We use Northland Dive when we dive HMNZS Canterbury. Most people drive up to Northland Dive the night before and stay onsite at the “Cow shed” that night. You can drive up early on the morning of the Dive Trip, but you will need to be at Northland Dive by approx 8am. In the morning you will fill out the required paperwork and show your dive certification card, then assemble and check your dive equipment and load it onto your allocated boat.

The boat is launched from the beach about a 20 minute drive up the coast. All divers make their own way to the launch site, usually in convoy, in their cars.  Divers then change into their wetsuits or dry suits and the skipper gives you a boat brief on the beach before you board for the 20 minute journey to Deep Water Cove. After a dive briefing about the Wreck, you descend down one of the mooring lines which is secured to the top of the wreck.

The wreck rests upright on a sandy bottom at 37m making it great for recreational and technical divers alike. The exterior has an increasing amount of growth and marine life on it due to the Rahui which has been placed over Deep Water Cove. The sinking of the wreck itself was instigated by Northland Dive, who organized for the hull to be cleaned and access points to be cut throughout the superstructure. A non penetrating dive on the Canterbury is superb as the ship is still upright with many interesting features to see and explore. The top two levels of the Canterbury provide multiple opportunities for penetrations whilst remaining in sight of ambient light most of the time. You must dive within yrou certification level.

There may be an opportunity to mix in some reef dives which are varied and flexible to work with the conditions on the day. Divers can opt in or out of as many dives as they wish to do over the 4 days. If someone would rather lie in the sun on the beach and read magazines or a good book they can. It’s your weekend away in the tropical winterless North!

Between dives there is a generous surface interval where you will be fed a Picnic lunch on the beach. Plenty of time to off gas, relax, eat, debrief and prepare for the next dive. Due to the depth that the HMNZS Canterbury is resting in it is considered a deep dive which requires minimum certification levels. All divers must dive within their certification limits.

The trip includes 4 nights dorm accommodation, all meals (dinner, breakfast and lunch) from Friday Breakfast – Monday lunch, 8 dives and 6 air fills. If anyone has any special dietary requirements or is a veggie let us know in advance so that they can be catered for. There are 16 spaces in the dorms or you can upgrade to a twin or double room if you prefer less roomies. It is recommended that you bring ear plugs if you are a light sleeper as there is usually a good chance of at least one snorer sleeping in the room. The boat is back at the accommodation between 4 -5pm.

We can help out with arranging car-pooling if needed. Check out our Equipment Hire rates. To secure your space on the trip there is a minimum deposit of $200 or payment in full. This trip is aimed at the Intermediate to Experienced diver (certified Advanced or above including Deep Adventure Dive) as there is the opportunity to do wreck and deep diving. New Zealand is temperate water diving and you must have dived within the last 12 months – contact us if you need a refresher. All divers must dive within their certification limits

What you need to take:

• Full set of scuba gear - BCD, Regs, Dive Computer or Gauges w/ Timing Device, Weight system, Exposure suit, Mask, Fins, Boots, lights
• 2 tanks
• Sleeping bag or blanket (bottom sheets and pillows are provided but if you have a favorite lavender scented pillow that you can’t sleep without then bring it along)
• Towel – even if you are diving in a drysuit you will need this for the shower
• Water bottle (Hydration is important and this ensures you have something to drink on board the boat)
• Snacks (you are fed generously but some folk just can’t live without their treats)

The address and driving instructions are as follows:

Northland Dive
3851 Russell RD, RD4 Hikurangi
www.northlanddive.com

Driving directions from Auckland:

Get on the northern motorway and follow state highway 1 to Whangarei. About 10 minutes north of Whangarei there is a BP station on your left (it is quite difficult to spot once it has shut at night as it is unlit. If you go past “Touch O Country CAFE” on the left on SH1, then you’ve gone too far).
Shortly after the BP take the Russell Road on your right, it has a big blue place sign – “OAKURA BAY”. From this turn-off Northland Dive is 40km along on the left. This road is the coastal road that takes you to Helena Bay, Oakura Bay, Bland Bay and ultimately Rawhiti.
Approx 13km after the Oakura turn-off (which you will pass on your right) there are two one-way bridges, one 50m after the other. After you cross the second bridge, Northland Dive will be 5 minutes away on the left. Lookout for a big ships mast with a Northland Dive sign, and usually some boats and cars parked outside. If you get lost call Shane and Julia on 09 433 6633.

You can go to the website for Northland Dive above and there is a map.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any further questions.

PLEASE NOTE:

Your trip deposit or full payment secures your space. Any outstanding balances are due a week before departure.

If you cancel your space on a trip within 7 days or less of departure you will incur a 100% cancellation fee. Generally trip payments once made are non-refundable, but most trips have a waiting list and we will do our best to find someone to take your space in the event you need to pull out. You can help us, and improve your chance of a refund, by finding your own replacement.

If a trip is cancelled by us due to weather or for safety reasons, a full refund or store credit will be given.

Trip pricing does not include transport. You will need to make your own way to the vessel departure point.

DOCUMENTS

• EQUIPMENT_RENTAL_179.pdf
• DRYSUIT_RENTAL_26.pdf
• Diver_Medical_Form_60.pdf