El Orans:
I will be diving with them mid january. First day to the Poor Knights, second day to visit the Tui and the Waikato.
Looking forward very much to a lot better visibility than what I'm used to in Dutch waters.
Some good advice here. The region is my backyard and I am at the disposal of any of you that need helpful advice. Sheepworld..hahahaha. I have driven past that place sooo many times and never gone in, but having lived on a farm and sheared sheep, it sorta has lost it's appeal to me, but good on ya Bill.
Paihia Dive is the recommended dive op to use to see the Rainbow Warrior and the local Far North dive sites, but the locals don't do the Bay of Island thing as much as the tourists. Get over to Russell though. Beautiful. I did my IDC with some of them and they have some top people. The thing to remember about NZ is that you will be using 5mm wetsuits and the water is still a little cool at the moment, so you will need a hood and gloves as well. Both Paihia Dive and Dive Tutukaka have an extensive hire range of everything and prices are reasonable. But if you are more used to a warmer environment, then the extra weights needed and the confinement of the wetsuit will take a little getting used to. Dive Tuts use Instructors only on their boats. 'Cool Hand' Luke or Simon is usually on the largest boat, the 'El Tigre'.
The great thing about the Knights is that I have never had a bad dive there. There is always a sheltered spot with heaps to see. Actually you will catch heaps of stingrays at this time of year, because it is "LOVE SEASON" at the holiday inn as the Knights is a major breeding station over Jan-Feb. It'll be cool.
Blue Mao Mao arch is great. The Blue Mao Mao is an irridescent blue schooling pelagic fish that schools in great amounts, and if you get them swirling around you in their predetorial response and the light is right, the view is breath-taking. Get a Camera!!!!!!
Other great sites are Riko Riko cave, The Gardens, Middle & Northern Arch, Red Baron Caves, Tye Dye arch. There are literally hundreds of different sites. All of them special and spectacular. All the boat have soup and hot drinks on board, but you will need to bring your lunch. The wreck dives are usually done on a 1 dive trip to either wreck. The Waikato's bow broke off in a storm soon after sinking, but is a great dive.
Tank rental is $20 and generally a trip out to the Knights is $90-95.
It's 12kms out to the islands so if you are prone to being seasick, then get some motion sickness tablets. All the pharmacies carry stuff like that.
You get a whole range of customers on board, so buddying up is not an issue.
Email me at
greg.somers@visy.com.au if you guys have any extra questions or if you want a dive buddy. Another great spot is Leigh, which is also a sanctuary like the Knights and Auckland University have their Marine Biology Unit their. (And it's near Sheepworld,Bill.....)
Whangarei is the major city in Northland and if you can, their are great beach dives around the harbour and the heads. Their are 4 diveshops in the region and it is only 40 mins drive from Tutukaka.
Cheers Big Ears,
The one and only,
Gasman