6th/7th March - Fourth Element Dive Adventures Trip Report

[Andy]

I wasn't r.e.a.l.l.y. concerned with the SAC rate - more the wicked diving on the weekend.

You forget that Greg is possibly more of a dive geek than me.....

[NEMES1S]

checked and recalculated (not including gas switches) :

dive one : 13.57L/min
dive two : 10.49L/min
dive three : 13.68 L/min
dive four : 10.25 L/min

seems I cruise a lot more after lunch!

Shit that's some impressive SAC rates T....I bet when I am asleep I am breathing 14LPM!!!

[tara]

not bad for getting back in to the water - i was happy with my dive times and my gas usage.
it meant i could have 2 hour long dives without needing a fill in between (an hours about right - otherwise the urge to pee ruins my concentration!)

now to get my photography back on track and i will be happy.

more trips!! more trips!!

[ianskip]

Here's some piccies:
Yellow sponges have become well established on the bow and over much of the ship. None of these were there a year ago.

Andrew at the bow. I love that torch with its light sabre beam

Andrew at the bridge.

Lovely jewel anemones on the netting at the edge of the rear deck.

Heavy duty corrosion.

Gauges in the engine room.

Andrew just below the bridge.

Andrew in the engine room.




A very cool weekend with a great bunch of people. Thanks all, thanks Pete, thanks Shane, Julia & Darryl.
Looking forward to the next one!
Cheers, Skip

[Cameron_R]

Hey Skip,

Love the first one in particular!

Cameron

[petemes]

With this being the first Fourth Element Dive adventure in NZ the weekend was shaping up to be a monster. We had a great diverse group of divers onboard with guys from Global Dive, DiveShack Sterling and SDNZ. With the first objective being diving the Warrior the weather wasnt playing ball so we focused on the Canterbury. A few people hadnt dived the wreck before so excitement was high!

Here are some pictures of the weekend. I hope you enjoy them.



Noone likes it when their kit gives up the ghost and there is a "retailer" there to offer consolation. Dave Kenna busted his suit seal but luckily there was a "spare" suit on hand to save the day!!




We headed out with Shane from Northland Dive on Sea-De-Sea and the canterbury was only a 15 minute trip



It was a great time to get to meet new faces and enjoy the banter of the weekend! Greg Lowe, David Foley and David Houghton enjoying the trip out!!




Here Tara is very patient trying to respond to grunts and fingers being waved at her from the art director behind the camera. Just by the port light on the wreck



One of the many officers offices on the second level. The great thing about this wreck is that there is so much stuff left in it. And also there is still the numbes on the walls so you can recall on the chart of the wreck where you are!



These toilet blocks "2C Toilet Block" is found on the starboard section of the forward part of the ship.




Phil W drew the short straw to buddy up with me and we had a great time in the wreck. Here Phil poses for me as he gets out of the wreck from one of the many holes cut out for divers.




On the main stack there are two red lights on each side of the stack. I guess these are for low flying planes!!




Nice trim David H!



I havent been in this area before so really enjoyed taking a few picks of this electrics panel! This is great thing about diving this wreck so many times - you get to find little rooms all the time!




Here Phil is taking a picture in the 2F Sonar Control Room.



Swimming over the top of the ship reveals a nice little "funny". This should be in 40-50m of water and let Mr. Narcosis do the rest!!!!!



This weekend ended up being an expensive weekend for Phil W. Just finding out that a 17mm lense just doesnt cut it in the wreck world and is now up for a new Dome port and 10mm fisheye lense. Ahhhhhhhhhh.



Lunch times are met with some enthusiasm! - not sure why!!!!



We did find someone who wasnt wearing fourth element gear so banished him to the boat to eat his sandwich!! (juuuuuuuuuust Kidding!) He was later taken for "reeducation"



In the evening we enjoyed a sumptuous dinner made by Julia which was (traditionally) washed down with a few cheeky Merlots, some more banter!! It is surprising how the stories grow as the evening goes on! What a great weekends diving. Good Diving, GREAT company - good to be out of Auckland enjoying our wonderful waters.


WILL be doing it ALL again soon. Plans are already under way. This time for Matauri bay. We are planning to spend 3-4 days up there. As this will give the out of towners some time to get up, settled and into some great diving for the next few days. I will keep you posted.

Pete Mesley

[ChrisB]

Sweet photos guys.... and girls keep it up!! Just makes me more jealous i couldn't be there
Can we still sign up for the next adventure (even if i don't have any 4th Element gear yet !?!!)

[petemes]

"ianskip"]Here's some piccies:
Yellow sponges have become well established on the bow and over much of the ship. None of these were there a year ago.

Skip, you truly are the master. Great shots mate. I think that sooooomeone is turning into a closet wreckie!!!! Just make sure that we dont lose "the slugman" altogether!! I love your fishie shots!!

Pete

[petemes]

Sweet photos guys.... and girls keep it up!! Just makes me more jealous i couldn't be there
Can we still sign up for the next adventure (even if i don't have any 4th Element gear yet !?!!)

Dont need to mate. I was just kidding. Its not about selling gear - its ALL about the diving! That is what its all about. You are welcome to come in your undies if you want!! (great photo ops!!!)

Pete

[DiveDiva]

Great shots and reports guys - super jealous!!

[Jason]

Great photos Skip and PeteM !!
Great write-up too !!
Super modelling Tara !
Love the Finger sponges and "oh boy" what cool dive boats !!

[NEMES1S]

Wow...wow...WOW....mate awesome...what fabulous pics...crazy..!! 10/10 guys trip Report of 2010 so far IMO..!!

[guru]

I''ll just pick my jaw back up off the ground.. that's out of this world!
As if I didn't need any more motivation to up-skill and get involved, another blast hits me!

[nickd]

Wow! That looks fantastic!

[Phyliss]

Cheers Pete for a great weekend. I don't mind being your model really. Phil