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Trip Report : Diving the Rainbow Warrior
010 months ago
It was pouring with rain when we left Auckland and it only seemed to get worse as we headed towards Paihia.
I had been looking forward to this weekend in what seemed like forever. The weather was not going to get me down.
This was the fourth time I had planned to dive the Rainbow Warrior and I was hell bent on doing it!
The Rainbow Warrior is a special wreck.
From Wikipedia – Sinking of the Rainbow Warrior:
The sinking of theRainbow Warrior, codenamed Opération Satanique,[1] was an operation by the “action” branch of the French foreign intelligence services, theDirection Générale de la Sécurité Extérieure (DGSE), carried out on July 10, 1985. It aimed to sink the flagship of the Greenpeace fleet, the Rainbow Warrior in the port of Auckland, New Zealand, to prevent her from interfering in a nuclear test in Moruroa.
Fernando Pereira, a photographer, drowned on the sinking ship. Two French agents were arrested by the New Zealand Police on passport fraud and immigration charges. They were charged with arson, conspiracy to commit arson, willful damage, and murder. As part of a plea bargain, they pleaded guilty to manslaughter and were sentenced to ten years, of which they served just over two.
The scandal resulted in the resignation of the French Defence Minister Charles Hernu.
We headed out from Matauri Bay with Paihia Dive.
Myself and my dive buddies almost filled their RIB (rigid inflatable boat) but we are used to working like this, so we shuffled our gear together as close as possible and still managed to fit at least another 5-7 divers who were doing their Advanced Open Water course.
I have to say I was really impressed with how the crew handled us – and our gear – would totally recommend the team from Dive Paihia!!
Dropping down on to the stern – two things caught me by surprise.
The Rainbow Warrior was smaller than I expected. I knew she was colourful but the amount of colour blew me away.
I spent an hour on her on my first dive (backgas of 21% and a 42% in a stage cylinder) with my 60mm macro lens.
The second dive was a little shorter.
I’d go back again for sure but next time with a wide angle lens.
Images from by buddies:
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- Me, Ian and Alice heading to the bridge – HMNZS Canterbury / Photograph by Jonathan Gatland
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- me photographing my buddy on the HMNZS Canterbury / Photograph by Jonathan Gatland
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- me on the Rainbow Warrior / Photograph by Jonathan Gatland
Dive One Data || Depth: 25.2m | Time: 60 mins | Temp: 22 degrees |
Dive Two Data || Depth: 23.8m | Time: 36 mins | Temp: 22 degrees |
More photographs (wide angle) and a trip report; Martin Wallis Photography – Diving the Rainbow Warrior
Diving the Rainbow Warrior - Martin Wallis
Trip Report : Diving with a Winner!
01 year ago
by dive mistress
in Trip Reports
Last week, I went diving with my friend Nickie – and her husband Pete.
Nickie was the lucky winner of the Wetkiwi / Dive! Tutukaka / Global Dive tshirt competition.
The prize was a days diving out at the Poor Knights Islands – which we spent on Bright Arrow, in the sun!
Who would have thought that by buying a T-shirt with an awesome design, would result in such a great days diving with my husband Pete, and the team at Dive Tutukaka onboard Bright Arrow.
To top it all off, my dive instructor Tara (now a very good friend), came along aswell for the day, on and under the water.
Two great dives, the first at Landing Bay Pinnacle and the second at Red Baron Caves, gave me plenty of opportunity to practice my skills at underwater photography. I have attached a couple of photos from the days diving.
Hope to catch up with you all soon, as I have truly been bitten by the diving bug and the wonders of the Poor Knights.
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