Global Dive » Divemasters

Dive Team Profile : Veronika Rentsch

Anna — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 06:27:56 +0000

Veronika and her mug

I followed a boy into diving.
That was so long ago it must have been in a previous life.
The boy didn’t last but over the last few years I built up quite a relationship with my friendly neighbourhood dive shop.

I am enthralled by what happens in nature when you take away gravity and add water and pressure instead. Bonkers! But well worth looking after.

I am actively involved with Project Jonah helping to push the odd whale back into the sea!

Dive Team Profile : Deralie Flower

Anna — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 05:26:46 +0000

Deralie has wanted to learn to dive ever since snorkelling in Aitutaki in 1998:

the deep, blue, clear water was just so inviting, the fish were so pretty, and the divers looked so adventurous.

Eleven years later she finally did her Open Water course whilst working in Whangarei.
She was convinced during her Confined Water dives that she was too short, too unfit, the equipment was too heavy, and that this was all a bad idea. After Open Water dives 3^rd and 4^th dives at the Poor Knights she was hooked.

Someone suggested getting a camera, from Global Dive no less, and the rest is history.

She still can’t quite figure out how (in less than a year) she ended up doing her Advanced Open Water, four specialities, Rescue, started Divemaster and now technical diving courses, when she only ever intended to do an Open Water course so she could go diving a few times a year. In summer. For crayfish and scallops.

First dry suit dive! / Photograph by Jo Thomson

She still hasn’t hunted or gathered anything.

She holds a certain blond instructor at least partially responsible for her current state of dive addiction.

Deralie’s official occupation is an obstetrician / gynaecologist, but she has developed an interest in treating seasickness and other dive calamities.
Her poor work colleagues have learnt to nod politely and appear interested during her Monday morning rave about her latest diving adventures. She can be identified by her large orange first aid kit (well, suitcase), newly acquired shiny yellow twins and red Mares fins.

Deralie would like to be reincarnated as a nudibranch at the Poor Knights: pretty, toxic, lives on its food source, crawls only short distances, only annoyance is the occasional crazy macro photographer.

Sounds pretty good don’t you think?

Dive Team Profile : Natasha Sharpe

Anna — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 02:42:06 +0000

Thats our Tash!

Tash’s first ever open water dive was in a freezing cold quarry in the UK 10 years ago.

University seemed like the place to start and since then she’s dived in some more tropical waters and finds New Zealand’s a good balance between the cold and not so cold!!

Tash is highly identifiable underwater with her yellow, green and black kit, so if you buddy with her there are no excuses for getting lost!

Tash completed her first diving training under the BSAC (British Sub-Aqua Club) system and was a member of Bathtub Divers club.
Since her Advanced Open Water Course she is PADI qualified and now holds her Deep Diver and EANX Specialty certificates too.

The Divemaster qualification tests your diving skills to another level and aspects of the course can be applied to your everyday life – killing two birds with one stone – Tash’s kind of course.

Outside of diving Tash loves keeping active, learning to surf, tramping, listening to Bon Jovi and attending the Global Dive Club night.

Dive Team Profile : Jono Gatland

Tara — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 06:31:32 +0000

At the Poor Knights / Photograph by Andrew Simpson

I have done most watersports (wake boarding, surfing, wind surfing, swimming, snorkeling and spearfishing) and I have always wanted to learn to dive.

So from the first Open Water dive, I was totally hooked and this year has pretty much seen me completing a life long dream.
I have spent almost more time in the water this year than out of it and I am quite happy about that.

In the last six months, I have learned to dive, completed my Advanced Open Water and Rescue Diver courses; as well as completing the Nitrox, Deep, Dry Suit specialties and am now looking forward to wreck diving.

I didnt really get a choice when it came to Divemaster.
I finished Rescue and Tara and Anna made sure that there was a Divemaster pack waiting in the shop for me that day.

I have just completed the TDI Introduction to Tech course with Andrew – which is good timing as I have just done my first dives with my twinset.

If I am not diving, I am snowboarding – or fishing – or thinking about my last dive; or hopefully my next dive.

I have met a lot of great new friends through Global Dive – both Instructors and divers.

Dive Team Profile : Phil Walker

Tara — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 23:18:43 +0000

Originally from Cheshire, England. Phil’s first diving exploits took place on a 3-day crash course on holiday in Tenerife in the eighties..

