OP
Dermochelys
Contributor
Thanks for the tip, but I have other stops along the way on my itinerary, so I'll be driving from Auckland.
But that's great info for the next person that sees this thread!
Question Questions on Poor Knights
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But that's great info for the next person that sees this thread!
OP
Dermochelys
Contributor
I'm very excited for my dives on October 13 and 14 with Dive! Tutukaka. Fingers crossed the weather and conditions are ok, I know there has been some rough weather in New Zealand lately.
Bert van den Berg
Contributor
I dove with Dive Tutukaka last Tuesday and the water was 16 degrees C.
There's always rough weather in NZ
I hope you have good weather for your trip. It's a little too far away to call right now, but Dive Tutukaka will find a sheltered spot at the islands. Just the crossing to contend with if it's rough.
OP
Dermochelys
Contributor
OP
Dermochelys
Contributor
I just wanted to report back on my trip to the Poor Knights. Long story short, it was amazing! This really is a gem of a diving location and I hope I can go back again sometime soon.
I had dives scheduled with Dive! Tutukaka for October 13 and 14. I'll say they were a great company to work with, answering all my questions and they made me feel very comfortable. The boat was good, if a bit of a cattleboat in size. Luckily it being the shoulder season, there were only a few of us on board. The rental equipment was of good quality, though I was surprised they don't use integrated weight BCDs. Not a big deal, they had a weight harness for me and that worked perfectly.
My guide was wonderful. Being a rusty diver who got one dive in before showing up (the day before at Goat Island), I was matched up with another diver who was taking the "refresher" dive. All this consisted of was 5 minutes running some skills that I was happy to assist with and then we were off on our dive.
Both dives were amazing. Viz was around 10m (30 ft.) and we dove Blue Mao Mao Arch and because the swell was picking up stayed in the same spot, but went east for the 2nd dive.
Attached are some photos taken by the Dive! Tutukaka crew. If you want to see all the photos from the day, you can see them on their Facebook page. Anyone considering diving with them as a company should check out their Facebook Page, they post just about every day and it'll give you a good idea of what the diving is like.
We saw TONS of Blue Mao Moa, Kingfish, Snapper, Leatherjacks, Short-tailed Stingrays, Wrasse, Goatfish, all sorts of triplefins, nudibranch, and so much more.
I personally had a bit of trouble with buoyancy being rusty, but my guide and the boat captain were really nice and reassuring to me because I was really beating myself up about it as I was pretty disappointed in my own personal performance. Even with that I had a great time!
Unfortunately the swell switched 180 degrees for Oct. 14 and the dives were cancelled. I was really disappointed since the diving was so good the day before. However, apparently there was only 1 other person signed up for the day, so either it wouldn't be profitable to run the boat out for only 2 people, or perhaps the swell was too much for their smaller boat. The ride back the day before was fine for the big boat (we had 5 divers and I think 5 snorkelers on the day), but I could see how the 1.5 m swell would be too much for a smaller boat and I trust they knew what conditions are suitable and what aren't.
Anyway, at the end of the day I would highly recommend the Poor Knights to any diver. Also in general, New Zealand is an amazing country. Everyone was so nice and the I felt at home though I was just a visitor. I hesitate to gush too much about it here, because I don't want to spill the beans, but I guess the secret is out on how amazing New Zealand is anyway!
Thanks again for all the advice from this group, this trip really re-ignited my passion for diving and I hope to go again soon!
I had dives scheduled with Dive! Tutukaka for October 13 and 14. I'll say they were a great company to work with, answering all my questions and they made me feel very comfortable. The boat was good, if a bit of a cattleboat in size. Luckily it being the shoulder season, there were only a few of us on board. The rental equipment was of good quality, though I was surprised they don't use integrated weight BCDs. Not a big deal, they had a weight harness for me and that worked perfectly.
My guide was wonderful. Being a rusty diver who got one dive in before showing up (the day before at Goat Island), I was matched up with another diver who was taking the "refresher" dive. All this consisted of was 5 minutes running some skills that I was happy to assist with and then we were off on our dive.
Both dives were amazing. Viz was around 10m (30 ft.) and we dove Blue Mao Mao Arch and because the swell was picking up stayed in the same spot, but went east for the 2nd dive.
Attached are some photos taken by the Dive! Tutukaka crew. If you want to see all the photos from the day, you can see them on their Facebook page. Anyone considering diving with them as a company should check out their Facebook Page, they post just about every day and it'll give you a good idea of what the diving is like.
We saw TONS of Blue Mao Moa, Kingfish, Snapper, Leatherjacks, Short-tailed Stingrays, Wrasse, Goatfish, all sorts of triplefins, nudibranch, and so much more.
I personally had a bit of trouble with buoyancy being rusty, but my guide and the boat captain were really nice and reassuring to me because I was really beating myself up about it as I was pretty disappointed in my own personal performance. Even with that I had a great time!
Unfortunately the swell switched 180 degrees for Oct. 14 and the dives were cancelled. I was really disappointed since the diving was so good the day before. However, apparently there was only 1 other person signed up for the day, so either it wouldn't be profitable to run the boat out for only 2 people, or perhaps the swell was too much for their smaller boat. The ride back the day before was fine for the big boat (we had 5 divers and I think 5 snorkelers on the day), but I could see how the 1.5 m swell would be too much for a smaller boat and I trust they knew what conditions are suitable and what aren't.
Anyway, at the end of the day I would highly recommend the Poor Knights to any diver. Also in general, New Zealand is an amazing country. Everyone was so nice and the I felt at home though I was just a visitor. I hesitate to gush too much about it here, because I don't want to spill the beans, but I guess the secret is out on how amazing New Zealand is anyway!
Thanks again for all the advice from this group, this trip really re-ignited my passion for diving and I hope to go again soon!
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