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!

We’re not just in your element; we were born there!

In a factory on the coast of British Columbia — BARE, the brainchild of 2 divers determined on creating a drysuit for the frigid waters of the Canadian Pacific Ocean was born. For over 40 years, Bare has honed their expertise and become obsessed in their pursuit of creating wetsuits, drysuits and accessories that meet these requirements.

Their wetsuits and drysuits use a unique combination of anatomically correct patterns, sophisticated materials and painstaking craftsmanship; along with in-house design and manufacturing facilities to constantly evolve our wetsuit and drysuit design to exceed the expectations of our customers.

WE’RE JUST BREAKING THE SURFACE. Looking to the future, BARE is committed as ever to pushing scuba diving to greater depths and greater discovery.

Introducing the 8/7MM Velocity Ultra Hooded Semi-Dry

If you don’t want to invest in a dry-suit but want to keep warm on your dives the Velocity Semi-Dry Hooded Suit is for you. The suit drastically reduces the water exchange that occurs with a standard wet suit and keeps you warmer for longer periods of time. This means increased comfort, decreased air consumption and longer bottom times.

Just look at this suits features!

The Velocity Ultra is a performance driven wetsuit that features the Progressive Full-Stretch (PFS) construction of the popular Velocity, with the advancement of UltraWarmth Celliant Infrared Technology. Bare’s greatest innovations in design and development together for longer, more comfortable dives.

The combination of three different full-stretch material types PFS, makes this one of the highest performing mid-priced suits available. We start with Bare-Fit, the foundation of every Bare suit, which uses ergonomic design and intricate shaping patterns with articulated arms and legs. Then we highlight areas of the suit where flexibility and abrasion resistance are essential and incorporate special full-stretch fabrics to maximize performance in these key areas. PFS gives the Velocity Ultra Series a fit and feel unlike any other. What makes the Velocity Ultra Series truly special is that it’s the only mid-priced dive suit to feature the thermal-activated performance of Celliant Infrared Technology. Using minerals woven into the fabric of the suit, Celliant turns wasted body heat into infrared energy, reflecting it back to your body. This results in increased warmth, faster recovery times, and greater stamina for longer, more comfortable dives.

Suit has an attached hood features Celliant lining for additional warmth. 2mm neoprene internal pullover bib for additional warmth and comfort. Front-entry cross-chest heavy-duty plastic dry zipper. 10mm spine and kidney pad to provide extra comfort for tank placement. Seamless underarms for superior comfort when worn on its own, with an additional wet layer or with a BCD. Skin-to-skin double 3mm Glideskin wrist and ankle seals. Embossed back knee flex panels to reduce bulk behind the knee when kicking and crouching. PROTEKT knee protection provides the next generation of abrasion and wear resistance. Anatomically correct pattern for three-dimensional fit throughout for superior fit, comfort and mobility. Suits is equipped with heavy-duty ankle zippers for easy donning and doffing. Double glued construction eliminates water entry through the seams.

Bare 8/7mm 2017 Ultra Velocity Semi-Dry Men’s Hooded Suit Features

Bare 8/7mm Ultra Velocity Semi-Dry Men’s Hooded Suit:

Progressive Full-Stretch Technology

Full-Stretch Nylon-2 Neoprene

Varying-Degrees of Full-Stretch Panels into Specific Performance Zones

Progressive Stretch: Concept Only Available in Velocity Series

Ergonomic Suit Design, Complex Shaped Patterns with Articulated Arms and Legs

Front-Entry Cross-Chest Heavy-Duty Plastic Dry Zipper

Seamless Underarms for Superior Comfort when Worn On-Its-Own

Skin-to-Skin Double 3mm Glideskin Wrist and Ankle Seals

PROTEKT Knee Protection Provides Next Generation of Abrasion/Wear Resistance

Spend $100 in store during the month of October for a chance to win this suit!

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!

Oceanic Geo 2

The Oceanic Geo 2 is a great entry level wrist mounted computer. So stylish you could wear it in and out of the water. The wide selection of colours will allow you to match your outfit whether it be on a tropical beach or penetrating a wreck at 30 metres under torch light. A simplistic menu orientation and 4 buttons allow for ease of use. Capable of adjusting for enriched air levels right up to 100% O2 with separate gas mixes. For the first-time dive computer buyers, not being restricted to where the high-pressure hose can reach gives you an unfamiliar feeling of freedom.

The display itself is simple and easy to understand (paired with a lovely laminated instruction for use card). Getting in the water needs no effort aside from securely attaching it to your wrist. (or leg we won’t judge you for it.) Whilst in the water, reading the display is very straight forward, everything important is right in front of my eyes. My depth, bottom time, no decompression limit, ascent rate meter and tissue loading graph. Probably my favourite thing is not having to scroll through the entire list of dives or options like those single button operation computers. If I just happen to miss what I’m looking for because I hit the button one time too many I can scroll backwards! Get rid of the console computer and your old G-Shock at the same time and purchase one of these gems.

