NEW ZEALAND
With two main islands, rattled by earthquakes and active volcanoes, New Zealand hosts two distinct marine environments: the cold south, and subtropical north. Some of the world’s best diving can be experienced in New Zealand, with the Poor Knights rated by Jacques Cousteau himself as among the best.
Auckland and Bay of Islands
Auckland may not be home to the country’s best diving, but the Bay of Islands protected waters offer shallow, clear water where sponges, kelp, and other invertebrates thrive. These dive sites are perfect for divers who do not have the time to visit Milford Sound or the Poor Knights islands.
Poor Knights Islands
A few hours journey from Auckland, the Poor Knights islands are famous for the migrating stingrays that meet here in their thousands; the rocky islands are frequently battered by fierce storms, making diving a bit tricky to predict, but with calm weather, the rich array of life here will astound travelers. Jacques Cousteau himself rated the Poor Knights as one of his favourite dive destinations.
Milford Sound: Fjordland
Diving in the icy waters of Milford Sound, Fjordland, is a unique, amazing experience. With a thick layer of freshwater on the seawater’s surface, light from the sun can’t penetrate far down through the water column; here, black coral that normally grows at depths of hundreds of meters, is just ten meters deep; dives are conducted along walls that plunge hundreds of meters deep. Dogfish, mackerel, seals and penguins are frequently sighted in this national park.
Getting there:
Air New Zealand is the national carrier of New Zealand, and offers around the world service to London (via Hong Kong, westbound; and Los Angeles, eastbound) Numerous European, Asian and American airlines fly to Auckland, with often free or inexpensive stopovers on South Pacific islands.
What to expect:
There are four seasons in New Zealand, and visitors should be prepared fro frequent, heavy rain year round, and snow in the Austral winter (May to September) Doomestic flights tend to be expensive, so overland travel by bus, car and train are popular atelrnatives. Most countries receive 6 months free visas upon arrival, though its best to check with the New Zealand embassy to be sure.
Questions? Email Dave, who dived the deep fjords of Milford Sound, and can help plan your dive trip to New Zealand.