New Zealand North Island diving - any info

[mick millane]

Hi
I'm looking at going to Auckland next year (October(ish)) and while the wife talks!!! to her long lost mates (Emigrated 2 years ago) I'm looking to do 3 days diving (land or liveaboard) - any ideas?

Mick

[PeteM]

Hi
I'm looking at going to Auckland next year (October(ish)) and while the wife talks!!! to her long lost mates (Emigrated 2 years ago) I'm looking to do 3 days diving (land or liveaboard) - any ideas?

Mick

Best diving on the North Island is probably around the Poor Knights. I dived with Dive Tutukaka (http://diving.co.nz/) which where pretty good. Don't remember seeing any liveaboards and to be honest the dives sites are accessible enough not to need on.

Out side of the Poor Knights the diving seems to be mainly hunter/gatherer diving.

[Eddie Clamp]

Hi
I'm looking at going to Auckland next year (October(ish)) and while the wife talks!!! to her long lost mates (Emigrated 2 years ago) I'm looking to do 3 days diving (land or liveaboard) - any ideas?

Mick


Might find some good info here:

http://www.bsac.com/diverreports.asp?itemid=7727&itemTitle=New+Zealand+%2D+Milford+Sound%2C+White+I sland+and+the+Poor+Knights&section=1245&sectionTitle=Australasia+%2F+Pacific

and here

http://www.bsac.com/diverreports.asp?itemid=6695&itemTitle=New+Zealand+%2D+Diving+The+Poor+Knights&section=1245&sectionTitle=Australasia+%2F+Pacific

I am sure there will be even more info to follow from our forum participators in NZ. :)

[neil_richardson]

drop Andrew Simpson an email at:

http://www.globaldive.net/

he's a Brummy based in Auckland who organises liveaboards in and around Auckland ;-)

you could just go up to the poor knights, but then you'd just be on a day boat... and its a LONG way to go for a day boat....

[Dave Woodward]

Poor Knights is good, but a bit of a drive from Auckland. Down the other way is the Coromandel Peninsular, and the Alderman Islands, which again was good, but a long drive. Further north is Bay of Islands and possibly the Rainnbow Warrior.
We used a company called First Light Travel who arranged diving, hire car and cool accomodation as we toured round North Island. We had a great time!

Dave

[boorer]

Hi, one of the NZ based people! Poor Knights and Dive Tutukaka the best option really for casual dives. As the only BSAC club in NZ, look at our website (www.bsac.co.nz) - it's a bit far ahead, but we do lots of diving. Poor Knights is 2 and a half to 3 hrs North of Auckland - lots of people do do it as a day trip, but an overnight stay makes it much more fun! We actually live only 20 mins from Tutukaka, in a town called Whangarei, and are always up to chat etc to BSAC divers. We regularly dive with Dive Tutukaka - not cheap, but they are very professional and dive EVERY day unless the weather is absolutely DREADFUL (not likely in October). Feel free to ask for any more advice (boorer@googlemail.com).

[Steve in Sharm]

Hi, one of the NZ based people! Poor Knights and Dive Tutukaka the best option really for casual dives. As the only BSAC club in NZ, look at our website (www.bsac.co.nz) - it's a bit far ahead, but we do lots of diving. Poor Knights is 2 and a half to 3 hrs North of Auckland - lots of people do do it as a day trip, but an overnight stay makes it much more fun! We actually live only 20 mins from Tutukaka, in a town called Whangarei, and are always up to chat etc to BSAC divers. We regularly dive with Dive Tutukaka - not cheap, but they are very professional and dive EVERY day unless the weather is absolutely DREADFUL (not likely in October). Feel free to ask for any more advice (boorer@googlemail.com).

What he said, though when I stayed in Whangarei i found it very small and quiet, dont expect nightlife....

[Andy (treerat)]

Pick up the 'snorkell and dive New Zealand' by Lonely Planet.

Gives you all the options in the area - we used it when out there a few years ago :)