Questions on Diving in and Taking Kit to NZ?! Need Advice!

[MartinS]

Not sure if this is the right place for this, but am sure Bren will move it if not
A friend of her indoors has recently moved to New Zealand, and we have decided to go visit in February 2006
As far as I know, the friend is in Wellington, but it's too early to book yet (will have to wait until end of Jan/early Feb) but I am trying to get together some info beforehand. The plan is to hire a motorhome for the duration (three weeks) and sharing it with two other friends, one of whom dives (I think you can see where this is leading!)
I'd like to take diving gear with me (with the exception of cylinders), but as we will be on the road, the plan is to just dive as and when we fancy - how many dive shops are there, and how feasible is diving when travelling? Would we be better off just hiring when we come to a town with a dive shop and then just enjoy the scenery for the bits in-between? How feasible is shore diving? I'm guessing these questions are geared at anyone who's done this sort of holiday or even better, someone who lives/has lived there (isn't Gunna Do a NZer?)
Anyway, any useful info gratefully received and any ideas for diving even more so!
Regards, and dive safe
Martin (excited but not sure if I can wait a year!)

[daz]

Very feasible. Shore diving is pretty straight forward and there are plenty of Dive shops dotted around to hire you cylinders, weights and give you the inside knowledge on the best places to get in.

We travelled around with all our dive kit and had a blast. Touch base with Steve (GunnaDo), top man and he can direct you to some good spots.

A couple of nice shore dives that we found were.

Kao Point - Wellington, Ask the guys in a Wellington dive shop exactly where it is. Vis was attrocious (2m at best!) but loads of sea horses. We found 7 on one dive.

The New Wharf - Kaikora, lots and lots of octopus.

And you have to do Pupu springs, absolutely amazing freshwater dive, 60m vis (Althoug it is quite a small site), almost like swimming through air!

Goat Island - Fantastic marine reserve, easy shore diving and excellent vis.

I really would recommend you try to get up to the Poor Knights and do at least one days boat diving. No description can do it justice, but it is superb.

HTH and drop me a PM if you want some more specific info, dive shops and the like.

Daz

[MartinS]

Originally Posted by daz

HTH and drop me a PM if you want some more specific info, dive shops and the like.

Daz
Exactly the sort of info I was after - many thanks. I will definitely be back in touch once we have an idea of dates. I have heard the poor knights to be an amazing dive, so assuming we have time to go there, wil definitely try to fit it in.
Thanks again - green incoming
Regards
Martin