Diving

See impportant note at bottom of page.

Some images courtesy of www.darryltorckler.com

 

Scuba Diving (please ensure you read the disclaimer at the bottom)

More often than not it is through scuba diving that you first hear about Fiordland, such is the high regard that scuba diving here has amongst the underwater fraternity. The diving here is unique, certainly in New Zealand, and we would suspect, throughout most of the world. Fiordland Expeditions offer live aboard dive charters anywhere in Fiordland.

To find out exactly why Fiordland has such a special ecosystem, go to National Geographic's article on this wondrous place. Suffice to say here that scuba diving is for many visitors to Fiordland, the ultimate underwater experience.

Some of the features of diving in Fiordland are:

Safety - scuba diving in Dusky and other fiords can be as safe or as challenging as you like. In the protected inner fiords there is little current and sea conditions are extremely good. Visibility, in most cases, is sensational with 30m + of uninterrupted vision.

Variety - Fiordland is renowned for wall diving with sheer drop-offs falling away for hundreds of meters in some cases. This is a result of glaciations and these are very exciting dive sites. But Fiordland offers much more.

 

 

Some examples are wreck dives - old and new, reef dives, blue water dives on the outside coast, 'muck' dives where sea spiders proliferate, Cray dives where you can find crayfish literally crawling over each other and scallop dives.

Preservation - is the name of the game so there's plenty to see for the next divers.

Seafood - while in Fiordland you are bound by the new Te Moana O Atawhenua Marine Area. This area is now protected by legislation that came into force in July 2005. The overall effects of this new legislation only adversely affect those who tended to take more than they needed. The limits still allow plenty of catch without the risk of over fishing.

Fiordland Expeditions support these new measures to protect the fisheries and ensure there is still plenty left for future generations to enjoy.

 

 

Scuba Diving on the Tutoko & Tutoko II:

Both vessels are extremely well suited to scuba diving. We provide tanks, weight-belts and unlimited re-fills only. You need to provide the rest of the equipment you require.

There is a dive platform on the aft deck with plenty of room for divers to enter and exit the water with dive ladders. Or you can take the tender to get in closer or go to another area whilst the rest remain on board and fish.

We offer many trips each year that cater almost exclusively for scuba divers. Most of the skippers are current scuba divers or have dived in the past and they have an excellent knowledge of dive sites.

Dive cylinders are supplied (80 cubic feet) as are weight belts. There is a good compressor on board which can operate all day if necessary. All other gear must be brought by you.

Scuba diving can be as intensive or relaxed as you like. Safety is paramount and each dive must be within safety and decompression limits. It is important that you don't dive on your last day. This is because of the flight out and even travelling by land could be just as hazardous because of the height of the Wilmot Pass. You will also need to arrange for your own Dive Master to manage the dives or we can contract one in for an additional fee.

 

Important

Disclaimer

Diving with Fiordland Expeditions is an "at your own risk" activity. We offer the oportunity to dive in one of the worlds premier dive destinations but we do not manage your dives!
If you wish to take advantage of this opportunity then you must contact us directly, not through an agent, and negotiate your own specific needs.

We supply dive tanks with unlimited re-fills and weight-belts only!
It is up to you the diver, to supply any extra equipment - we do not!
It is up to you the diver, to manage your own dive - we do not!
It is up to you the diver, to supply your own dive master - we do not!
If you cannot agree to these terms then you cannot dive!

We are sorry to have to enforce this but times dictate we must.