GOOD NEWS FOR RECREATIONAL FISHERS

By Hon Phil Heatley, Fisheries 01 September 2009

New fishing rules that came into affect on 1 October 2009 bring good news for recreational fishers nationwide, says Minister of Fisheries Phil Heatley. The main thing for Scuba Divers is the following...

Recreational fishers gathering rock lobster (crayfish) will be able to use hand-operated lassoes in all New Zealand waters. Also known as cray-loops, this method is likely to be less damaging than some currently permitted methods and will also improve recreational divers' ability to safely catch rock lobster. Spring-loaded lassoes will be banned however. "Spring loaded lassoes can damage lobsters and reduce the chances of lobsters surviving upon release," Mr Heatley said. Current research suggests hand-operated lassoes cause fewer injuries to both soft and hard shell lobsters than hand gathering, which is an already permitted method. "This is a common-sense and practical change that will help divers catch lobsters while minimising the risk of causing damage to lobsters in the catching process. It will also make the rules about lassoes much clearer and easier to enforce" The New Zealand Recreational Fishing Council provided survey results on the impact of rock lobster hand-operated lassoes and along with the National Rock Lobster Management Group supported the change to regulations to allow the method to be introduced.

• Fisher ingenuity and gear technology developments often lead to fishers trying new harvesting methods that may be undefined and not explicitly regulated.

• In 2005, the previous Minister of Fisheries reviewed recreational rock lobster fishing methods and made provisions for some new methods, but retained the restriction on lassoes until there was sufficient information about their potential impacts on rock lobsters.

• The New Zealand Recreational Fishing Council submitted new information in 2008 on the impacts of lassoes on rock lobsters. Based on the results of their 2006 survey, it was concluded that the use of handoperated lassoes causes significantly fewer injuries to both soft and hard-shell lobsters than hand gathering (a permitted method).

• Hand-operated lassoes are a species-specific target method that is unlikely to affect or impact other marine life or the surrounding environment.

Daily bag limits of six lobsters per fisher per day are in place to control overall catch in the amateur sector.

So great news that common sense has prevailed!

Check out the details by clicking the picture below!

 

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The brand new Suunto D4 is out NOW!

The Suunto D4 watch is all about enjoying your diving experience. Whether you're on your well-earned annual dive holiday or honing your freediving skills, Suunto D4 keeps you informed and aware every meter of the way.

Suunto D4 is a full-decompression wristop dive computer designed to put information, ease of use, and style first. Its four operating modes, dive planning and analysis functions, and compatibility with optional Suunto Dive Manager PC software make Suunto D4 a great choice for those who value functionality and ease of use.

With its innovative freedive functions and dedicated freedive mode, Suunto D4 is also perfect if you're serious about breath-hold diving. Programmed to sample depth three times a second, Suunto D4 records highly accurate data on the true depth reached. Surface time and depth alarms help you make responsible decisions both in and out of the water.

In both Air and Nitrox mode, the clear, easy-to-read screen can display your current and maximum depth; current time, dive time, and decompression time; and temperature. Audible and visual depth and time alarms warn you when it's time to start your ascent. In Nitrox mode, you can increase your time underwater by adjusting the oxygen content of your gas between 21% and 50% and adjust your PO2 limit between 0.5 and 1.6 bar.

Like other advanced Suunto dive computers, Suunto D4 uses the Suunto RGBM algorithm for decompression calculations. It also allows you to choose between taking traditional safety stops or, with the Deep Stops feature activated, taking your safety stops at depth.

Before diving, the no-stop-time planner helps you prepare for your dive. Enter the planned maximum depth of your dive, and Suunto D4 will tell you how long you can dive before needing a decompression stop. After diving you can instantly review all the data in the logbook. Suunto D4 is also compatible with the optional Suunto Dive manager PC software, which provides more in-depth analysis and graphical representation of all your dives.

Check out the Suunto D4 site.

Suunto D4 is available now om sale at $875.

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The DX-1G image quality is so superior that it defies the term "compact". The camera is equipped with a fine CCD sensor that has 10.01 million effective pixels. The DX-1G, the next generation of underwater digital camera system achieves a decisive balance between style and performance, offering an uncompromising and sophisticated design together with advanced technology. The globally recognized concept and benefits of this unrivaled, premium underwater camera system affords the most demanding user complete satisfaction. The exceptional quality of image reproduction that exceeds 10 million pixels, the highly functional, stylish housing, and above all, the innovative features specific to the underwater environment this is the world of the DX-1G.

