Scuba Diving - Dive Tutukaka Poor Knights Islands
About
Description
Internationally recognised as “the best sub-tropical diving in the world”, the Poor Knights Islands are on every diver’s ‘must-do’ list. Jacques Cousteau ranked them as one of the top ten sites anywhere.
Dive Tutukaka is NZ’s premier charter operator, with professional crew, full equipment hire, 364 days a year, top service, reliability and safety.
World-class underwater experiences for every level, from first-timer to wreck diver to dive master.
Diving at the Poor Knights is rewarding at all times of the year. Mid January to late April presents excellent all round diving. The water is warm 20-23 Celsius (70F) and the water is clear averaging 20 meters visibility. This is the summer season so you can expect mild air temperatures too.
From May to early September the visibility is excellent while the temperature falls to a winter low of 15-16 Celsius. Often calm periods of weather occur over this time and visibility in excess of 30 meters can be encountered.
Between September and early January the water is warming. Plankton can reduce visibility to as little as 10 to 15 meters at times. However there is a great abundance of fish during this time. The plankton feeders have a limitless source of food and of course the predators are here.
Your Poor Knights Dive Day
After arriving at the Dive centre at around 8am, there’s always a little bit of paperwork, then we allocate your boat, arrange your hire gear and fill your tanks.
Boarding starts at 8.30am. After equipment is safely stored onboard, our crew will introduce themselves and conduct a comprehensive briefing.
Then we’re on our way out of Tutukaka Marina, on the way to the Poor Knights Islands or the Twin Wrecks.
All our boats have cabins for shelter and gear storage, onboard toilets and hot showers on the dive deck.
The Poor Knights boats leave between 8.45am and 9.00am and (if we don’t see whales and dolphins on our way) we get to the Islands within 40 to 60 minutes. The journey is across a twelve and a half nautical mile stretch of open ocean, and we often see a wide variety of sea life.
Once at the Poor Knights, we spend a little time find the best dive spot, depending on the swell, wind direction, experience and personal preference of the divers on board.
A thorough briefing of the site and the marine life is always given before we get into the water, whether we’re diving, snorkeling or kayaking.
When you’re not diving, relax topside and make use of the hot showers and comfortable facilities.
All our dive boats cater for non-divers; take command of a kayak, or don mask and snorkel, and find a whole other way to discover the Islands…
Whatever your activity, there is plentiful hot coffee, tea, soup or Milo (hot chocolate) waiting your return. We’ll get everyone back on board for lunch, then go for a tour around some of the special spots of the Poor Knights.
Generally there will be 1.5 hours between the dives, giving opportunity for other activities or simply relaxing and socialising between dives.
You will find your crew very knowledgeable and willing to assist with any questions you might have.
Again considering conditions, we will find a dive stop in a fresh new area and after another briefing the second dive of the day will get under way.
When everyone is topside and counted, we stow the gear and arrive back at Tutukaka Marina between 3.30 and 4.30pm.
After unloading your gear you can walk over to the “Poor Knights Dive Centre” to fill in your logbook with the details our dive instructors will have ready for you.
T-shirts, books, dive equipment and information about other dives and booking facilities are all available at the Dive Centre.
For those who came with the bus from town, departure is at 5pm.
If you have your own transport or you are staying in the area, you can enjoy the famous “Tutukaka Après Dive Scene”, enjoy some music and start planning your next trip to the Poor Knights dive wonderland.
Discover Scuba
Try diving for the first time! Includes all equipment, and instruction for one dive. 2nd dive available for extra $45
Refresher Options
If you haven’t dived for over two years, we recommend a refresher dive with an instructor, running through some basic skills and giving you some extra TLC. Includes all your equipment and you still have two guided dives out at the Poor Knights.
For Explorers (non divers)
You don’t need to dive to explore the Poor Knights Islands; there is as much to see and do above the water as there is down below. All our dive boats cater for non-divers. Take command of a kayak, or don mask and snorkel, and find a whole other way to discover the Islands. If you're visitng in summer (Nov - Apr) check out the Perfect Day trip for non divers.
Trip Includes
- 2 dives
- Full gear hire
- Free guiding service
- Kayaking & snorkelling
Duration
- Allow 8 hours
Departures
- Check in is from 8am at the Tutukaka Dive Centre (returns by 4.30pm)
- Free transfers available from Whangarei accommodation
- Operates all year except Christmas
Other Information
- Free transfers available from Whangarei accommodation
- Free guiding service, complimentary hot drinks, hot showers, free kayak use
- Two dives each day
- If you have your own gear you can just hire tanks & weight belt
- If you're visitng in summer (Nov - Apr) check out the Perfect Day trip for non divers
- Wreck diving available. Contact us for more information
- Ask us about our yummy $10 lunches
- Discover Scuba second dive extra $45
- Learn to dive courses are available. Please contact us for more information
- We will open every day except Christmas Day
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