2025 NZ Dive Info

[ronocnikral]

I finally got some more info from Northland. Turns out I land in Auckland on the morning of the 26th (boxing day as you all refer to it). Northland has a 3 day liveaboard to the poor knights leaving soon after, so that should work well. Trying to work out more details about the trip, but seeming like it would fit well timing wise.

@SurteesDiver I just wanted to make sure the liveaboard trip would be appropriate for me. I'm a recreational diver only, and AOW with about 50 dives. I'm not too worried about my skills, but I would hate if it was mainly a technical diving vibe and I was the only recreational diver. thoughts?

I'll also send descend diving an email. Their website seems to be dead. I'm not quite sure where my wife and parents are going to want to go on the south island. Knowing my wife for the last 17 years, I'm pretty sure she'll lock onto Queenstown and Fiordland. Unfortunately, the rest of my family are non-divers. My parents live in Tonga for the time being, and while they'll say hi to me, they really want to spend time with my daughters. Point being, if I bite off the Northland liveaboard, I'll probably have one more day at most to dive, and certainly very little influence on where the group goes.

 

[MB NZ]

A liveaboard is the way to go. I'd recommend diving one of the wrecks after the Poor Knights e.g. Rainbow Warrior or Canterbury. As I say to all visitors, the water is not warm. If bringing your own gear and you don't own a drysuit, bring your thickest wetsuit and a hood.

The diving in this part of New Zealand isn't difficult. As for the rest, you'd be surprised at how little diving infrastructure there is in a country made up of a few islands.

 

[SurteesDiver]

I didn't realise Northland Dive ran a liveaboard now. That's great!

my son and I did a two night three day weekend with them in June last year... was lovely. 10 dives over the three days.

 

[SurteesDiver]

I finally got some more info from Northland. Turns out I land in Auckland on the morning of the 26th (boxing day as you all refer to it). Northland has a 3 day liveaboard to the poor knights leaving soon after, so that should work well. Trying to work out more details about the trip, but seeming like it would fit well timing wise.

@SurteesDiver I just wanted to make sure the liveaboard trip would be appropriate for me. I'm a recreational diver only, and AOW with about 50 dives. I'm not too worried about my skills, but I would hate if it was mainly a technical diving vibe and I was the only recreational diver. thoughts?

I'll also send descend diving an email. Their website seems to be dead. I'm not quite sure where my wife and parents are going to want to go on the south island. Knowing my wife for the last 17 years, I'm pretty sure she'll lock onto Queenstown and Fiordland. Unfortunately, the rest of my family are non-divers. My parents live in Tonga for the time being, and while they'll say hi to me, they really want to spend time with my daughters. Point being, if I bite off the Northland liveaboard, I'll probably have one more day at most to dive, and certainly very little influence on where the group goes.

ronocnikral... I'm a tech diver (on the bottom end of the scale), but Northland's trips to the Poor Knights are definitely rec diving. Warm water, good vis, and only as deep as you want to go. The only dive where you could get below 30m is the Northern Arch... but that's an awesome dive even if you only went to 20m. You will love it and with 50 dives you'll be more than fine!

 

[ronocnikral]

Thanks all - I finally got all the information from Northland. It seems Global Dive in Auckland charters their boat and does all the advertising.

Poor Knights 3 Day Liveaboard w/ ND

Come and dive the Poor Knights with us! The liveaboard vessel we use for these trips is Northland Dives' Sun Spy. Poor Knight Islands: 24km off the Coast of New Zealand are the spectacular Islands of the Poor Knights, full marine reserve and Nature Reserve you can visit the incredible underwater...

globaldive.net

It's not live yet, but they keep list for 1st right of refusal so you can sign up just before they go live. They take 8 people, but I'm 5th on the list already! Kind of trying to book one of the great walks (which were booked the minute they went live).

Anyway, that's all good news! Thanks all!

 

[ronocnikral]

Also, I was going to get a 7mm wetsuit, do you all think that is not enough?

 

[MB NZ]

Also, I was going to get a 7mm wetsuit, do you all think that is not enough?

It depends. I wear a 7mm freediving suit in summer for day boat diving and I'm comfortable. It wouldn't be my first choice for liveaboard diving (cold, wet wetsuit at 0700, yuck!), but I'm very sensitive to the cold. I think most people would be OK. Make sure the suit is a good fit and bring a hood.

 

[SurteesDiver]

It depends. I wear a 7mm freediving suit in summer for day boat diving and I'm comfortable. It wouldn't be my first choice for liveaboard diving (cold, wet wetsuit at 0700, yuck!), but I'm very sensitive to the cold. I think most people would be OK. Make sure the suit is a good fit and bring a hood.

When we did it they had some trips that were fully arranged by Global Dive, and others where they were taking the bookings directly. Ours was one of the direct bookings. I'm not sure if they still do this.

7mm will be fine in the summer. In solidarity with my son (who doesn't have one) I left the drysuit behind and dived the 7/8mm semi dry in June (nearly mid winter). It was a bit cold on the third or fourth dive of the day, but ok.

 

[MB NZ]

In solidarity with my son (who doesn't have one) I left the drysuit behind and dived the 7/8mm semi dry in June (nearly mid winter). It was a bit cold on the third or fourth dive of the day, but ok.

Hard bastard!

I can survive in a 7mm in winter/spring when I'm freediving/spearfishing or maybe one SCUBA dive for scallops (when we were allowed), but not for multiple recreational SCUBA dives