New Zealand

[lv929]

I'm going on a mega trip to NZ in twelve moths time, mostly riding a motorbike around the South Island, but I want to dive while I'm there too. I might be DM by then (hopefully). I am particularly interested in maybe getting close to dolphins, and taking some photos. I am not interested in caves (some of the dives on a website I looked at were caves).

Has anyone been, is it worth me factoring, say, 2 days diving into the trip plans? We will be on the east coast I think, as it is wetter on the west and not so good for bike riding.

Any recommendations gratefully received, cheers

[ahar]

Originally Posted by lv929

I'm going on a mega trip to NZ in twelve moths time, mostly riding a motorbike around the South Island, but I want to dive while I'm there too. I might be DM by then (hopefully). I am particularly interested in maybe getting close to dolphins, and taking some photos. I am not interested in caves (some of the dives on a website I looked at were caves).

Has anyone been, is it worth me factoring, say, 2 days diving into the trip plans? We will be on the east coast I think, as it is wetter on the west and not so good for bike riding.

Any recommendations gratefully received, cheers

There are a few NZ members on here, and as I recall 'Mary' is working over there at the mo. There have been quite a few threads already on this so you may want to do a search of the forums.

If it's Dophins you're after, then Kaikora on the east coast of the South Island is the place to go - you can also go diving there. It's a cold water reef system with plenty of life, and you can also see seals, whales and if you're lucky, migrating Orcas.

Other south island place to dive is Milford Sound, but they don't do it in the winter.

Diving is better in the North Island - google for the Poor Knights islands and also for the Rainbow warrior and other sites from Paihia right up at the northern tip.

[Keith Whittaker]

I don't know much about diving on the South Island. Milford Sound is supposed to be awesome. Dolphins and other large life can be seen pretty regularly at Kaikoura but a cheaper option might be to try the Banks Peninsula around Akaroa for the Hectors Dolphins.

If you get to the North Island I can thoroughly recommend Dive HQ at Whitianga on the Coramandel and the Poor Knights islands are a must do if you get that far up. All the Kiwi's that i've ever met say that there is pretty good diving almost anywhere around NZ so i'd suggest taking any opportunity that presents itself.

Have a fantastic trip, its a great place and not as dull as aussies say


Keith

[triplefin]

Hiya

South Island is much colder for diving than the north. I dont know exactly when your going or will be diving but be prepared for it. It really is cold water diving A lot of people I came across were surprised at water temps and had to terminate dives early etc

The Mikial Lermontov is a superb wreck to dive and at 176M huuuuuuuge. She is out in Marlborough Sound which means you get an utterly fantastic boat ride. I did it as part of a long weekend liveaboard out of Picton and the scenery in the Sound is quite breath taking.

Kaikoura on the east coast is a big whale watching place which is well worth doing and you can swim with dolphins and seals (I did it all )

I know you have said that you will be sticking to the east coast but probably one of the most awesome places I have ever dived was Milford Sound. I did some reviews on http://www.divereviews.co.uk/ which have names of operators etc.

I didnt spend as much time on South Island as I did on north island but i know if/when i ever go back i want to go to the south. Fjordland is incredibly beautiful and very wild and remote in places. There are some amazing places on South Island like the petrified forest you can see at low tide in Curio Bay that has gradually become uncovered due to changes in the coast line which has provided proof of NZ location on an ancient supercontinent (fascinating stuff!)
If you can, do a helihike up onto one of the glaciers. If you've never had a walk around a glacier its an amazing experience incredibly beautiful. The ride up there is the helicoptor is wonderful. Try not to limit yourself to the east coast otherwise you will miss out on some fabulous stuff.

There is a YD member out there at the moment - Mary - and she has written some reports so they might be worth having a look at.

You will have a great time
Jane

[lv929]

Thankyou!!!

hmmm water temperature, hadn't thought of that!!! As I'll carrying be leathers, I need to take minimum dive gear... maybe persuading other (non-diving) half to go to the North for my fun might be in order.

Found this from a surfers website, for the south island: we are going late Feb.

