Lake Pupuke is a great fresh water dive site on the North Shore in Auckland.
Due to its location – just over the harbor bridge from downtown Auckland- it is often frequented by divers who don’t have boat access to the Auckland Gulf diving. Little or no drive time is also a bonus as well as being dive-able in all weathers. This also makes it popular for other water activities including rowing, wind surfing and sail or row boating so be sure to take a dive flag with you.

The most popular site at the lake for divers is located at Killarney Park.
The park has a theatre, café and toilets situated in the old Pumphouse which is where the North Shore used to get its fresh water supply from. There is ample parking most days but in the school holidays when the theater is running daytime kids shows it can become crowded.

There is a grassy area, which is ideal for gearing up, between the carpark and the lake. There is a jetty for Giant Stride entries or you can do a shore entry from the boat ramp off the grassy slope in front of the carpark.

Approximately 50m out from these entry points is a pink buoy which is anchored to a concrete block in about 8m. This is a good place to start your dive.
You descend down the line onto a concrete pad which covers an area approx 10mx15m. Once you have settled in you can head off exploring.

  The topography is fairly flat with a gentle slope from the shore to about 10m where the slope angle starts to get a bit sharper off towards the deeper part of the lake.  At its deepest it is approximately 60m. There is a weed line (eel grass, ribbon weed or tape weed) which rings the lake extending about 20m out from the waters edge into a depth of about 6m. The local water fowl tend to nibble this down so it will grow to within a swans’ neck reach of the surface.

You can use the slope of the lake for your navigation as you go exploring. By having it slope down to the left and up to the right on the way out from the base of the pink buoy, then rotating 180 and putting the slope down to your right and up to the left on the way back you should be able to find your way along to the ‘Caves’ (a cluster of rocky boulders with indents at the base forming small overhangs) and back.
These are in around 12m.
Alternatively if you head the other way out and back you should come across a grass meadow (chara or nitella) in about 12m or the pipeline in about 7m.

The lake is a fairly murky dive site with average visibility between 3-5m.
This has a green – brown hue. The lake bottom is made up very fine silt which when kicked up or disturbed hangs in the water creating ‘dust clouds’ that take a long time to settle, reducing visibility even further. Frog kicking, good buoyancy control and swimming a different track out and back will aid with avoiding diving through these areas of reduced vis.
If there has been an extended period of rain then the runoff from the surrounding grassy slopes can cause the visibility to drop as well.

The temperature of the lake can get into single figures in the winter months and soar into the high 20’sC in the summer months. There are definite thermoclines in the lake that travel up and down through the year and sometimes you can descend through a couple in one dive depending on the depth you go to.

There are all sorts of wildlife living in and on the lake. Bird life such as Ducks, Black Swans, Geese and Australian Coots are common. You can usually find friendly Pukekos’ on the banks and there are a number of Tui’s present as well.

The wildlife you can expect to encounter underwater includes Trout, Perch, Longfin and Shortfin Eels, Common Bully, Snails and in the right conditions Medusa Jellyfish will bloom in the thousands. There are organised fish releases into the lake for the local fishing fraternity.

Underwater photography by Martin Wallis

Related Pages

• Global Dive Underwater Olympics 2011
• PADI Open Water – 02/03 May 2009

Come and dive the Poor Knights Islands with us!

The boat we use for the Poor Knights Liveaboard is MV Pacific Hideaway.
Most people drive up to the boat on Friday night and stay onboard in the marina that night. You can drive up on the Saturday morning as the boat will not be leaving the marina for the Poor Knights until approx 9am.
We can help out with arranging car pooling if needed.
The ride out to the Knights takes about an hour as the boat cruises at 12 knots and the islands are about 12 nautical miles from the mainland.

There is the opportunity to do up three daylight dives and one night dive on the Saturday and then three day dives on the Sunday (weather permitting one of these is the wreck of the HMNZS Waikato).

Divers can opt in or out of as many dives as they wish to do.
If someone would rather lie in the sun on the deck and read magazines or a good book they can. There are also kayaks available for the guests to use.
Between dives there is around an hour and 20mins surface interval as your tanks are filled. Plenty of time to off gas, log dives, relax and have another meal.

