Steve and Brenda share a passion for the underwater world, for New Zealand's outdoors and are immersed in the local community. When you dive with Delphinus Divers you get to dive with the locals!
It all started when we came to Tairua back in 2002 to manage Slipper Island (one of the Coromandel's best kept secrets, 4 miles offshore) for a year.
Over our stay on the island we had become to enjoy the relaxed lifestyle and the uniqueness that is Tairua. We decided it would be a great place to raise a family. So in November of that year we decided to buy the charter boat Tairua Dive when the charter operations were split from the local dive shop and set up our own dive operated charter business. We wanted to be able to share this unique little place with others. With the Aldermen islands and a number of coastal islands on our back doorstep the decision was made easy.
Brenda grew up in the Waikato region but spent most holidays at Papamoa beach were most of the time was spent in and on the water. These holidays always left her feeling alive and wanting more. After bouncing from job to job not knowing what to do she discovered diving. From here she never looked back. In 1995 - 96 she completed a Marine Studies Diploma at the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic. This included becoming a Dive Instructor. In these two years she dived most of the islands along the BOP and Coromandal east coast. From here she became a professional lifeguard for a couple a years’ whilst instructing part time. In 1998 she went to Australia and spent 3 years dive instructing on the Great Barrier Reef. While doing this she completed a number of Instructor specialties and the First response instructors. Returning to New Zealand in 2000 she worked in dive shops in Hamilton and Rotarua while doing this she completed her Staff instructors. Then in 2002 the opportunity came up to manager Slipper Island. It was during this time that she completed her skipper’s ticket. Since this time she has been running and operating this dive operation as well as raising 2 boys Harlee and Karter her pride and joy. She also joined the St John ambulance and has been a volunteer ambulance officer for the past 5 years. The kids are getting to an age now where she has more time for the business which will give her more hours for operation.
Steve was born in Holland and moved with his parents to Australia when he was 8 years old, residing in the Perth area originally, then moving to the Brisbane area in his teenage years. He tried a number of different jobs before deciding to enlist in the Australian Army in 1992 working in the transport sector. This took him too many different posting within Australia and towards the end of his time to East Timor on active duty. For the last couple of years he was based at the Townsville base. It was here in 1999 that he learnt how to dive, which started the ball rolling for him. After working his way up the diving ranks he completed his Instructors and a number of instructors specialty in 2000. It was around this time that he left the army and became a full time dive instructor. After coming to New Zealand at the end of 2000 he also worked in dive shops in Hamilton and Rotaura . Then in 2002 while managering Slipper Island he completed his Skippers ticket also. Since moving to Tairua he helps with the running of the business and raising the kids as well as being a full time automotive engineer. He has worked in a number of workshops over the past 7 years and is at present the manager of Hahei Automotive Services.
Aaron is one of a number of local fully trained Divemasters we can call on as local dive guides. Aaron has dived right around the world including many years instructing and guiding in the infamous Red Sea as a technical diver. Aaron just now enjoys diving as a hobby and helps us out on a regular basis. He enjoys showing visitors some of our secret cray spots! |
