PADI 5-Star Dive Centre · Est. 2014
Dive the Poor Knights from Tutukaka
Marina Drive, Tutukaka 0173, Northland · 09 434 3861
Open-water courses, advanced wreck dives and weekend snorkel safaris at one of the world's top ten dive sites.
View courses →7 entries in the index — courses, trips, marine life, instructors, gear, safety, enrolment
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01PADI Dive Courses6 courses
PADI Dive Courses
All courses run year-round and include Poor Knights open-water dives. Equipment is provided during courses; just bring togs and a towel.
Open Water Diver
$749
Two days of pool and theory at the marina, then two days of ocean dives at the Poor Knights. You leave certified to dive to 18 metres worldwide.
Advanced Open Water
$649
Deep dive, navigation, wreck, night and a fifth elective. Includes the HMNZS Tui wreck dive — the centrepiece of Northland diving.
Rescue Diver
$599
Self-rescue, tired-diver tows, in-water CPR and missing-diver search patterns. Challenging, rewarding and a prerequisite for Divemaster.
Divemaster Internship
$3,200
Work alongside our instructors guiding real trips. You'll graduate with 100+ dives, leadership skills and a job reference.
Discover Scuba
$199
Try diving with no commitment. Pool briefing at the marina, then a guided dive to 12 metres at the Poor Knights. Minimum age 10.
PADI EFR
$249
Emergency First Response certification — required for Rescue Diver and useful for everyone. Includes DAN oxygen provider endorsement.
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02Trip CalendarUpcoming
Trip Calendar
Boats depart Tutukaka Marina at 8:30 am and 1 pm. Book early — most trips cap at 10 divers.
- 21 SepNorthern Arch Wall Dive (weekend)4 / 10 spots
- 22 SepHMNZS Tui Wreck Dive6 / 10 spots
- 28 SepRikoriko Cave Snorkel Safari2 / 12 spots
- 29 SepNorthern Arch + Blue Maomao Arch8 / 10 spots
- 5 OctNight Dive — Tutukaka Harbour3 / 8 spots
- 6 OctHMNZS Tui Wreck DiveFULL
- 12 OctWeekend Double — Arch + Caves10 / 10 spots
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03Marine Life Guide8 species
Marine Life Guide
The Poor Knights Islands are a marine reserve — no fishing, no collecting, and the life shows it. Here's what you'll see most weeks.
Nudibranch
5–25 m · Year-round · Macro highlight — over 20 species recorded at the Knights
Mosaic moray eel
8–30 m · Year-round · Lives in crevices; often seen on night dives
Scorpionfish
10–20 m · Year-round · Master of camouflage; instructors will point them out
Lord Howe coralfish
5–15 m · Oct–Apr · Subtropical visitor; vivid yellow and black stripes
Kingfish
3–40 m · Year-round · Schools of 50+ at Northern Arch; often curious about divers
Short-tail stingray
10–30 m · Year-round · Up to 2 m wingspan; usually resting on sand patches
Bryde's whale
Surface · Dec–Apr · Seasonal; seen from the boat on the crossing
Blue maomao
3–20 m · Year-round · Dense schools through the arches; the signature Poor Knights sight
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04Our Instructors3 staff
Our Instructors
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Rangi Heke
Course Director · PADI MSDT
Rangi grew up free-diving off Tutukaka and made the Poor Knights his classroom. He runs every Open Water course and personally guides the Tui wreck dives.
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Jade Parata
Senior Instructor · IDC Staff
Jade joined as a Divemaster intern in 2018 and never left. She leads the night dives and runs our underwater photography workshops. Her nudibranch gallery has 200+ species.
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Matt Crosby
Instructor · Boat Skipper
Matt drives the boat and teaches Rescue Diver courses. Ex-Coastguard volunteer; the person you want running your emergency scenarios because he's done them for real.
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05Gear Checklist GeneratorInteractive
Gear Checklist Generator
Select your activity, the season and how long you'll be out — we'll build a personalised checklist of what to bring and what we provide.
Build your checklist
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06Safety & EquipmentEssential
Safety and Equipment
Pre-dive requirements
- Medical declarationYou must complete a PADI medical form. Conditions like asthma, epilepsy or heart disease require GP clearance before any dive.
- DAN insuranceWe strongly recommend Divers Alert Network insurance for all certified divers. Recompression chamber treatment costs $30,000+ without it.
- Minimum fitnessYou must be able to swim 200 m unassisted and tread water for 10 minutes. We test this on day one of every course.
- Age restrictionsDiscover Scuba from age 10. Open Water from age 12 (Junior OW) or 15 (full OW). All minors need a parent or guardian present on dive day.
- No flying after divingWait at least 18 hours after your last dive before flying. We'll remind you, but plan your travel accordingly.
Equipment hire
Course students get full gear included. Certified divers can hire per day:
Item Notes Per day BCD (buoyancy control) Aqualung Axiom, sizes XS–XXL $45 Regulator set Apeks XTX50 with octopus and gauge $35 Wetsuit 5 mm Summer / autumn — sizes from child 10 $25 Wetsuit 7 mm semi-dry Winter / spring — hoods available $35 Dive computer Suunto Zoop Novo, wrist-mount $30 Torch 1,000 lumen, for night dives and overhangs $15 SMB + reel 1.2 m orange surface marker buoy $10 -
07Enrol NowBook
Enrol Now
Fill in your details and we'll confirm availability within 24 hours. A $150 deposit secures your place; the balance is due on day one.