-rings. This d-ring extravaganza coupled with comfy back support, BC handle for easy transport and easy to maneuver integrated weight system means pulling it straight out of the shop and into the water is nothing short of a breeze.

This particular BCD by Oceanic not only talks the talk, but also walks the walk. In the water, thanks to its innovative (remember, innovation first) hybrid inflation, you’ll find yourself gliding through the water with the greatest of ease. “Hybrid” inflation, loosely translated, means most of your lift sits on your back, with just a little bit swinging around your front. This means you get the great back inflate feeling down below without the awkward turtle face plant while sitting on the surface waiting for your buddy to sort themselves out, what could be better than that?

As if that wasn’t enough, with this BCD you’ll also find plenty of dumps, a knife mount, storage pockets (with HEAPS of room for shenanigans) and non dump-able trim weight pockets. Oceanic has a pretty classic inflate/deflate mechanism, with very solid, beefy, man hand buttons. All in all, I’m unable to fault this piece of kit, it’s durable, well made and just makes a whole lot of sense.

Features:

– 9 kg of integrated weight in the Pinch & Release system and  4.5 kg trim
– Padded backplate features an extended lumbar support to transfer tank weight onto hips, relieving shoulder stress
– Three (3) over pressure relief valves optimize buoyancy control
– Crucial areas constructed of 1000D denier Cordura fabric
– 2 large, zippered pockets with knife mounting grommets
– Adjustable depth-compensating cummerbund

Spend $100 in store during February to go in to win this bad boy!

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!

Split Fins or Blade Fins

 The design itself is meant to channel the right amount of water with each kick behind you to propel you forward and allowing extra water to slip through the split to ease the strain and work load on the ankles, shins and all other muscles involved in the desired kicking style. The atomic split fins are great for those people that can be exasperated and tired with a stiffer more cumbersome blade fin or for those with lower limb injuries.

Ever dropped a fin while gearing up? Don’t panic these are a fraction positively buoyant and so, no more feeling around on the bottom groping for your fins in the kelp!

 The Atomic split fins come in a range of colours, with the options of rubber or stainless-steel fins straps.

Features include:

• Less Drag, More Thrust, Less Strength is Used
• Latest Technology in Composite Plastic Polymer Materials
• Light Fin (Great Travel Fin)
• Increases Thrust and Reduces Fatigue
• EZ-LOK Squeeze-Style” Quick-Release Buckles
• EZ-LOK: Snap-On-and-Off with Ease, Will-Not Disengage- Accidentally
• Rubber Straps with Large Pull-Tab for Easy Donning and Doffing
• Flexibility and Rigidity for Efficient Propulsion
• Less Air Consumption
• Power Rails: Backbone of the Split Fin, Highly-Resilient, Storing and Releasing Energy with Every Kick
• Semi-Ridged Flex Battens: Control the Precise Wing Shape to Optimize Thrust and Reduce Drag
• Large Surface Area Blade Improves Pivoting, Turning and Alternate Kick Styles
• Thin, Yet Strong and Highly Flexible Hinge Points Cause Blade to React Quick-and-Efficiently
• Anatomically Contoured Foot Pocket Designed to Fit Foot without Stress Points
• Semi-Open Toe for Added Comfort
• Internal Sole Plate, Ridged Platform Beneath-the-Foot, Greater Power Transfer to the Blade
• Soft, Comfortable Open Heel Foot Pocket
• Sizes: Small, Medium, Large or X-Large

Spend $100 in store anytime during December to go into the draw for some awesome fins!

Oceanic Alpha Reg & Octi, Zeagle Plus BCD and Compact Gauges

Jacket style BCD and Regulator combo

 Oceanic’s Alpha 8 Second Stage and SP5 First Stage produce a low-priced, no frills regulator system that offers easy breathing. This regulator is so rugged and economical to maintain (replacement parts are inexpensive). It can be used with air or Nitrox mixtures up to 40 % right out-of-the-box. The Alpha 8’s super sturdy ABS/polycarbonate housing weighs just 170 g and measures 7.4 cm in diameter. The lightweight material and anatomically designed mouthpiece translates into a second stage that won’t cause jaw fatigue. The Alpha 8 second stage is a dependable downstream demand valve design.
The SP-5 first stage regulator offers all divers the opportunity to own a top performing regulator. Repeatedly rated as the best in its class, the SP-5 exceeds both Navy Class A and European CE standards. The SP-5 is a non-balanced flow-by piston designed regulator..

The Zeagle Base BCD is a highly durable jacket style BC. The Base is a unisex front adjustable jacket style BC made from reinforced and fade resistant Cordura 1000 denier nylon material on bladder, shoulder straps, harness and pocket material. The bladder is internally urethane laminated with welded seams for airtight integrity. The BCD’s harness is made up of a dual position adjustable sternum strap, webbed cummerbund with dual adjustment, torso adjustable shoulder straps, adjustable, sternum and waist straps. All straps are equipped with squeeze-style” side-release buckles for quick and easy donning and doffing.
The Base BCD is equipped with two stainless steel and two plastic D-rings along with one retractor D-ring, accessory webbing hook and two hook and loop closure utility pockets for attachment and storage of accessory items. Buoyancy control is made easy with the right shoulder and rear right overpressure relief/pull dump valves and Zeagle’s Power Inflator System with 3/8″ threaded quick-disconnect low pressure hose. The inflator is also connected to a pull dump valve for rapid deflation.
The Base BCD provides 10.9 kg of lift capacity. This Jacket style BCD has an extra soft back pad for increased comfort, a dry weight of 3 kg, and is made in the USA.

