I headed north for Christmas to do some diving at Poor Knights and Paihia. Couldn't coordinate a lob, so did a couple of day trips. Went with Dive Tutukaka for Poor Knights, and Paihia Dive for the Canterbury wreck.
Poor Knights was ok. 20-25m viz, 18-19c water temps. Was comfy in a 7mm with hood and 5mm boots. Was rainy and windy though, so underwater was quite dark and dull even though the viz was fine. Would be amazing on a sunny day. Excuse to return! Dive shop was good. Bit of a stuff up with my booking - they somehow put me down for a Discover Scuba...lol. Easily sorted though. Can recommend Dive Tutukaka
Paihia Dive were great. Can't recommend them highly enough. I'd booked to do the Canterbury wreck and reef dive. Get to the shop to check in, get chatting to one of the instructor-guides. We decided to go exploring in the wreck a bit more than usual. I like guides who can read their customers. He too was a photographer, so it worked out well. Good viz, easy dive, had a few mins of deco at the end, but planned for that. Fantastic dive! The second dive was around an arch not far from the wreck. A few cool nudis and some giant crays. Viz dropped a fair bit there though. Water again 19C and comfy in a 7mm with hood.
Bit of a drive from Welly to dive up north, but I will probably do it again at some point. Just not regularly.
Piccies here
Poor Knights was ok. 20-25m viz, 18-19c water temps. Was comfy in a 7mm with hood and 5mm boots. Was rainy and windy though, so underwater was quite dark and dull even though the viz was fine. Would be amazing on a sunny day. Excuse to return! Dive shop was good. Bit of a stuff up with my booking - they somehow put me down for a Discover Scuba...lol. Easily sorted though. Can recommend Dive Tutukaka
Paihia Dive were great. Can't recommend them highly enough. I'd booked to do the Canterbury wreck and reef dive. Get to the shop to check in, get chatting to one of the instructor-guides. We decided to go exploring in the wreck a bit more than usual. I like guides who can read their customers. He too was a photographer, so it worked out well. Good viz, easy dive, had a few mins of deco at the end, but planned for that. Fantastic dive! The second dive was around an arch not far from the wreck. A few cool nudis and some giant crays. Viz dropped a fair bit there though. Water again 19C and comfy in a 7mm with hood.
Bit of a drive from Welly to dive up north, but I will probably do it again at some point. Just not regularly.
Piccies here