Build on open-water skills with a three-dive deep diving specialty that extends your certified dives to 40m. Operated from Tutukaka with instructor-led theory, practical drills and equipment hire included, this course opens access to steep reefs and wrecks.
More ways to explore the area's outdoor wonders
You step onto the charter at first light, salt on your lips and the boat cutting a clean line through the Pacific as the coastline slips aft. The sea here feels deliberate — a deep blue that invites and warns in the same breath. By the time the instructor runs through the day’s plan, the reef walls and pinnacles of the Poor Knights country are already waiting below, their shadows promising the kind of vertical terrain that defines deep diving.
Difficulty
challenging
Duration
8–10 hours
Fitness Level
Moderate to fit: you should be comfortable making multiple dives, managing heavier gear and following precise safety procedures.
Wildlife
History
The Poor Knights area sits on ancient volcanic structures and has long been a focus for local fishing and recreational diving communities.
Conservation
The region is managed with strong dive stewardship—practices like no‑touch rules and proper buoyancy are emphasized to protect delicate reef life.
Reserve your spot on the Deep Diving Course today and enjoy a trusted, highly rated experience designed to help you make the most of your adventure.
Bring your certification card
This course is for certified divers only—carry proof of certification and recent logged dives to speed check-in.
Practice equalization before the boat
Work on Valsalva or Frenzel techniques ashore to reduce ear issues during deeper descents.
Use a dive computer and redundant timing
Deep profiles require precise no‑deco limits and ascent control—carry a reliable dive computer and a backup timing device.
Hydrate and pre-plan surface intervals
Long days on the water increase dehydration risk—drink fluids and follow the instructor’s surface‑interval plan.
Personal mask and snorkel
A well-fitting mask improves comfort and reduces fogging during skills and deep descents.
Dive computer
Required to monitor depth, no‑decompression limits and ascent rates for dives to 40m.
5–7mm wetsuit or semi‑dry
Thicker exposure protection keeps you comfortable in cooler Pacific conditions at depth.
winter
Surface marker buoy (SMB)
Useful for surface signaling during drift or deep ascents, and often required by operators.