The trip includes all meals from Saturday breakfast until Sunday lunch, and includes morning tea (freshly baked scones from the skippers secret recipe, yummy), afternoon tea and 1^st and 2^nd breakfast on Sunday!!
If any one has any special dietary requirements or is a veggie let us know in advance so that they can be catered for.

We limit the number of divers on board to a maximum of 12 so that there is plenty of space for all, both in and out of the water. There are 4 cubbyhole cabins which couples get first dibs at and ladies get second dibs. This leaves lots of room for the remaining passengers to bunk down in the main cabin at night. It is recommended that you bring ear plugs if you are a light sleeper as there is usually a good chance of at least one snorer being on board.
The boat is back at the Tutukaka marina between 4 -5pm on Sunday afternoon.

Things to bring:
Dive gear including torches and two tanks
Sleeping bag or blanket (there are pillows on board but if you have a favorite lavender scented pillow that you can’t sleep without then bring it along)
Water (the water onboard is drinkable but from the bore water on the mainland so can have an ‘unusual’ flavor)
Snacks (you are fed generously but some folk just can’t live without their treats)
Bottle of wine or a few beers for enjoying at the end of the days diving

The trip costs $450 which includes the boat trip sight-seeing around the Poor Knights, accommodation Friday and Saturday on board, all meals from Saturday breakfast until Sunday lunch. To secure your space on the trip there is a minimum deposit of $150.

Full gear hire is $140 for the weekend (mask, fins, snorkel, wetsuit, boots, BCD, Regs, and 2 tanks). Just 2 tanks for the weekend are $60. The tanks are filled on board the boat and you pay for the number of fills that you have over the weekend direct to the boat. These are $8 each.

This trip is aimed at the Intermediate to Experienced diver as there is the opportunity to do night, wreck and deep diving. We run the Advanced Open Water course on this trip.

Photographs by Andrew Simpson

Related Pages

• Photography Liveaboard with Richard Robinson
• Poor Knights July Liveaboard
• Global Dive Trip Schedule
• PADI Advanced Open Water Diver

Check back here on a regular basis for a good idea on where we are planning on diving and when.
We have some brilliant destinations coming up – both in New Zealand and Internationally – and whether you like wrecks, photography, hunting or tech diving, keep an eye out so you dont miss out!

We will also keep you updated with individual trip releases – either via the Trips board in store, email or our Facebook page

To hear about our trips as soon as they are released, you can subscribe to our RSS feed to make sure that you are right in the know.

PLEASE NOTE:

Your trip deposit or full payment secures your space.
Any outstanding balances are due a week before departure.
International trips pricing does not include flights.

Generally trip payments once made are non-refundable, but most trips have a waiting list and we will do our best to find someone to take your space in the event you need to pull out.
You can help us, and improve your chance of a refund, by finding your own replacement.

If a trip is cancelled by us due to weather or for safety reasons, a full refund or store credit will be given.

Hanging around in Blue Maomao Arch / Photograph by Andrew Simpson

Related Pages

• “Perfecting Mask Clearing” by Madeline Erkkila
• Global Dive’s Poor Knights Liveaboard Weekend & Advanced Open Water
• PADI Advanced Open Water Diver
• Photography Liveaboard with Richard Robinson

Soft Coral and Gorgonian Fan / Photograph by Tara Sutherland

After two wonderful trips to Volivoli Resort on Fiji’s Viti Levu, we are definitely going back.

The soft corals of the Bligh Waters have us all begging for more!
Take a look at Tara’s trip report from October 2010.

Here are the details for the 7 day trip that we will be taking in May 2011:

Dates:
Departing New Zealand 15th May 2011 – Returning New Zealand 22nd May 2011

Accommodation rates are per person and include breakfast/lunch/dinner.
Accommodation is to be paid in full 30 days prior to arrival at resort (15th April 2011)

The package also includes 5 days boat diving.
Dive days are two tanks dives.  Tanks and weights are included.
Unlimited shore diving is available at no extra cost (24 hours notice for tanks needed – subject to availability)

Download the information sheet from here - Fiji 2011

And for those of you that have not been practicing;
One night on our trip to Volivoli Resort, Soni taught us some day to day Fijian terms (of the Bau dialect).
We were quizzed on these each day but not just Soni, but all the staff!

