Diving in Poor Knights - 1st time diving in cold waters

[El Orans]

Make a lunch because the boats only supply tea, coffee, cup-a-soup and you will get very hungry, partly because of the cold.

You can have them arrange a very nice lunchbox for you for about NZ$ 10. Tastes great.

 

[greg somers]

What are summer water temps at Poor Knights in Farenheit?

Do I need a constricting 7mm or would 5mm do?

I think it's time to get with the metric program....lol
20 - 23 deg C is about mid-70's F. You don't need a hood and 5mm is fine. No peeing in the suit though. Our fish are fussy, even if your local fish aren't. (Protected sanctuary)
:11:

Cheers Big Ears

There can be only one...

 

[happi]

Hi Guys!

Thanks for all the info! Will be diving soon in Poor Knights!

 

[happi]

Hi Guys!

Back home already. Did my dive @ Poor Knights in New Zealand. It was fabulous!! The marine life there was so amazing!!

In the end, the dive shop that I booked the trip sent me to dive with Dive! Tutukaka. The guys were real professional & great! Great dive boats too!

Of course, it really took me quite some time to really get used to the cold temperature & all the 7mm thick wetsuit. Felt really clumsy in it. Though I vomitted after surfacing, it was still a great trip. Didn't regret to arrange this trip at all!

Still puzzled why I vomitted twice after surfacing.... *sigh*

 

[greg somers]

Vomiting can be brought on by a number of factors. The trip out can bring on nausea. Depends what seas you went out on. Also, what food you eat beforehand and how soon before the trip can do it.
Vertigo from being in really clear water can be brought on by a spatial effect. When there is surge like at the Knights alongside the cliffs, it helps to focus on a point on the wall. Especially during the 5m safety stop. Going up and down with the surge can make you queazy and when you combine that with the motion of the boat when exiting can easily bring on the vomit. I often combat this by not eating until after the first dive. Your stomach has settled by then and any performance anxiety and fear is often gone by then as well.
Then you can get on with the second dive. Sounds like you had a great trip. Which sites did you dive?
Spill the beans....

Cheers Big Ears

Gasman

 

[happi]

I did the dives @ Ngoio Reef & Blue Maomao Arch!
Saw so many big school of fishes & swam right through a few and some were escorting us too

Well, I only ate a piece of biscuit & a cup of tea about 1.5 hours before the trip. The trip out was quite OK because the weather was good on that day. I took dramamine the night before & pop some ginger pills on that morning.
Only felt nausea after exiting. Couldn't eat after I vomitted. (Wasted my nice prepared lunch.) Drank lotsa of water instead.
My 2nd dive --> Same story. Vomitted after exiting & the instructor said: "The fishes will love you for this..." while giving me another cup of water...

Errmm.. What is Vertigo huh?

Cheers,
Barfing happi

 

[greg somers]

This is where you lose your perspective from a vision perspective. we get sea sick from the horizon changing. When your eyes have to focus suddenly on 2 different depths, you can lose visual perspective. This can bring on nausea, panic, spatial distortion etc. If you dive far enough out where you can't see any features but the water and no bottom or rock walls, this can happen there as well. Especially if you can't see the surface as well. You need to use your dive skills then. Especially your compass. I have had that happen at the Knights. But Blue Mao Mao arch can have a real current. If your finning hard and your in a tight wet suit, this can make you queazy as well. it's not a big deal. Probably shouldn't have taken the dramamine the night before. These medications can also make you ill after a dive. I saw that happen on my last dive to the Knights in January. Sea sickness tablets might be ok for a sea voyage, but they can have adverse effects on a diver, who is exerting themselves at depth.
Blu Mao Mao are a beautiful fish.
Where in Singapore are you from? I was there for 5 days, around orchard park. I was staying at the Boulevard Hotel and the Imperial Hotel. saw the Peoples Markets, Moustafas, Changi, Sentosa..etc. I really liked the place, but didn't have enough time nor money.

Cheers Barfing Ears

Gasman

 

[happi]

Woo... SO, that's Vertigo...
Maybe I'm still not used to the tight wetsuit & I was actually a little out of breath after wearing it!

Well, as for my dramamine, I always need to take some sea-sickness pills as I do get seasick easily. Will be trying out another type when I go for my next dive. (Meclozine) I hope I can find a way to fight my sea-sickness & my nausea SOON.

Well, I live in the Northern part of Singapore - which is just 25 mins drive from Orchard (Central part)! Great that you have enjoyed your 5 days in Singapore! I've a few friends saying Singapore is too hot & humid for them... If you come by the next time, drop me a line!
Too bad Singapore Waters are not too to dive. If not I would have dive more often!
Sighh... $$ is always the issue... I was in NZ for almost a month.. Really enjoyed the winter there... :07:

Cheers..

 

[greg somers]

While the Indonesian fires were burning. There was no sun, just fire smoke, but it was 30 deg average. No worries for me in that. I have been in 40's. I felt it getting off the plane, but acclimatised quickly. When I was there in Oct, I was at Sentosa with some friends and we went swimming at the beach and got a rash, because an oil tanker had just sunk and there was oil pollutants in the water. And the water park was closed. Loved the Night Safari. Especially the fishing cats.

 

[alemaozinho]

Hi there!

I'll be diving in NZ-Poor Knights during the month of July. People have told me that water temp would be around 14 degrees.
As it would be my 1st time diving in Cold Waters, anything that I should be careful/aware of? (I've only dived in warm waters (27 degrees) & am still a new diver)

And of cos, do share with me your experiences diving there!

Thanks!
Ros

make sure that you,ll take a camera with you,peace