Going to NZ - any suggestions?

Jamie Obern · December 7th, 2006, 08:21 PM

I am heading over to NZ in the new year for 3 months (Jan to Mar) and was looking for suggestions for good diving in NZ. Places to dive, who to dive with etc. Also, is there much cave diving going on?

*JGrogan* · December 7th, 2006, 09:24 PM

Jamie,

Contact Paul at Inner Realm (INNER REALM). He runs a DIR outfit over there and can tell you everything you need to know.

There's not too much cave diving in NZ and what there is, is mostly on the South Island, but often difficult to access ie. Pearce Resurgance. Expect the cave water to be very cold - typically 4-6 degrees!

Best,
John.

Quote: (Originally Posted by Jamie Obern)

I am heading over to NZ in the new year for 3 months (Jan to Mar) and was looking for suggestions for good diving in NZ. Places to dive, who to dive with etc. Also, is there much cave diving going on?

simonn · December 8th, 2006, 02:20 AM

Quote: (Originally Posted by Jamie Obern)

I am heading over to NZ in the new year for 3 months (Jan to Mar) and was looking for suggestions for good diving in NZ. Places to dive, who to dive with etc. Also, is there much cave diving going on?

AFAIK the only DIR diving in NZ revolves around Innerrealm. By all accounts there is not a lot of tech diving full stop. Diving is a primarily a hunter gather thing in NZ.

The Poor Knights are very good. The diving is done out of Tutukaka. I have been there twice, for a week both times. Just recreational diving though. Stayed at the Bunkdown Lodge in Whangarei (pronunced Fong-eh-ray) and dived with Dive Tutukaka. Transport to Tutukaka every day was organised by the the dive shop and free/included in the cost regardless of whether you use it or not. Buses (Northliner and Intercity) from Auckland (~3hrs to Whangerai) are probably the easiest way to get there. There are also a couple of scuttled wrecks - HMNZS Tui and Waikato which are worth a dive.

The Rainbow Warrior, dived out of Pahia, is worth a dive if only for the verbal French bashing on the way out there.

We did not get to diving White Island (from Whakatane - pronounced F&ck-eh-tahn-eh snigger snigger), but it has an awesome reputation - well it is an active volcano. The dive op is Dive White IIRC. Get in contact with them early because the need(ed?) a minimum of 4 divers to make it worthwhile so it is probably a good idea to find out when they are definitely going.

Doing a drift dive in the Waikato river is meant to be good fun, but seems to be difficult to organise. I tried with a dive shop in Taupo (can't remember their name but I think they have closed down).

There is the Lermontov which is dived out of Picton (pronounced Pucton

). Many friends have dived it. Meant to be a dirty, scary, plunderable, thus ultimitely fulfilling wreck.

Diving out of Kaikura is meant to be average according to one friend.

We tried to dive Milford Sound (from Te Anau), but the hostel we were going to stay with failed to make the booking and also failed to inform us until we turned up after a 5 hour drive. IOW book direct with the dive center (IME NEVER!!! let hostel book anything, they will always find some way to f&ck it up no matter how easy you make it for them).

Jamie Obern · December 11th, 2006, 06:53 PM

Thanks for the info guys. Whatever I end up diving has got to be better than the UK in winter anyway.

thumpr · December 14th, 2006, 11:24 AM

Poor Knights are excellent. Dive tutukaka are a bit of an assembly line so avoid them if you can. There are a lot of smaller operations that go out and you will get a more personal service. You may need to ring around as they only go out when they have enough numbers. I have never had any trouble finding a boat. Pacific hideaway and Knight diver are great boats.

Milford sound is excellent. It is very unique diving. Dive centre in te anau should be able to sort you out. I can't remember the name but they are excellent.

Stewart Island (bottom of south island) and the marlborough sounds (top of south island) are another couple of my favourites.

there is pretty good diving all round the coast of new zealand so you can't go too wrong. Are you travelling around or are you going to be based somewhere?

Jamie Obern · December 14th, 2006, 06:25 PM

I will be working in Auckland - so it will be what is possible in a weekend. Poor Knights rather than Stewart Island.

thumpr · December 21st, 2006, 12:19 PM

There is plenty of good diving around auckland to keep you busy then. If you get the chance to travel to the south island it is worth the trip.

Drop me a line if you have any questions about NZ.

December 7th, 2006, 08:21 PM	#1 (permalink)
Jamie Obern(Offline) New Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: UK Posts: 7	Going to NZ - any suggestions? I am heading over to NZ in the new year for 3 months (Jan to Mar) and was looking for suggestions for good diving in NZ. Places to dive, who to dive with etc. Also, is there much cave diving going on?