Related Pages

• Fiji 2010 : We’re Running Away!
• Anna and the Coral
• Bula Fiji!
• Trip Report : Fiji Baby!

This year was my last year of High School.

SCUBA Display

To complete my education at this school, Michael Park School, I had to choose a topic which I would explore over the course of the year.
It had to be something that would challenge me and it had to have obstacles that I would learn to overcome.
I also had to find an outside expert from whom I could learn from, and also go to for advice and motivation.

For my topic I choose to learn to Scuba dive.

This came as the obvious choice for a number of reasons.
Firstly I love the water, and secondly, I have quite a few members in my wider family that dive and I have always wanted to learn.
So in December of 2009, I went down to Westhaven to seek advice from the expert about diving. I went in Dive HQ and Ocean Hunter but nothing seemed right for me. That was until I entered Global Dive and I was greeted by two very enthusiastic and friendly staff members, Andrew Simpson and Anna Clague.
This marked the beginning of my adventure into the world of Scuba and though I had not yet had my first dive, I was already beginning to enjoy it.

With the expert advice and guidance of Andrew, I invested in a wetsuit, mask, snorkel, boots, fins, and of course booked my Open Water course.

I began the theory side of the course in January under the watchful eye of a very cheerful Tara Sutherland.
After the three weeks of theory lessons and pool sessions our class headed up to Goat Island Marine reserve with our instructor Anna.
From the moment I began my first open water dive I knew I had found my passion and I’m so glad that I found it through Global Dive.

Harry - and 'friend'

In mid April, I began the next step in my diving experience as I headed up to the Poor Knights to begin my Advanced Open Water course.
We went out with the guys from Yukon Charters who were so nice and gave us a remarkable tour of the islands.
Again Anna was my instructor and I am so glad she was because as well as teaching us all the skills she showed us some amazing marine life and underwater sights which made some already awesome dives that much better.

The project I had to do has five parts to it.

A practical part plus keeping a journal about it (learning to dive) a part called a Socio-Ecological, which is giving back to the community.
I participated in the Project AWARE beach clean up and thanks to the amazing organizational skill of Alexandria Leonard it was very productive and of course extremely fun day.
To go along with everything there is a 5000 word written report where in detail you describe what you did.
The next part is a speech where you give a 7 minute talk (and slideshow/movie) to the school and its wider community about what you have done over the year and finally a display to give a visual presentation about your experiences.

I presented my final written report, speech and visual display in late September and it was a hit.
Thanks to the use of one of the Global Dive mannequins and dive gear, my display was a huge success and was commented on as an ‘eye catcher’ and everyone loved it.

I seriously don’t know what I would have done if it wasn’t for the team at Global Dive.
They have been behind me, supporting me the whole way and I would like to thank them from the bottom of my heart.

All I can say is that diving has now really become part of who I am and I can gladly say I hope to keep doing it for the rest of my life.

From here I intend to keep up my diving and get more logged dives so that next year I can begin my Rescue Diver course and hopefully move on to completing a Divemaster training course, and of course I can say I’ll be doing it all with the Global Dive Team!

Thank you guys so much!

Related Pages

• The best Scuba Diving Course I Can Imagine
• PADI Open Water – 02/03 May 2009
• Product Review : Scubapro Seawing Nova Fins
• Skirts In Scuba

Yes, yes, YES!  It is time again for the Global Dive / Yukon Dive Charters Skirts in Scuba ladies day out.

We will be heading up to Tutukaka on the night of Saturday 6th November.

We will be diving all day Sunday 7th November at the Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve with the fabulous Jo and Noel(ina).

Jo will once again be putting on her memorable gourmet lunch!

The trip cost is $145.00 for two dives and catered lunch.

