GO DIVE PACIFIC TEAM

BRENT MCFADDEN

Owner/ Director

I completed my first dive when I was 12 years old in a deep river at the back of our family farm, the only bit of instruction I received was “don’t hold your breath” from that day on I have been hooked on diving and over 7500 dives, 2500 student divers and over 35 years full time in the industry I am still enjoying every dive as it was my first. Fortunately over the years I have learnt a bit more about diving than that one golden rule and immensely enjoy sharing my years of experience and training with both new and experienced divers.

I am fortunate enough to enjoy living and operating in Marlborough, which without doubt is one of the best backyards in the world. To top it off we have one of the best wreck dives in the world the Mikhail Lermontov, wreck diving has now become my passion and training divers to safely enjoy wrecks has become my goal. I am especially excited about the growing popularity of technical diving and the opportunity it presents to us all to explore new places and new challenges.

JUSTIN O'CONNOR

Lead Instructor

I started diving in the chilly mountain lakes of Canterbury where I went from Open Water to Instructor with the great folks at Dive HQ Christchurch. After having my fill of cold water I moved up to Northland to get a taste of the sub-tropics and discovered my love for wrecks while diving the HMNZS Canterbury.

I was lucky enough to get the opportunity to come and work on the Mikhail Lermontov with Go Dive and my love for wrecks has only gotten stronger.

Since then I've been working on my technical qualifications and enjoying the new challenges that arise. I'm now working my way up to technical instructor and gaining experience along the way.

ERIN HEWETSON

Instructor

My diving began on a whim when I booked a holiday to Cairns, Australia. A friend suggested I learn to dive so I booked in to take my open water course, after completing these first few days I was hooked so stayed and finished my advanced a few days later.

From here I changed my plans and moved to Bali to work toward my divemaster and later my instructor qualification.

I've now dived in many parts of Australia and Bali as well as working in Thailand for a short time. Coming back to NZ I was surprised at how different temperate water diving can be, but it hasn't stopped me and I get out on the water whenever I can.

I'm now studying toward a degree in marine biology in the hopes I can contribute to the conservation of our fragile oceans.