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Ask Dusty about diving! Answers to all those difficult questions.
Dusty has over 30 years experience in the Military, commercial and hyperbaric diving industry. NZ Navy dive instructor, HSE Part II, Diving Medical Technician, DAN IT, LST, Hyperbaric systems Supervisor. Deep and mixed gas specialist.
- Salvaging the Rainbow Warrior
- Saturation diving in Asia and Med
- Salvage work on the Mikhail Lermontov
- Serving aboard the now wreck Canterbury
Dusty,
I am wanting to learn how to scuba dive but am petrified of sharks. What is the likelihood of an attack in the Bay of Islands?
Sarah
Hi Sarah,
Shark attacks on divers is extremely rare world wide. There have not been any adverse encounters in the Bay of Islands.
In over 1000 training dives in our area i have yet to see a shark of any description.
Thanks for asking
Dusty
Thanks for that. Do I learn how to use the tanks in a pool or out at sea? I am also interested in diving the Canterbury but do I have to get certification to to a wreck dive?
Hi Dusty,
I did my PADI dive course 9 years ago and haven’t done any diving since then. Would I be able to do a wreck dive with your guides straight off or would you suggest some practise dives first?
Thanks,
Michelle
Thanks so much guys for an awesome first dive!!! I am so hooked. See what you are all crazy about now..ha ha ha
Hi Michelle
Sorry for our delay in replying, we would suggest that you do a refresher course which would be two reef dives, to reasses skills and confidence,
From here our Dive guides can asses weather you need further training, or if they find you competent you would then have an opportunity to do wreck dives.
If you have any further questions please contact us.
Kind Regards
Michaela
Hi Dusty
I wish to get into some wreck dive and im very curious about the Mikhail Lermontov, seeing you salvaged her i thought you may know alot about her.
Like if i find something of value am i alowed to keep it? I know she has been commercialy salvaged already so everything of geat worth is alread been recoverd.
What do they mean when it is said a wreck is open to the publice?
Hi,
Is it possible to dive with Nitrox?
Best regards,
Mien
Chris,
I have not dived the Mikhail since we finished working on her all those years ago. But as a rule we are leaving these wrecks very much alone, so that they will always be of interest to future generations of divers.
Unless you are a very experienced wreck diver or with and experienced guide I would recommend that you do not penetrate the wreck.
Dusty
Hi Mien,
We don’t support enriched air diving at this stage, we have found that standard air diving is all that is required for the moment. We find that most of our clients who are conservative on there air will achieve a 35 – 40 min dive on the Rainbow Warrior and 25 – 35 min dive on the Canterbury.