Scuba Diving Training, Trips, News and Blog
Archive for July, 2009
Upcoming Trip : The Rainbow Warrior
12 years ago
“When man has destroyed the world through his greed,
the Warriors of the Rainbow will arise to save it again”
This weekend I have my first opportunity to dive the wreck of the Rainbow Warrior.
A few of us are heading north to do two dives on what is described as one of New Zealand’s premier wreck dives.
The Rainbow Warrior
The Rainbow Warrior sits in around 27 metres of water between the Cavalli Islands and Matauri Bay on Northland’s East Coast.
The Rainbow Warrior was Greenpeace’s flagship.
She was active in supporting a number of Greenpeace protest activities against seal hunting, whaling and nuclear weapons testing during the late 1970s and early 1980s
On its way to protest France’s nuclear testing on the Mururoa Atoll when it was sunk by French saboteurs on July 10, 1985, in Auckland Harbour. One of the ship’s crew (Fernando Pereira) was killed and an international incident resulted. France was supposed to have been an ally of New Zealand and denied any involvement in what was seen as a terrorist attack.
More information on the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior and those responsible can be found on the Greenpeace website.
New Zealand’s anti-nuclear stance became a national icon and not even the United States of America have been able to sway us since.
After the bombing Greenpeace gifted the Warrior to the sea she now lies as an artificial reef in the Cavalli Islands, a refuge for the marine life she was sunk trying to protect.
The idea was first proposed by the New Zealand Underwater Association. It seemed a fitting end for a ship that had spent its time protecting the marine environment.
She was towed north with a patched hull on 2 December 1987. Ten days later, a crowd of well-wishers looked on as it was given a traditional Maori burial.
Now home to a complex ecosystem, the Rainbow Warrior has become a popular dive destination.
The local Maori community maintains its kaitaki (conservation).
In a few short years, the Rainbow Warrior became an integral part of the environment it helped protect.
PADI Deep Diver Specialty Course
02 years ago
After your first few scuba dives, you soon want to explore a bit deeper.
There’s something exciting and mysterious about the depth that attracts dives.
We have a number of wrecks in New Zealand at around the 30-35 metre depth so the Deep Diver specialty gives you the knowledge and skills to be able to enjoy these whilst ensuring you plan your dive and dive your plan.
What You Learn
- Techniques for diving in the deeper range of 18-40 metres
- Deep scuba diving equipment considerations
- Experience in planning, organising and making at least four deep dives (under Instructor supervision)
In addition to previewing skills you’ll practice with your instructor, the PADI Deep Dive crewpack serves as an ongoing reference guide for deep diving in a variety of conditions and environments.
You’ll also find the answers to common questions such as :
- Is it true that ascending no faster than your bubbles is a good ascent rate?
- Can a slow ascent replace a safety stop?
Equipment You Will Need
- Your standard scuba equipment (BCD, regulator, fins, mask, snorkel etc)
- A dive computer
- A dive light
To enroll in the PADI Deep Diver course, you must be 15 years or older and have a PADI Adventure Diver certification (or have a qualifying certification from another organisation).