Phil Walker

He didn’t dive again until he came to New Zealand in 2003, mainly because he said the water was too cold !

Since arriving in New Zealand he has completed 10 PADI courses; which include his Divemaster and 5 specialties.

He has also completed 3 TDI courses consisting of Advanced Nitrox, Decompression procedures and Inspiration Rebreather diver.

In the near future he is hoping to qualify as an instructor and Trimix rebreather diver.

Dive Team Profile : Jack Hogan

Tara — Sat, 08 May 2010 01:52:19 +0000

Lazy Jack - how appropriate!

I’m Jack!

My passion for the water began early – and at the tender age of 7, I proclaimed that I wished to become a Marine Biologist.

My love of the oceans was cemented when I did my Open Water course at 16 and then Advanced Open Water at 17.

True to my word, I am due to graduate the University of Auckland in mid 2010 with a double major in Marine Science and Biological Sciences. (This explains why I have not done a lot of my Divemaster Pool Sessions yet and always have a good excuse)

Along with diving, I love sports and play league, golf and cricket.

I am loving my time at Global Dive and hope to further my training to the next level (if I would spend less time looking up cricket scores – and chatting to everyone).

….. and World Peace

(It must be noted that Jack’s original profile sounded like a Miss World introduction speech … so it has been edited ever so slightly by everyone who was in the shop on Friday afternoon ………)

Dive Team Profile : Bronson Brown

Tara — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 23:46:21 +0000

Hi guys, I am Bronson.

I have been out fishing and on the water since I was about 5 and it was my childhood dream to leave to dive.

I am from South Africa – the warm part – and I entered the South African Navy. Unfortunately an admin mixup and a problem with timing prevented me from entering the Naval Dive Squad.

Now I am here in New Zealand, I have learned to dive, dived the HMNZS Canterbury, spent some time at the Poor Knights and am completing my PADI Divemaster course with the team at Global Dive.

Dive Team Profile : Lee Haslam

Tara — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 02:22:01 +0000

Lee Haslam - the 90's is that way!

Originally hailing from Derbyshire in the UK, Lee’s early diving experiences were conducted in the (in) famous Stoney Cove!!

Lee is known for his dry sense of humour and ability to make a great cup of Tea!!

Lee likes everything about the year 1990.
He drives a car from that year, wears clothes from that year and loves to listens to music from that year!!

Qualified to Advanced Nitrox/Deco diver, and now active using his KISS rebreather.

Dive Team Profile : Leigh Bucksey

Andrew — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 00:24:41 +0000

Leigh did his first Discover Scuba Dive in Fiji about 3 years ago and got hooked immediately. So hooked in fact that he did the Discover Scuba twice!

Within a couple of weeks, I had signed up for my Open Water course and none other than Andrew (in a previous workplace) set me up with my first gear purchases. And he hasnt stopped since.

Tara and I did our Advanced Open Water together out at the Poor Knights – and yes, this is when I threw up on Anna underwater and earned the dive name of Squidleigh.

Once we had completed our Advanced, we went pretty much in the Rescue Diver course and yup … training training training.I have completed four PADI specialties and am working towards another two.

I started my Divemaster course through Global Dive – years ago! – and have been chipping away at it when I can fit some diving in.

I am now working at Global Dive full time as a Service technician and even though I wouldnt say it, the reorganisation of the Service Area was pretty much my doing (and Tara wrote that).

Aside from diving, I enjoy Photography, Skiing and racing cars. I have been placed 3rd in North Island Mini Sevens.

Dive Team Profile : Anna Redgrave

Andrew — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:33:46 +0000

I swam my first length of a pool before I was five, I snorkeled, water-skied, competed in water polo, and then I learned to dive. They used to call me a water baby….and I still get to live like one.

In 2001 I took an Open Water course before heading off around the world…and I fell in love…yes, deep, deep, deep love with diving.
After returning home some years ago, then living with a broken wrist for the best part of two years I walked into Global Dive and found a new home for my love.

When you hear the healthy happy laughter from the girl who’s always up to mischief you’ll know I’m close….and you’ll always find me smiling…both atop and under the water.

Well maybe not all the time …I am the Divemaster who gets sea sick … but a bit of a hug and some burley later and I’ve got that smile plastered right back on!!!

Global Dive » Divemasters

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