Spend $100 in store anytime in November 2018 and go in to win this package

August monthly prize draw!

Whether it’s poking your nose under a rock to check for that next monster cray or going for an always epic night dive to check out the nocturnal sea life, every diver should carry at least one torch. A back up is also always a good idea, as well as a necessity when night diving. The Hollis LED Mini is a great torch for either purpose, hunting for crayfish or as a back up at night. It’s compact, and for it’s size carries a lot of “oomph”. The simple click on, click off mechanism is so straight forward that even my cat could use it. The simplicity and durability of this torch means you’ll experience minimal flooding (if you’ve ever had a flooded torch, you’ll understand this pain) as well as a bright beam from a compact piece of kit. See below for the specs. 

• Single 3W backup light
• Concentrated 8 degree beam
• Output 210 Lumen
• Burntime – 4 hours total
• Bulb life 50,000 hours
• T6061-T6 Anodized Aluminum
• 3 AAA alkaline batteries
• Rear tie-point for boltsnap/lanyard included
• Double O-ring seals
• State of the art PMMA reflector

Once you’ve gone head first into that cray hole with your awesome torch and returned safely with your catch, you’ll need to be sure he’s up to size. Included in the prize for the month of August will be a standard aluminium cray measure. Ensuring your catch is legal will save you a potential headache, as well as giving the wee fellas a chance to grow up to size for good eating. The aluminium measure is tough, and can be clipped to your gear for easy underwater measuring.

Crays are spiky little buggers, if you’ve ever tried grabbing one bare handed you’ll understand this pain. This is their defense mechanism (one of many) and luckily for us we can combat this using kevlar palm gloves. Kevlar stitching is durable and definitely able to withstand those pesky cray spikes. In your kit you’ll find a pair of Oceanic Kevlar gloves. These gloves are warm enough for NZ waters, as well as being tough enough to tackle the biggest of crays.

And finally, as a cherry on top of this badass sundae, you’ll need somewhere to put all these crays you’ll be catching. An NZ made, Dive HQ catch bag will do the trick for sure. This heavy duty catch bag will retain your catch, saving you hanging on for dear life to a frantic crayfish. Nothing worse than doing the work only to discover your dinner has snuck out the back way.

Spend $100 in store anytime during the month of August to go in the draw!

“When are you going to get a real job?” It’s a question that has followed me for my entire adult life. The question was often heard from well-meaning friends, who were sure that I was wasting my life by not pursuing a “career”. Spending my nights pouring drinks for well to do businessmen in dark bars and filling my days with sleep and various hobbies.

Much of my experience thus far has pushed me into doing something that most found, to put it politely, “non-traditional.” Most of the adults I’ve known in my life work at jobs that they hate. Fulfilment, if ever considered at all, wasn’t something the folks I grew up with got from an employer. They were satisfied with a pay check; the thought that one should actually enjoy what they did for a living never occurred to them. I, on the other hand, came under the influence of my father. He felt the idea of preparing someone for a vocation, and then only after they finished training, hope that they liked what they were doing was an embarrassingly dumb idea. He insisted that the secret to a happy life was to first find the thing you love, and then figure out a way to get paid for it. Never did I dream that the thing I loved would be diving.

My first dive was at the age of 14, on a family holiday in Fiji. I remember it like it was yesterday, for all the wrong (or right?) reasons. After completing an orientation in a tragically shallow resort pool, the following day dad and I set out for a “real” dive in the ocean. The sea was black, wind howled and whipped us around like kites on the boat ride to the site. Upon arrival I was nauseous and terrified. After a traumatising backwards roll we made our descent down the line. Unfortunately the dive itself is a foggy memory at this point. We made our ascent, upon surfacing I looked my father straight in the eye and, I’m told in a very impassioned manner, said I “was never (*insert expletive here*) doing that again”.
Its 11 years later and I look back on my first experience in the majesty that is the ocean with a smile. I imagine myself reliving that specific dive with the experience I now have under my belt, the wind wouldn’t worry me, and the waves would excite me. The black of the water would enthral me. Descending into the quiet beauty that waits for us below the surface every time we dive would have been a relief, not a terror.
Between that far off memory and now, I have my dad to thank, being a PADI certified diver himself he’s always had a thirst for the adventure that comes with SCUBA diving. Me being the eldest and least stubborn of his children I was (somehow, and thank goodness I was) swindled into making several more dives with him over the years. Slowly my fear faded and morphed into awe. Soon, beneath the surface of the water, in any form, was the only place I ever wanted to be. With his encouragement, endless support from friends who know me and my family, 9 years after that first dive, I began my journey to becoming a PADI diving instructor and haven’t looked back.
Now, I get to take those experiencing the same fear I once did and introduce them to the unfamiliar. Watching uncertainty slip away, to be replaced by excitement, has become a normal part of my day. We, as divers, face the unknown on the daily, explore the unexplored and know not to be afraid of sharks.

If you’re considering giving the sport a go, just do it. If you’re already a diver considering becoming a part of the PADI professional community, just do it.
Who needs a “real job” anyway, right?

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.