Dive Review of Dive Tutukaka in
New Zealand/Poor Knights Islands

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Dive Tutukaka, Mar, 2007, by Roger Cooper, DC, USA . Report 3486.
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	On a trip to New Zealand with my non-diving spouse, managed to get in three days of diving in New Zealand. New Zealand is said to have more divers per capita than any other country and the diving at Poor Knights Islands (on the East Coast of the North Island) helps you understand why. Poor Kights is a series of volcanic peaks some miles off the east coast of the North Island. The unique aspect of Poor Knights is that it is a complete sanctuary -- no boats are allowed to land on the islands and the animal life is totally protected -- something like the Galapagos without the people. Beneath the surface we encountered huge stingrays cruising the channel and tunnel between two islands. They looked like battleships but swam like eagle rays. Also saw large schools of fish, eels, scorpionfish, etc. The highlight was a large Manta Ray that passed below me just after I surfaced. I believe it was Cousteau who said that the Poor Knights offered "the best sub-tropical diving in the world". So if you are planning a trip to New Zealand, where there is much to do that does not involve diving (whitewater rafting, bungee jumping, world class fishing, amazing hiking, etc.), don't pass on the diving. It is sub-tropical, with the water temperature running 69-72 degrees F. (21-22 C.) and air at a lovely 79 degrees in early March (end of their summer) but fine in the appropriate wetsuit.
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	251-500 dives
Where else diving	New Jersey, California, Florida, Most of the Carribean islands and Bahamas
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny	Seas	calm, surge
Water Temp	21-22°C / 70-72°F	Wetsuit Thickness	7
Water Visibility	30-50 Ft/ 9-15 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	Dive with buddy
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	N/A
What I Saw
Sharks	None	Mantas	1 or 2
Dolphins	None	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	N/A	Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's	N/A	Shore Facilities	N/A
UW Photo Comments	[None]

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Dive Review of Dive Tutukaka in New Zealand/Poor Knights Islands

Dive Tutukaka, Mar, 2007,

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 in
New Zealand/Poor Knights Islands