Quick reminder to all Open Water students this weekend to come in and pack you dive equipment for the weekend
Quick reminder to all Open Water student
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After 19 years at Dive HQ Christchurch i
After 19 years at Dive HQ Christchurch it is time to pass the baton and so it is with great pleasure that we announce the sale of our business. We have had a great time here with so many wonderful memories of a great clientele, business relationships and fun in diving.
From the early days at Moorhouse Ave., through the changes we brought and latterly the EQ events that have changed so much, we have always strived to make the experience fun and friendly.
So it is that we would like to introduce (indeed many of you will know) the new owners, Richard and Julie Chitty, and Lindsay Chitty so it is “business as usual” given Richard’s in depth knowledge from his employment with us here over the last 4 ½ years. Changeover is next weekend so the effective new ownership is from 2nd September.
All business transactions and purchase records are maintained within the software so certification records, hire records and service reminders will continue ensuring a seamless transfer.
Predictably, Brian can’t be kept too far from the water so he will continue to run the Stabicraft – “Liquid Asset” for diving and fishing charters and the occasional overseas foray including Galapagos Islands next year.
We thank you again for your support and goodwill over nearly two decades of trade.
Kind Regards
Jane and Brian Franks
Recipe of the Month – “Politicians Ear
Recipe of the Month – “Politicians Ear Soup” Just like Shark Fin Soup it would be tasteless, quite macabe, nutritionally useless, it would rid the world of Top Predators but best of all, unlike sharks that need their fins, Politicians could carry on as if nothing had happened because they dont use their ears anyway! – http://ow.ly/lYmGB
Seaweek. Pete Bethune speaking in Akaroa
Seaweek. Pete Bethune speaking in Akaroa. This should make for an interesting night out – Anyone interested in going?
Yesterday, besides being one of the best
Yesterday, besides being one of the best on the boat around at Whakamoa and Long Bay,Banks Peninsula, was puntuated with the great experience of being able to guide two young divers Shaun Penell 13 and Richard Goodwin 15 on a couple of there early experiences in open water. ( I have been trying to get the conditions right there for 35 years and this was one out of the box) What was most impressive was the uptake of interest and the zest for life that these enthusiatic young lads exhibited. Shaun is undergoing therapy for a major illness and yet his composure and knowledge of fishes is daunting and Richard displayed the keeness of the real seal that visited us. An inspiration to any parent who would rather their kids get in to something rewarding. Top Day! Brian Franks
What a day! Two trips today out of Wainu
What a day! Two trips today out of Wainui. A “not bad day” getting better left us in no doubt as to the spectacular backdrop Banks Peninsular is to some great diving. A very happy couple of dive crews’ Long may this great summer prevail. 15 +m viz which is unheard of for such an exposed locality!
Fiji scholars’ final update: We are now
Fiji scholars’ final update:
We are now all certified Divemasters! What an amazing three weeks it has been.
With less than 24 hours to go before we return to New Zealand, we would just like to pass on a massive thank you to Dive HQ and PADI for the dive trip of a lifetime. Last night we celebrated finishing the course as certified Divemasters, with our awesome instructors and some of the locals. A big bowl of Kava and a snorkeling challenge that apparently every Divemaster must complete! We have learnt a ton, improved our diving skills and become great mates – that’s what it’s all about, right!
If the scholarship is run again next year – all we can say is APPLY!!
Good diving.
Matt, Ollie, Craig and Kim — at Nananu-I-Ra, Fiji
Pohatu – Flea Bay Marine Reserve If ther
Pohatu – Flea Bay Marine Reserve
If there is just a minion of truth in this story it is inexplicable and may help explain why we had such an underwhelming experience in Pohatu last week. http://ow.ly/haCFd
Second week scholars’ update: Another we
Second week scholars’ update:
Another week has passed (or rather, flown by) and with only one week to go in Fiji we have all been busy completing the various formal requirements of the Divemaster course. We are all also completing 5 specialties being Deep Dive, Navigation, Search and Recovery, Night Diving and Peak Performance Buoyancy which each require multiple dives and some specialty book work and with only 5 diving days left (allowing for an 18 hour stand down before flying back to NZ) we have upped the tempo to get the job done.
For every dive one of us is the designated Divemaster Trainer who takes the group (including paying customers) through a detailed dive brief about the site to be dived and then that Divermaster Trainer is responsible for conducting and leading the dive. The pressure to ensure an enjoyable dive and to return to the boat has been intense and our instructors have not held back in criticising our techniques, especially when we don’t make it back to the boat – a baptism of fire!
Today we undertook two dives, one at a site called “Circus” which no one on the boat had dived before! We conducted a navigation exercise which involved navigating a reciprocal heading and a square using a compass and counting kick cycles. During the exercise Ollie and Suzy (an open water student) had their square interrupted by a reef shark crossing their path as the rest of the group followed it. The second dive this morning was at a site called “Cleavage” aptly named due to its alluring crack between two pinnacles. Craig led the group through a cave that turned into a swim through.
Our skills are being honed and our techniques improved with every dive – something which has come in handy when navigating swim-throughs and passageways. Tonight is our first night dive on the Island and we excited to be exploring the “Hoff” in the dark – Knight Rider styles!
See our photo of the gang cooling off in the Safari Lodge Jacuzzi (aka the BCD wash-out tub) after this morning’s dive. http://ow.ly/ha6WA
Woohoo! Congratulations Dive HQ Scholars
Woohoo! Congratulations Dive HQ Scholars! Well Done!!! Fiji update from Matt, Craig, Kim and Ollie:
Over the last couple of days we have completed deep dive, search and recovery and rescue scenarios and the all important Divemaster exam. You can congratulate us because we all passed which we are all very pleased about and got rewarded by a half-hour massage and a field trip to the local Rakiraki town centre for a spot of shopping and some liquid supp…See more — at Nananu-I-Ra, Fiji.
Dive HQ Christchurch 