Dive Pacific 175 Dec2020 Jan 2021
Dive Pacific, New Zealand's Dive Magazine , captures the best of diving in New Zealand and the Pacific. with adventures, top photos and expert technical advice
Dive Pacific, New Zealand's Dive Magazine , captures the best of diving in New Zealand and the Pacific. with adventures, top photos and expert technical advice
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whale swimming in the <strong>2021</strong> NZ<br />
winter.<br />
2) Will business pick up this<br />
summer? How are bookings<br />
compared with last year?<br />
Photo Credit: Cole Johnston and Sole Ventures<br />
Craig notes summer is our<br />
season in the Bay of Islands and<br />
we will have a good one. It won’t<br />
be as long as normal, and our<br />
dive charters will be down on<br />
normal, but “I can see our retail<br />
side will be busier than previous<br />
summers.”<br />
Adam at Waiheke <strong>Dive</strong> agrees<br />
this summer will be solid.<br />
“Bookings are coming in from<br />
Kiwis looking to explore their<br />
homeland more this year, and we<br />
are fortunate to be in an exceptional<br />
location.”<br />
Brent said “Traditionally our core<br />
business in Picton was international,<br />
however we were able<br />
to change our business model<br />
quickly to focus more on the<br />
domestic market. This has led<br />
to an earlier than usual start<br />
to the season due to our large<br />
base of loyal clients, rather than<br />
seeing them head overseas. Also<br />
both recreational and technical<br />
training bookings are up.<br />
Kevin emphasises again their<br />
strong local support which is<br />
“helping heaps. And they in turn<br />
support many local causes which<br />
give back too.”<br />
Kate says they their Tutukaka<br />
team are confident the summer<br />
will be busy. “We have spent 20<br />
years focusing on the incredible<br />
Poor Knights Islands as a<br />
Must-Do destination, so that<br />
…the international market decreased by 74% while our<br />
domestic market increased by 63%.”…<br />
Poor Knights<br />
The jewel anemone spawn was epic on the Canterbury at the BOI<br />
when people choose to visit<br />
our awesome coastline they<br />
recognise our name, and reputation.”<br />
However a concern is<br />
what happens when domestic<br />
disposable income decreases.<br />
Their “international market<br />
has decreased by 74% while our<br />
domestic market increased by<br />
63%.”<br />
3) What’s been the low points?<br />
High points?<br />
“Seeing my business that I have<br />
put my life into shut down, not<br />
knowing if it would survive. That<br />
was tough,” Craig’s Paihia <strong>Dive</strong><br />
said. But “Covid has<br />
given me time to<br />
focus on running my<br />
business, refining<br />
what we do. On the<br />
up side too it was<br />
nice to spend more<br />
time with my wife<br />
Lisa and my boys.<br />
I’ve been spearfishing<br />
much more<br />
than other years<br />
- that’s a definite<br />
upside! The diving was soo good<br />
when it opened up again in June,<br />
July and the start of August. The<br />
Jewel Anemone Spawn in July<br />
was epic!”<br />
For Richard the low points were<br />
having to let good people go and<br />
the sudden loss of income. On<br />
the upside they are one of the<br />
dnz164<br />
Photo Credit: Paihia <strong>Dive</strong><br />
www.dive-pacific.com 21
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