Features Include:

• The Geo 2.0 Dive Computer is powered by Oceanic’s Exclusive Dual Algorithm™ – Your choice between Pelagic DSAT (Spencer/Powell data basis) or Pelagic Z+ (Buhlmann ZHL-16C data basis)
• Operating Modes: WATCH (Alternate Time, Chrono, Daily Alarm, Countdown Timer), NORM (Air and Nitrox), GAUGE (with run timer) and FREE (tracks calculations to allow switching between NORM and Free)
• User-Friendly Interface with “Step Back” – allows forward and backward navigation through menus and settings
• Switch between up to 2 Nitrox mixes to 100% O2 with no restriction (Gas 1 may be up to 100%, and may be less or greater than Gas 2)
• Stop times <3 minutes – displays minutes & seconds Deep Stop with Countdown Timer – Maybe turned on or off. 2-minute countdown at half your max depth, for dives greater than 80 ft / 25m
• Single button access to “Last Dive” display (max depth& bottom time)
• Data Retention – maintains calculations indefinitely when the battery is changed
• The Geo 2.0 dive computer has an audible alarm with flashing LED light
• 24 dive on-unit log book
• History Mode includes total number of dives, max depth, total dive hours, and lowest temp
• The Geo 2.0 comes with optional PC Interface with OceanLog Download and Settings Upload
• Firmware Auto-Update: download and install the latest firmware – these may be operational improvements or even new features

Spend $100 in store and go into the draw to win one of these awesome computers! Competition running for different prizes, each month, for the next 12 months! Score!

I have been a PADI instructor for 19 years and one of the most common questions asked when people are completing their PADI open water course or looking at purchasing dive equipment in the shop is, “What dive gear do you use?”

Dive Mask:
Hollis M3 mask is a black silicon dive mask that fits extremely well. Designed for technical diving means that reliability and a great seal on your face is a must. The most important thing with scuba diving masks is the way it fits you. Remember that if your mask continuously leaks and hurts your face, you will not enjoy the scuba or free dive. Also the fact that it has a gopro mount that can attach your camera too gives this mask another tick.Learn more…

Snorkel:
Aqualung Impulse 3 snorkel, I first started using the Impulse 2 snorkel 19 years ago once I first started working as a diving instructor in 1998. The only real change between the two snorkels is that the new impulse 3 is more streamlined and modernised.   What Aqualung have done is designed a snorkel that doesn’t let any water into the bore of the snorkel when on the surface. This stops any surface splash and chop. Learn more…

Fins:
Scubapro Nova Wing Fins hit the dive scene in 2014 and made massive splashes, winning scuba lab fins of the year. Just by looking at these dive fins you can see the shape if different from traditional fins. In the water it feels like you are hardly wearing fins. Nearly all of the dive instructors in the shop now wear these fins. That tells you a lot. Learn more…

Wetsuit:
Aqualung Solafx Wetsuit is a warm suit that meets all my diving needs. I used to be a real hunter gatherer and was always quite rough on the wetsuits. I used to have a Southern Ocean front entry suit and always loved it. For many years I have looked for something similar but never could find it. I had a Beuchat comfort 4 wetsuit for about 3 years before moving to the Solafx. I am still a fan of the Beuchat suits and still use a Beuchat Rocksea Comp open cell spearo suit for freediving and spearfishing. The great thing about the Solafx suit is its 8mm thickness through its core and 7mm around your arms and legs with a super flexible neoprene. Learn more…

Dive Regulator:
I use four different dive regulators, each have a different purpose for the type of diving that I am doing. For technical diving I use a Hollis 200LX, for a stage O2 regulator (over 40% oxygen) I use an oxygen clean Apeks XTX50, for my other stage (under 40% oxygen) I use a Hollis 500SE and lastly for recreational diving I use the Aqualung legend LX regulator and legend octi. Many years of manufacturing has gone into this dive regulator and as a high end product it does not disappoint from its performance underwater at all depths to the ergonomic design that makes the user experience better and easier to use underwater.  Learn more…

Dive Computer:
Shearwater Perdix AI Dive Computer is in a class of its own. Shearwater has been a well-known brand to technical divers for years now and they just get better and better. Colour screen that is perfect for low visibility, links to multiple air transmitter, can be used for recreational, technical and even a backup for your rebreather computer. I can keep going on about this dive computer but take a look at its specs and it says it all. Learn more…

BCD:
Hollis HTS2 harness with integrated weight pockets work so well for me. It offers the flexibility to be used with single, twin, side mount and my Hollis Explorer rebreather. The Hollis technical range is a modulated system that lets you set your harness and wing up to meet your requirements. The other good thing is that the design gives you lots of room around your front and is uncluttered. You really do need to come into Dive HQ Christchurch to see exactly what I mean. Learn more…

Feel free to ask me any questions relating to the dive gear that I use.
Cheers
Richard

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.

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.

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.

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.

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