Dive Review of Dive! Tutukaka / Poor Knights Dive Centre/Pacific Rendezvous, Tutukaka in
New Zealand/Poor Knights , North Island

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Dive! Tutukaka / Poor Knights Dive Centre/Pacific Rendezvous, Tutukaka, Apr, 2002, by Jose Kirchner, CA, USA . Report 200.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity	N/A
Dive Operation		Shore Diving
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$	N/A
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	This was a repeat experience with Dive! Tutukaka. The diving is world-class- the Poor Knights, 40 minutes offshore, have spectacular topography, caverns and swimthroughs. Fish include some warmer and cold water variteties (cooler water and warm Coral Sea currents mix here), colorful kelp thickets and great macro. Fish here are protected, and very tame- from morays to larger pelagics, and tiny triplefins. Stingrays breed here as well. Unseasonable winds merely meant we dove the "other sides" of the islands. A very few years ago, we wrote in their guestbook, "Kaleidoscopic fish swarms. Rich tapestries of colour on the walls. A pleasure to dive with a well-organised crew in splendid sanctuary" and we still agree with that. Jacques Cousteau loved it BEFORE it was protected, and it's fishier and even better now. Two great wrecks available now as well, with dedicated wreck boat form Dive! Tutukaka - nearby HMNZS Tui, originally a US hydrologic and submarine spy vessel, and the HMNZS Waikato, a frigate, purpose-sunk for divers thanks to the work of Jeroen Jongejans, Dive! Tutukaka owner. This area is a dive destination well worth a week anyway. Dive Tutukaka! personnel are friendly, enthusiastic and competent, with several well-equipped fast boats. Head and warm water showers, hot beverages and soup dispensed. Larger boat takes kayakers, snorkelers, dive students, experienced divers (who can do their own thing). Dive operation has grown rapidly (30% per year last 2 years), so our advance e-mail booking was lost! Operation seems a bit hurried and impersonal for some at times. We would not hesitate to return, anyway- but confirm your booking to be sure, it's all the way to Acukland NZ and four hours by car. Rates: two tank dive with tanks and weights, about US$65; single tank wreck dive with t&w, about US$30. (A good wreck day is one wreck, lunch at Schnappa rock for s.i., second wreck for dessert.) Pacific Rendezvous is a collection of fully furnished comfortable cottages and condos on a scenic head overlooking the Pacific and Poor Knights in the distance, with rinse and fish cleaning facilities, laundry, pool. No restaurant, but full kitchen facilities. We took some meals at friendly Schnappa Rock restaurant (3 miles in Tutukaka), excellent food and wines with moderate prices. Great prices too, from US$40 per night. April is early Fall, uncrowded and economical low season- yet sunny and with the warmest waters of the year for here. Dive Tutukaka! Poor Knights Dive Centre Marina Road, Tutukaka RD3, Whangarei, New Zealand Ph: +64 9 4343 867, Fax: +64 9 4343 884 [diving.co.nz link] email: info@diving.co.nz Pacific Rendezvous Resort Tutukaka, Whangarei, New Zealand Phone +64 9 4343 847 Fax +64 9 4343 919 [oceanresort.co.nz link] pacific@igrin.co.nz Schnappa Rock restaurant, on Marina Road in Tutukaka Information at [greenstone.co.nz link]
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	0-25 dives
Where else diving	Wordwide, 46 years' dive experience, including New Zealand previously.
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny, windy	Seas	calm, choppy
Water Temp	64-68°F / 18-20°C	Wetsuit Thickness	5
Water Visibility	20-80 Ft/ 6-24 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	Latitude given for proven experience; detailed instructions and guided dives for less experienced. Four divers max per guide on wrecks unless fully wreck qualified and experienced.
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	N/A
What I Saw
Sharks	None	Mantas	None
Dolphins	Schools	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	None	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities
UW Photo Comments	Dunk tank can be requested. No dedicated photographer areas on boats, bring own parts and supplies. Capt. /author/ photographer Glenn Edney very knowledegable - can give good hints on critters and conditions, wrote the local critter book. Bring lenses from w/a to macro.

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Dive Review of Dive! Tutukaka / Poor Knights Dive Centre/Pacific Rendezvous, Tutukaka in New Zealand/Poor Knights , North Island

Dive! Tutukaka / Poor Knights Dive Centre/Pacific Rendezvous, Tutukaka, Apr, 2002,

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Dive Review of Dive! Tutukaka / Poor Knights Dive Centre/Pacific Rendezvous, Tutukaka in
New Zealand/Poor Knights , North Island