Come in and have a chat with Anna or Tara if you would like more information.
Or give us a call if you would like to put down a deposit to secure your space.

Related Pages

• Spring time at the Poor Knights Islands
• Skirts in Scuba – June 2009
• Skirts in Scuba
• Trip Report : Skirts in Scuba

Banded Weed Fish / Photograph by Martin Wallis

On Saturday the 3rd of July, 2010, while everybody else was participating in the 1st annual underwater Olympics, held by Global Dive, I decided to sneak off and have a dive to make up for disappointing photographic results from the previous dive a week earlier.

The venue was Matheson Bay, Leigh. I hadn’t dived this site for a few months, so was keen to see what I could find.

I headed off from the shore to where there is a break in the rock wall that cuts across the bay, and slowly swam in a north easterly direction from there.

There was no current and the visibility was quite good for the area at about 6 metres. I had my 60mm macro lens on and was slowly searching all the rocks, nooks and crannies, and kelp for anything small.

Then, out of the corner of my eye I saw what at first I thought was an unusual looking piece of kelp.
Upon looking more closely, I discovered that it was a fish. It had its head pointing down and its mouth seemingly attached to a rock on the bottom and its upside-down body was just swaying about in the water in such a way that it looked like a piece of kelp, attached to the rock (see photo insert).

I assume this behavior was the fish attempting to camouflage itself.I fired off a number of shots which didn’t disturb the fish in the slightest.
It had no inclination to move at all.

I wasn’t particularly happy with any of the shots, so decided to spend a little more time with this fella.
I shooed it along a little and re-positioned myself for some better shots.

My settings for all of the photographs I took of this guy were ISO100, f8 at 1/60thsec with strobes set to ¼ power.
I probably spent another five minutes or so with this fish before continuing with the rest of this two hour dive.

My max depth on this dive was 5.5m, and I photographed this guy in between 4-5m.

more information on Martin Wallis Photography – Banded Weed Fish

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• No Related Pages

Warm Water - Happy Divers!

Just letting you know that we have organised a great deal for you all on our FIJI trip for this October.
This year we have accommodation options to suit different budgets as well!!!

Not only do we get 12 simply stunning tropical dives (for the price of 10!!!) but the prices below also include your 7 night’s accommodation, airport transfers and breakfast (does not include flights).

You can check out the diving and accommodation on Volivoli Resort’s website (you may recognize one of the divers……ME!)

The dates we are going are from the 9th to 15th October.
We plan to fly back to NZ on the 16th.
(Prices for non divers available on request)

Volivoli Resort. Warm Water - Great Colours - It's FIJI! / Photograph by Andrew Simpson

4* Vale $1555pp double/twin share
Lodge $1055pp ( sleeps 2 ) communal bathroom and kitchen
Dorm $955pp ( sleeps 8 ) communal bathroom and kitchen

We need a 20% deposit (non refundable) to secure spaces (minimum – you can pay more if you like) and payment in full by 10th September…that’s three months

For example if you pay your deposit before the end of June, then the balance to pay is $113.10 per week for the Vale or $76.80 for the lodge or $69.50 for the dorm, to have it all paid for by 10th September.

Really what are you going to spend your money on in the winter?
It’s too chilly to do much except snuggle up by the fire whilst making plans for your next dive trip, day dreaming of warm tropical waters, sipping cocktails on the beach lounger….bliss!.

Bula Vinaka, Anna

Related Pages

• Fiji 2010 : We’re Running Away!
• Trip Report : Fiji Baby!
• Global Dive Trip Schedule
• Bula Fiji 2011

Way back last year we thought let’s go to FIJI.
(I can pinpoint the decision down to the time we were on the jetty at Lake Pupuke in a hail storm, getting ready to return to the water after a surface interval spent shivering inside the car with the heaters on full, ruffling the wooly beanies firmly pulled down over goose pimpled heads.) GOOD decision.

We were a select few, but all in need of a tropical dive holiday.
Now let’s just stop here and look at these points separately.

