New zealand

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h daflon - 01 Aug 2005 14:04 GMT

Hello
Planning to dive in New Zealand in January, 2006 (including the Rainbow
warrior).
Any advice or recommendation about dive centers and accomodation would be
appreciated :)
Does anyone know about Apex car rental? Any experience?
Thanks for answering to the group (or I can individually provide a valid
email address)

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Simon Nash - 01 Aug 2005 19:42 GMT

> Hello
> Planning to dive in New Zealand in January, 2006 (including the Rainbow
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> Thanks for answering to the group (or I can individually provide a valid
> email address)

Gary Gillbanks with Matauri Cat is a "good kiwi bloke" to use to dive the
RW. Laid back and happy to shoot the breeze. Quite happy to go out in most
weather..... Based at Matauri Bay at the foot of the RW monument. Camp site
is a good one although no cabins (couple of small statics)

Poor Knights - good diving. Dive Tutakaka seem to be the main operation - I
found them a bit too slick for my liking. I would prefer to use one of the
smaller operators. Others speak highly about them though. I guess it depends
what are you looking for.

Lerementov worth a plowter.

Milford Sound also an amazing place and cool dive (literally)

Apex rentals are good; as are ACE. You dont get new cars, but hey, thats why
they are cheaper than the main players. I was happy to save the dosh and
have a perfectly good car.

Snash

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trouser - 04 Aug 2005 00:25 GMT

> Gary Gillbanks with Matauri Cat is a "good kiwi bloke" to use to dive the
> RW. Laid back and happy to shoot the breeze. Quite happy to go out in most
> weather..... Based at Matauri Bay at the foot of the RW monument. Camp
> site is a good one although no cabins (couple of small statics)

Seconded - have heard good things about the Matauri Kat (never dived with
him but called Gary when I was up there and he was happy to take me (just
me) out for a dive on the warrior) - untill the weather got nasty and I had
to leave.

> Poor Knights - good diving. Dive Tutakaka seem to be the main operation -
> I found them a bit too slick for my liking. I would prefer to use one of
> the smaller operators. Others speak highly about them though. I guess it
> depends what are you looking for.

I ahve dived with Dive tutukaka. It was off-peak (3 weeks ago) great day
out. I Have seen their boats full though during peak season - didn't look
like so much fun though..

Most enjoyable trip was onboard yukon www.yukon.co.nz during peak season...
Friendly operation

> Lerementov worth a plowter.

Certainly - can't offer a 1st hand experience here.

> Milford Sound also an amazing place and cool dive (literally)

http://www.tawakidive.co.nz/ is the only operator I know of... I Have heard
good things about them.

If you have the time/$ nothing would beat a trip out of the 'real' fiordland
- doubtful, dusky or preservation sounds (liveaboard - no hotels in there!)

http://www.fiordlandexpeditions.co.nz

> Apex rentals are good; as are ACE. You dont get new cars, but hey, thats
> why they are cheaper than the main players. I was happy to save the dosh
> and have a perfectly good car.

Another in that category would be omega rentals :)

Cheers Trouser

> Snash

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kiwitwat - 22 Sep 2005 00:08 GMT

for good small operations at the Poor Knights try
http://www.nzdive.com/ (my personal preference)

http://www.yukon.co.nz/

http://www.divenz.co.nz/

white island is one of my favorites plus its a steaming volcanis
crater which makes it more interesting
try http://www.divewhite.co.nz/diving.html

Also for maps on NZ diving try

http://www.stirlingsdive.co.nz/map_nz.htm

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