Hey divers,

Hope the holidays are going well and you’re all getting a much deserved rest. Next semester has lots of good trips and talks running so check out the website regularly to keep updated with our trips and meetings. In the colder months the diving around New Zealand is great due to the improved water clarity. We have some exciting trips such as the annual Taupo trip and the White Island live aboard coming up.

Verco’s nudibranch (Tambja verconis) at the Poor Knights Islands – by Alison Perkins.

18-20 July – Cowshed Trip

The Bay of Islands is well known for its above water beauty, dolphin watching and the famous ‘Hole in the Rock’. Below the water, it is every bit as stunning. The diving has only improved with the addition of New Zealand’s newest underwater playground, the ex-HMNZS Canterbury, sunk in Deep Water Cove as an artificial reef late in 2007.

We are heading up there at the end of the university holidays.

The Cowshed is one of our most popular destinations. There’s a great atmosphere up there with plenty of awesome diving, socialising and diving banter galore. The diving is practically guaranteed with their proximity to two different coasts, so it’s the perfect destination at this time of the year.

Contact Kathryn at secretary@akunidive.com for more information.

Cameron Russo exiting Sonic Boom Cave near Bigeyes Lair in the Bay of Islands – by Alison Perkins.

23 July – Yucatan Cave Diving Talk

6:00pm Auckland University (room to be advised)

Jamie Obern, the current owner of Dive HQ Greenlane (one of New Zealand’s largest dive stores) will be delivering an exciting tale about diving in the Mexican Yucatan cave systems.

The Yucatan Peninsula is famous for its spectacular limestone formations which extend for hundreds of kilometres underground. The water clarity and the sheer beauty of these caves are breathtaking.

Cave diving in Mexico – photo courtesy of Jamie Obern.

Jamie started diving in 1988 and since then has obtained numerous qualifications including; PADI staff instructor, BSAC advanced Instructor, and cave and trimix diver. Along with this Jamie has also dived around the world in over 20 countries. The UK provided the scene for him to gain experience diving many wrecks. In 2001 this advanced diving lead him into the elite world of cave diving. He has explored these dark and intimidating underwater caverns in NZ, UK, France and Mexico. Jamie is currently training to become NZ’s first GUE (Global Underwater Explorers) Instructor. These guys are the best in the business and are internationally renowned.

The presentation will include:

• Overview of the Yucatan and why to dive there

• Gear requirements

• Training

• Photos and video footage of the cave dives

I would strongly recommend this talk, and anyone is welcome – not just divers! You don’t need to be a technical diver (or have aspirations of being one) to enjoy this!!

The talk will start at 6:30pm but we will be there from 6pm to answer any questions about the dive club.

Hope to see you there, Mike.

treasurer@akunidive.com

2 August – Taupo

It’s that time of the year again, the AUUC annual trip to Taupo is a highlight of the year. Come down for some really cheap diving and get brain-freeze with us as we do some extreme fresh water, altitude diving. Afterwards we do a drift dive down the Waikato river with the remainder of your tank to see some trout and admire the scenery. At the end of the dive there is a hot spring where we can lose the gear and enjoy a few river-chilled beers.

If you survive the party that we have that night you can join a couple of members who drive down to Ruapehu and complete an extreme sports weekend with some skiing/boarding (wetsuit optional).

Contact Ryan at prez@akunidive.com to register interest.

Ming Lam plays with a Koura (freshwater crayfish) in Lake Taupo – by Hayden Lewis.

16-18 August – White Island

The White Island live-a-board is an amazing trip which involves 3 days with John “Tuna” Baker aboard the Ma Cherie. This trip is a favourite of the clubs and offers a chance to visit an amazing dive environment off the shores of an active volcano. The clarity of the water and the abundance of fish life makes this a great trip with the chance to dive with New Zealand fur seals. The island itself is an attraction being the only regularly active volcano in New Zealand. Live-a-boards are the best way to dive and the experienced skipper and boat make this trip very enjoyable.

For more information and to register interest contact Ming at trips@akunidive.com

Elliott Jones holding a Skipjack tuna he caught on the ride back to Whakatane from White Island on Ma Cherie – by Alison Perkins.

30 & 31 August – Poor Knights Islands

We are running 2 day trips (2 dives per day) to the Poor Knights Islands on Pacific Hideaway.

The Poor Knights Islands lie 24 kilometres off the north-east coast of New Zealand and are a fully protected marine reserve. Since being lauded by the late Jacques Cousteau as one of the top 10 dive sites in the world, the Poor Knights have become New Zealand’s most well known diving location.

Flourishing in the protection of the marine reserve, are an abundance of fish. Schooling fish such as Blue maomao, Trevally, Sweep and Demoiselles are common on each dive, interspersed with giant Snapper and some unique tropical immigrants. The warm subtropical current that runs through the islands brings to the area a myriad of species that are seldom seen elsewhere in New Zealand – Spotted black grouper, Mosiac moray and Lord Howe coralfish. An extraordinary array of invertebrate life as well as anemones and sponges adorns the walls.

The Poor Knights Islands are made up of a group of volcanoes which erupted millions of years ago. Their eroded remains leave an interesting underwater geography made up of plummeting cliffs, archways, tunnels and caves.

Mixed school of Trevally and Blue maomao at the Poor Knights Islands – by Alison Perkins.

What you need to bring – Pacific Hideaway

All scuba gear including two tanks. Mark can hire you some gear if you organise it with him prior to the trip.

The cheapest option will be to bring your food for meals. You’ll need a packed lunch and snack food for the boat. Pacific Hideaway has a toaster, kettle, microwave, oven, fridge and equipped kitchen. There is a small shop/deli at the entrance to the marina that sells some food. You can get good meals for decent prices at the fishing club.

There is room for about 10 people to stay overnight on the Pacific Hideaway ($10pp/night). The other accommodation option is the Tutukaka Holiday Park.

Contact Ming at trips@akunidive.com to register interest.

Filed under: Club Meetings, Club News, Diving New Zealand, Social Events, Trips, Upcoming Events