December 7th, 2006, 09:24 PM	#2 (permalink)
JGrogan(Offline) GUE Join Date: May 2006 Location: London Posts: 439	Jamie, Contact Paul at Inner Realm (INNER REALM). He runs a DIR outfit over there and can tell you everything you need to know. There's not too much cave diving in NZ and what there is, is mostly on the South Island, but often difficult to access ie. Pearce Resurgance. Expect the cave water to be very cold - typically 4-6 degrees! Best, John. Quote: (Originally Posted by Jamie Obern) I am heading over to NZ in the new year for 3 months (Jan to Mar) and was looking for suggestions for good diving in NZ. Places to dive, who to dive with etc. Also, is there much cave diving going on?

December 8th, 2006, 02:20 AM	#3 (permalink)
simonn(Offline) New Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Sydney Posts: 10	Quote: (Originally Posted by Jamie Obern) I am heading over to NZ in the new year for 3 months (Jan to Mar) and was looking for suggestions for good diving in NZ. Places to dive, who to dive with etc. Also, is there much cave diving going on? AFAIK the only DIR diving in NZ revolves around Innerrealm. By all accounts there is not a lot of tech diving full stop. Diving is a primarily a hunter gather thing in NZ. The Poor Knights are very good. The diving is done out of Tutukaka. I have been there twice, for a week both times. Just recreational diving though. Stayed at the Bunkdown Lodge in Whangarei (pronunced Fong-eh-ray) and dived with Dive Tutukaka. Transport to Tutukaka every day was organised by the the dive shop and free/included in the cost regardless of whether you use it or not. Buses (Northliner and Intercity) from Auckland (~3hrs to Whangerai) are probably the easiest way to get there. There are also a couple of scuttled wrecks - HMNZS Tui and Waikato which are worth a dive. The Rainbow Warrior, dived out of Pahia, is worth a dive if only for the verbal French bashing on the way out there. We did not get to diving White Island (from Whakatane - pronounced F&ck-eh-tahn-eh snigger snigger), but it has an awesome reputation - well it is an active volcano. The dive op is Dive White IIRC. Get in contact with them early because the need(ed?) a minimum of 4 divers to make it worthwhile so it is probably a good idea to find out when they are definitely going. Doing a drift dive in the Waikato river is meant to be good fun, but seems to be difficult to organise. I tried with a dive shop in Taupo (can't remember their name but I think they have closed down). There is the Lermontov which is dived out of Picton (pronounced Pucton ). Many friends have dived it. Meant to be a dirty, scary, plunderable, thus ultimitely fulfilling wreck. Diving out of Kaikura is meant to be average according to one friend. We tried to dive Milford Sound (from Te Anau), but the hostel we were going to stay with failed to make the booking and also failed to inform us until we turned up after a 5 hour drive. IOW book direct with the dive center (IME NEVER!!! let hostel book anything, they will always find some way to f&ck it up no matter how easy you make it for them).

December 11th, 2006, 06:53 PM	#4 (permalink)
Jamie Obern(Offline) New Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: UK Posts: 7	Thanks for the info guys. Whatever I end up diving has got to be better than the UK in winter anyway.

December 14th, 2006, 11:24 AM	#5 (permalink)
thumpr(Offline) New Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 15	Poor Knights are excellent. Dive tutukaka are a bit of an assembly line so avoid them if you can. There are a lot of smaller operations that go out and you will get a more personal service. You may need to ring around as they only go out when they have enough numbers. I have never had any trouble finding a boat. Pacific hideaway and Knight diver are great boats. Milford sound is excellent. It is very unique diving. Dive centre in te anau should be able to sort you out. I can't remember the name but they are excellent. Stewart Island (bottom of south island) and the marlborough sounds (top of south island) are another couple of my favourites. there is pretty good diving all round the coast of new zealand so you can't go too wrong. Are you travelling around or are you going to be based somewhere?

December 14th, 2006, 06:25 PM	#6 (permalink)
Jamie Obern(Offline) New Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: UK Posts: 7	I will be working in Auckland - so it will be what is possible in a weekend. Poor Knights rather than Stewart Island.

December 21st, 2006, 12:19 PM	#7 (permalink)
thumpr(Offline) New Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 15	There is plenty of good diving around auckland to keep you busy then. If you get the chance to travel to the south island it is worth the trip. Drop me a line if you have any questions about NZ.