A hello from below the equator!

[greg somers]

I'm new to this forum but have been diving since 1985.From New Zealand and 40 minutes away from the Poor Knoghts marine reserve.Any day is a good day to dive at the knights.
If any of you want to get info on diving N.Z. then give me a buzz.They've just recently sunk 2 ex navy ships just out of Tutukaka harbour which is also the kick off point for boats heading for the knights.Well,look forward to hearing from you diving fanatics just like me.Haere Ra from the gasman.

 

[King_Neptune]

heya greg,

Have you done much photographing of your beautiful underwater homeland?

If so, would love to check it out!

=-)

 

[Mario S Caner]

Hi there Greg, welcome to the family! Do you have any more info on the two artificial reefs (wrecks) you mentioned?

 

[Natasha]

Hi Greg,
Welcome to the best boards. Glad you found us.
I would love to hear more about your wonderful country. Hope you enjoy it here, and please post often!
:sunny:

 

[greg somers]

To Neptune, Mario and Natasha,
Thanks for the hellos. I've got some great sites for you guys to visit for photos, videos and info on the marine life and wrecks you guys asked about. No, I'm not really a photo buff as I spend more time as an escort to tourists though it is an option once I've upgraded my gear. Prices here are high due to the exchange rate but for you guys you can get a great deal here. U.S $0.43 to the N.Z dollar.
The 2 wrecks are the HMNZS TUI and the HMNZS WAIKATO.
Sites are as follows.
http://www.aquaaction.com/marine.htm
http://www.sportfishing.co.nz/Underwater.htm
http://www.marrserv.com/dinz02pk.htm
There's info and photos on some great sites. I recently dived Tye Dye arch, Middle arch, Northern arch and The Gardens. Tye Dye is just one of those "WOW" dives that makes you burble into your regulator mouthpiece and cause you to create your hand signs because 'OK' is just not enough.
Hope you guys enjoy. Chow from the gasman.

 

[Natasha]

Gasman,
I looked at all three links. Wonderful sites. Thanks for sharing!
:sunny:

 

[DivingGal]

Greetings from Canada that is! Welcome to a great board. The info sharing that goes on here is on the superior level. You'll learn much -- even when you weren't expecting too. The humour is also great.

 

[greg somers]

Hi there Divegal,
Where abouts in Canada are you from? I am myself canadian but have lived in the good old N.Z. for a long long long long time.Toronto's my old haunt.I've got family all through Ontario and B.C. Where do you dive and what sort of gear do you use to stop from freezing your nuts off(figuratively speaking)?look forward to hearing from you.
Gasman

 

[DivingGal]

Well now, you're from my neck of the woods! I currently live in Ottawa, but have spent time in most of the other provinces (I'm a forces brat). I also have family in BC.

Right now I dive mainly along the St Lawrence. Use to dive in a quarry on the Quebec side, but that province has just brought in a new law that says you must hold a provincial license, and if you don't and get caught you can get fined and your equipment can be taken.

As for gear -- just standard neoprene. In other words I don't go in the water until April, and get out by October. Although the early and the late stuff is with thick (7mm a-r-r-g) and the summer is with thin (3/2 or 5). I'll be changing all that with taking Dry Suit training next month.

FYI - water temp early/late in the season is about 55-60F, not bad for a 20-30 min stroll on the bottom,

How about you? Just how did a Canuk get to kiwi land?

 

[greg somers]

Hiya Divegal,
I came with the family from Canada in 1970 and travelled via Oz,Fiji,Hawaii and Finally N.Z where we liked what we saw and stepped off the big boat.I bucked at the idea of leaving the home of the great big maple leaf but there aren't too many job prospects for 6yr olds,despite my insistance to the local authorities,(bloody fascists).
Started diving in 1985 and the coastline in Northland is primo for 'the ducking of the head' with both coastlines no more than an hours drive from my place.
I'm sorry that you don't have any better place to dive than the big St.L or a quarry.That would be unthinkable here with all the great sites and easy access.We can dive a 5mm even in the winter here(with hood,boots and gloves) and The great man Jaques himself rated the Poor Knights as one of the top 10 dives in the world and who am I to doubt his fine opinion.Feeling jealous yet?Never mind.We have plenty of room here for visiting Canucks and we'll even take Americans when the visitor numbers need boosting,but just don't tell any of them as they've got big enough heads already.I see them in the diveshops all the time.Brag!Brag!Brag! I've done this and I've done that.I've seen them put their suit on backwards,leave their buddies and generally talk alot of "kaka".(You can guess what that means).I suppose they get surprised that we have electricity,running water and television here.Someone should tell them that N.Z divers and instructors are "the best in the world!".
We have special dive computers here which have an extra feature.We call it the "Bullsh*tometer" and it not only records when it is around but also how deep it is and how long it will take to decompress before you can ascend from its depths.You have my personal invite to come here and if you do and I'm incountry then I'll escort you to Knight personally.Now let's see if I've caused an international incident.I have nothing against Americans personally.I think the U.S. does a great job holding Canada in place.I just wish they'd send us their "good divers."
catch you on th flip side.The gasman