[Snash]

Originally Posted by lv929

Thankyou!!!

hmmm water temperature, hadn't thought of that!!! As I'll carrying be leathers, I need to take minimum dive gear... maybe persuading other (non-diving) half to go to the North for my fun might be in order.

Found this from a surfers website, for the south island: we are going late Feb.

Just hire wet suits when you are there - most operations have them.

Like all the others say, Poor Knights, RW etc etc. Lermentov in the sarf island is a cracker (although you can get blown out quite easily given the prevailing winds).

Late Feb is the time to go - warm weather but out of main (NZ) holiday time.

Bay of Islands also does that dolphin thang. I prefer Russell to Pahia - more laid back. Nice camp site there (with good cabins).

We spent 4 months there earlier this year and are going back in April (for a wedding).

Cheers

Snash

[Allan Carr]

Try this website - it has some very useful info - www.divenewzealand.com/

Around Kaikoura, they snorkel with dolphins (dusky dolphins) twice per week which is all that they are allowed under conservation rules. When we did it, there were around 1500 there! My son was a bit shocvked afterwards to learn that he had been snorkelling in water a kilometre deep. Don't try and get to the bottom.

There is also good diving all around the Marlborough Sounds (north of the South Island) as well as the Lermentov. Don't forget to 'dive' into the Marlborough vineyards as well.

[thumpr]

I am from Christchurch and I have dived most places in the south island and a few in the north. There is some good diving on the east coast but the best diving in nz is probably the poor knights north of auckland. If I was diving in new zealand I would try to get up there.

As far as the south island goes, Milford sound is fabulous. I would highly recommend going to the sound even if you can't dive. Diving is a great way to get a trip around the sound and is cheaper than some of the tourist boat rides. If you want to see dolphins then kaikoura or akaroa are great. The hectors dolphins that live in akaroa are beautifull but quite shy and you are unlikely to get too close to them. The visibility in akaroa harbour can also be very poor. The diving in kaikoura is good with lots of cold water reefs and plenty of crayfish. There is good diving up in the malborough sounds but the best diving is near the tory entrance and most of the dive operators up there won't go that far. The mikhail Lermontov is a great dive, a truly massive boat in very diveable depths. Stewart Island (bottom of the south island) and the otago penisula have some great diving too.

The temperature at the end of feb should be about 12-15 degrees celsius so not too cold.

New Zealand has some great diving and there is something to see in most places. If I had to put them in order my list would be.

1. Poor knights
2. Fiordland (Milford sound)
3. Stewart Island
4. Kapiti Island (off the south west coast of north island. west of wellington.)
5. Malborough sounds
6. Kaikoura
100087. Akaroa

If you have any questions about operators etc send me a pm and I can probably help.

Mike

[Snash]

Originally Posted by thumpr

New Zealand has some great diving and there is something to see in most places. If I had to put them in order my list would be.

1. Poor knights
2. Fiordland (Milford sound)
3. Stewart Island
4. Kapiti Island (off the south west coast of north island. west of wellington.)
5. Malborough sounds
6. Kaikoura
100087. Akaroa

If you have any questions about operators etc send me a pm and I can probably help.

Mike

Mike, interesting list.... especially Kapiti - I know you need a permit to land on the island; are there any regs about diving there or can you just rock up?

Reason for asking is that as well as going back in April this year, we are going back in Feb 07 (for another blinkn' wedding but this time in the north island) and Kapiti is opposite where Ma Snash's old man used to live.

Still at least we will be getting a few airmiles. - 3 times to NZ in 3 years aint bad.

Cheers

Snash

[thumpr]

You can't land on kapiti island without a permit. There is a marine reserve off the north end of the island that has some great diving.

There is no problem with diving as long as you don't land. Most of the dive centres near there will go out to kapiti and the nearby mana island.

The only problem with diving around wellington is that it can be very weather dependent. The south coast has some great dives if there isnt a southerly blowing.

I have only done a dozen or so dives in the wellington region so I could have just got lucky.