G’day! My name is Cam Preston, I grew up in Wellington, NZ, and I am the new instructor here at Dive HQ Wellington.
I have always loved physical activity and the water, growing up swimming and playing many sports including; basketball, cricket – indoor and outdoor, rugby, and even netball.
Having attended the University of Otago for four years I decided to pursue a career underwater and signed up for Dive Otago’s Diploma of Professional SCUBA Instruction. After an amazing year of 100+ dives, many of which were fairly chilly, I completed the Instructor Development Course (IDC) and Instructor Exam (IE) to graduate from Dive Otago as a PADI Instructor with five Instructor Specialties. Much of my experience has come in cold water, often having to deal with low visibility and current as well as some big and bold Sealions!
I have been lucky enough to complete some amazing dives and snorkeling, such as; freediving with Manta Rays in Nusa Penida Bali, snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef, diving with Sealions frequently down south, and seeing Black Coral and Spiny Dogfish in Milford Sound. My favourite memory is playing tug-of-war with a Sealion who had grabbed the recently shot butterfish off my buddy’s spear! The big male was more than welcome to the fish, we just wanted the speargun and float back! What a way to highlight the best days spearfishing I’ve had in the Catlins.
I’m really looking forward to getting to know everyone in the Dive Club and community and can’t wait to get in the water with new people.