Welcome To Our Dive Guide
New Zealand’s sea shores are rich with breathtakingly beautiful, colourful and strange life - and that’s just the locals! Diving enthusiasts can take a dip in a range of stunning locations around the country, with spots in Whakatane and the Bay of Islands amongst the best spots in the world.
Backpackers News has compiled a guide to the best New Zealand diving locations, so that you can take the plunge this summer!
Connoisseurs of the deep
by Talia Shadwell
Bay of Islands tourism operators Dave and Sue Wadsworth have been connoisseurs of the deep blue unknown for more than 20 years, and this October the Dive North owners opened their new headquarters in picturesque Kerikeri.
Dive North offers day trips to one of New Zealand’s most popular dive sites— the wreck of the Greenpeace activists’ ship Rainbow Warrior, which was laid to rest on the Cavalli Island sea-beds in Northland two years after it was bombed by French secret agents in 1985.
The veteran tourism operators say the Rainbow Warrior is an eye opening experience for beginner to advanced divers. The wreck’s composition on the sea floor changes noticeably every year, although some of its inhabitants stay constant, particularly a friendly scorpion fish, says Dave.
“He is called George, and is probably the most photographed fish in New Zealand.”
A trip to the Rainbow Warrior requires a full day’s devotion and fin-shod beginners are in safe hands with PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer Instructor Dave, who has more than 2500 dives under his weight belt. Meanwhile, Sue keeps hungry swimmers fed and watered and keeps Dive North’s brand new dive shop and training centre running. The husband and wife team are assisted by Mr Mutley, their SPCA-rescued puppy who waits faithfully on the beach to greet divers upon their return.
Dive North runs daily charters out to the Cavalli Islands to show off the breath-taking undersea world that has blossomed on the Rainbow Warrior’s decks since it was scuttled more than two decades ago. Once on the reef, divers inch 26m down a line onto the Rainbow Warrior’s stern then swim along the 40m ship’s length to take in jewel anemones on its hull. Swimming over the deck, visitors can see the full range of Cavalli Reef’s biodiversity, including vibrantly hued blue mao mao, pig fish, demoiselles, and wrasses, and even moray eels and amazing nudibranch.
To get the full Bay of Islands dive experience, a visit to the Neptune Gardens is in order— a good option for those less confident in the water, says Dave. “This dive site is so full of life you don’t even need to swim to see a lot, just hovering in one place you can enjoy all the fish swimming around you.”
Dive North also runs charters to the HMNZS Canterbury wreck, a 113m-long ex-Navy frigate that was scuttled in Deep Water Cove for the pleasure of diving enthusiasts. Cathedral Cave is considered to be a gem of New Zealand diving— the sea cave tunnels to a depth of 40m and is home to a curious menagerie of species, including stingrays taking refuge inside from the predators that ride the nearby sub-tropical currents. Outside the cave, the soupy waters sometimes attract sharks and whales— a bonus for brave divers.
The Divers Big Day Out
For divers who want to see more of what the Bay of Islands have to offer but are time-constrained, Dive North also offers the Divers Big Day Out, a full day scenic cruise and dive trip that takes punters to both the Rainbow Warrior and HMNZS Canterbury.
Where to stay
Take advantage of Dive North’s Park and Dive package offering very low cost campervan parking on site in between days of diving, or opt for their Stay and Dive package where you can enjoy home stay bed and breakfast accommodation while diving with them. The nearby farm hostel and local backpackers all offer excellent low cost accommodation to cater for all budgets.
Drop in to see them at 1512 State Highway 10, Kerikeri (700m north of Kerikeri roundabout on the right hand side) - Or phone them on 09 401 6206, 09 402 5369, 021 027 9990. Email to Dave@DiveNorth.co.nz or Sue@DiveNorth.co.nz
Diving around the edge of an active volcano
by Talia Shadwell
White Island is New Zealand’s only live marine volcano, and is a spectacular diving destination.
Dive White’s Louise Allen says its crystal clear waters, tropical fish species and sweeping currents make the spot a diver’s dream.
“Diving at White Island is a unique experience of diving around the edge of an active volcano which is an island in itself.”
White Island is 49 nautical kilometres off the coast of Whakatane, and is a hotspot, so to speak, attracting scientists, volcanologists and tourists alike to its geothermally active shores.
The volcano is estimated to be between 100,000 to 200,000 years old and supports a rich array of marine life, says Louise.
“The dive sites are varied with huge amounts of fish life and stunning volcanic terrain and underwater vents.”
But despite its waters teeming with inquisitive sea life to the delight of divers, land lubbers will find very little vegetation survives on the island’s surface due to the constantly hissing and steaming crater’s acidic environment.
Sound dangerous? Never fear, a multitude of scientific recording equipment keeps a close watch on the island’s boisterous activities day in and out, and regular tourist trips around the island are popular as people step onto its shores lured by its sights including strange yellow sulphur crystals and spectacular crater-lake.
For keen divers, a visit to White Island is made easy with the help of the team at Dive White, who supply all gear, lunch and refreshments for the 8 hour trip with certified instructors.
See prices and book online at http://www.divewhite.co.nz/
KERIKERI
Dive North, Bay of Islands
Tel: (09) 402 5369
Email: info@divenorth.co.nz
www.DiveNorth.co.nz
GOAT ISLAND
MARINE RESERVE
Goat Island Dive
Tel: (09) 422 6925
Freephone: 0800 348 369
Email: dive@goatislanddive.co.nz
www.goatislanddive.co.nz
WHITE ISLAND
Dive White
Tel: (07) 307 0714
Freephone: 0800 348 394
www.divewhite.co.nz
WELLINGTON
Splash Gordon’s Dive Wellington
Tel: (04) 939 3483
Email: dive@splashgordon.co.nz
www.splashgordon.co.nz
MARLBOROUGH
Go Dive Marlborough
Tel: Lermontov Trips 0800GODIVE
Tel: Picton Trips (03) 573 7199
Email: info@godive.co.nz
www.godive.co.nz
PICTON
Dive Picton
Tel: (03) 5737 323
Freephone: 0800 423 483
Email: info@divepicton.co.nz
www.divepicton.co.nz
NELSON
Awesome Scuba
Tel: 021 24 DIVER
Email: info@awesomescuba.co.nz
www.awesomescuba.co.nz
KAIKOURA
Dive Kaikoura
Tel: 0800 348352
Freephone: 0800 348 352
Email: divekaikoura@xtra.co.nz
www.divekaikoura.co.nz
MILFORD SOUND
Tawaki Adventures
Tel: (03) 249 9006
Freephone: 0800 829254
Email: janine@southernaqua.co.nz
www.tawakidive.co.nz
For more information see www.DiveGuide.co.nz