 

 

 

 

 

Click here for more details.

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Head-Up-Display Mask has arrived!!

The Oceanic Datamask is available for purchase now! ONLY NZD$2250 incl GST!

Anyone considering buying a Hoseless Air Integrated Computer, has to come and compare this!

It is cheaper than "normal" hoseless air integrated computers! Imagine being inside a cray hole, on a night dive, in bad vis, and still being able to see your air pressure, depth, air time remaining, no-decompression time remaining all just by looking to the bottom of your mask!

The ultimate in streamlined dive equipment, we have already dived with the mask at the Poor Knights, and it was really impressive!

It is the equivalent of the Top-of-the-line Air integrated, Nitrox capable, full decompression Computer, built into a Head-Up-Display inside a mask, and is very very easy to read and use!! Click here for all the info, and then come and check it out!!

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HMNZS CANTEBURY SINKING SUCCESSFUL ON NOV 3rd!

Perfect weather allowed the Cantebury sinking to go off without a hitch!

It was delayed by two hours but when it went down it was perfectly executed! It did list to starboard quite a bit when it first started to sink, but it straightened up at the last minute and went down, slightly stern first. This will hopefully protect the bow from the impact and avoid the damage that occured to the Waikato and Wellington when they hit the bottom.

The ship is sitting perfectly flat on the sand between 32m and 37m and is an amazing dive! With the main gun removed you can drop straight down into the body of the ship and easy access to the engine rooms etc. are making it a great chance to explore the wreck.

The Ship is located in Deep Water Cove in the Bay of Islands.

So if you want to see this amazing spectacle, call us on 09 444 7698 or email us now for details on who can take you diving there!

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Be safe on the bed!

New dates for the Scallop season, don't get caught out! Plus divers are now able to take a 20 scallop catch for one boat driver and one safety person as well as for themselves!

New Scallop Season Dates

September 1st - March 31st

After one of the best seasons in decades, the Scallop season is now closed until September 1st. When it opens again, remember to get your scallop float and flag out of the cupboard, and use it.

• Always fly a good sized dive flag, (the minimum recommended size is now 600mm x 600mm) and listen out for boat sounds underwater. Some of our customers had close calls last season with boats coming too close to them while diving.
• Remember, if you are within 200m of another vessel, or a dive flag, you should reduce speed to 5 knots max.
• More divers get into trouble trying to swim too many scallops up to the surface.
• Remember, you must now size and sort your catch underwater before returning to the boat.
• Once counted, you should use a buoy tied to the bag, and pull it up once you are back on board the boat.

Click here to see the NZ Fishing Regulations for your area

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Top Dealer and Business Excellence Awards Again!!

At the latest AquaLung conference held at Sea World on the Gold Coast in August, we were again presented with the "AquaLung Top Dealer of the year Award"! as well as the "Business Excellence award"!

We have been an AquaLung dealer since 1973! (We opened in 1971). This makes us one of the longest running AquaLung dealers in the world!! And proves the quality of the worlds biggest dive equipment manufacturer, Aqualung.

We are proud of maintaining our position at the top, but couldn't have done it without the support of you, our customers. Thank you!

 

Left to Right
Ian Cumming (PADI Asia Pacific), Barbara Kidd (Dive Centre Ltd), Malcolm Kidd (Dive Centre Ltd),
Shahram Saber (PADI Asia Pacific), Tim Curran (Aquanaut NZ G.M.), Shane Bell (Aquanaut NZ)

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SEAFANZ Underwater Digital Photographic Society.

If you are interested in Underwater Digital photography, beginner, expert or just want to find out more about it, go to http://www.seafanz.net/ for more details. Seafanz is now the largest Underwater photographic Society in NZ, and they meet on the 3rd Tueday, of each month at 7.30pm for an 8pm start, at our Pool Complex, 246 Forrest Hill Rd, Forrest Hill.

It is a great way to meet people who enjoy u/w photography, and for everyone to learn more about taking photo's underwater.

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Caught a Crayfish with a plastic tag?

If you catch a Cray and it has a tag attached to its tail, what should you do? We have had several customers call us and ask, so here's what you should do...

Call the NZ Rock Lobster Industry Council on (04) 385 4005 and report the number on the tag, and where it was caught. This is a study that is trying to gain an insight into Crayfish migratory patterns, and behavior so NZ can better manage it's fantastic Crayfish population.

Give them a hand by calling in whenever you catch a tagged crayfish.