Tropical – palm trees, white sandy beaches, crystal blue water, cocktails, sunshine, WARMTH, islands, TICK

Dive – fish in abundance, hard corals, soft corals, sharks, wrecks, reefs, colour, photo opportunity, guided/unguided, drift, TICK

Holiday – relax, read books, siesta, duty free, socializing, sundowners, suntan/burn/block, getting away from it all, TICK

Put these all into one package and you have Volivoli Beach Resort and Dive holiday.

The guys at Volivoli are a really nice kiwi family whose son trained as a dive instructor in the cool waters of the South Island.
After working in Kaikoura for a bit he ran away to Fiji on his OE and never left.  The family followed and set up the resort which is what they do and do well.

Volivoli is lovely and really well put together.
(They even have and Iron and Ironing board in the 4 star accom!!! Not that I knew what to do with them!?)

The diving was superb.
The outer reefs are lush and teeming with the full spectrum of colourful reef fish. The soft coral is absolutely stunning. Have no doubt as to why Fiji is known as the soft coral capital of the world!!

I’ll let the pictures do the talking on this.

/ Photograph by Andrew Simpson

We saw reef sharks every day and even had a dive with a Turtle.
The inner reefs were a little less clear but we had some fantastic macro dives. Popcorn shrimp beautiful gorgonian fans, anemones with resident clown fish, tropical scorpion fish and leaf fish.

We also spent some time with the biggest eel that I have ever seen!!!
Honestly you could have fit Andrew’s head in its mouth with room to spare, and Andrew’s got a big head!

We all certainly made the most of being on holiday.
Lots of off gassing in the bar and in the sun out side the Bure with the duty free (tip- read the label on the mixers before buying as Gin and Soda is a completely different drink to Gin and Tonic, especially the first gulp!!)

After a leisurely dip in the pool to cool off after a heavy reading session (substitute siesta for reading), we would have a social evening dining and sharing tall tales in the lounge.
All in all this was a tropical dive holiday.

So much so that we are going to go back this September/October.

Related Pages

• Anna and the Coral
• Bula Fiji!
• Fiji 2010 : We’re Running Away!
• Product Review : Scubapro Seawing Nova Fins

White Island

Diving White Island

White Island is some 50 kilometres off shore from Whakatane and lies 8km west of the White Island trench which reaches depths of up to 1219 metres.

This fascinating place is brushed by the warm waters of an offshore current and offers exciting dives from pinnacles with 150 metre drop offs to cruisy reef dives.

Underwater vents are a feature of this volcanic area. Several archways and extinct fumaroles make the area most interesting.

Fish life is extremely abundant with massive schools of Blue Mao Mao, Pink Mao Mao, Koheru Demoiselles and many other species including Lord Howe Island Coral Fish, Yellow Banded Perch, Banded Coral Shrimps, Blue Moki, Blue fish, Golden Snapper, different species of Moray eels and many more:

Fauna includes many types of kelps, gorgonians, sponges etc.
Masses of Diadema Urchins can be seen on a pinnacle dive known as Diadema Rock.  Between the beautiful Diadema urchins are a sprinkling of firebrick starfish, cup corals (Flabellum ribrum),
Dead mans fingers (Alcyonium auruntiacum), and soft orange coral, assorted sponges and bryozoans,and a few Ecklonia kelps perched on any bit of rock that sticks out far enough from the vertical cliff faces.

Diving Volkner Rocks

Volkner Rocks lie 5 km to the west of White Island.

John Baker Charters

Our charter operator is the well known John Baker of M.V. Ma Cherie.

Ma Cherie

Ma Cherie is a 13m live aboard and John specialises in overnight trips.

There are places for 6 divers on this fabulous trip.

The trip cost is $825.00 for the 3 days.
This includes accommodation and meals from lunch Friday to lunch Sunday.

Tank fills are $5.00 each.

We will be able to set our own trip itinerary based on the experience of the divers confirmed on the trip.

Tara is leading this trip and will organise accommodation in Whakatane on Thursday night for those who need it.

$150.00 is required to secure your space. Get in quick!

Related Pages

• Global Dive Trip Schedule
• Cannibalistic Nudibranch
• My Last Year of High School
• Skirts In Scuba