Coming to Papeete, Brisbane, and Auckland

[Heads-Up]

I will be traveling to these spots in January for about a week each. I have never been to this part of the world and am VERY excited about the trip. I want to dive, free and scuba, and spear as much as possible and would really appreciate any info or insight you all may have about the area. If anyone dives any of these cities I would LOVE the chance to get out with some local SpearBoarders, and of course will pay any expences necessary.

Thanks in advance for any responce!!! :thumps:

Cheers...

[Herby]

For scuba in NZ, definately get yourself to the Poor Knights islands. They are a reserve and well worth the effort to get to. Head north from Auckland to Tutukaka (2hr drive) and jump on a dive boat. Easy.
As for spearing, at that time of year the warm water will just be arriving so you should get some nice days in. Ideally you'd want to get out to some of the islands (anything from 10 minutes to 1.5 hrs offshore) although some truly epic diving can be had simply diving off the beaches on the coast. 99% of our diving is on the East coast, as our prevailing wind is a westerly the west coast is usually waaaaay too rough, and if it is ever flat it is often too dirty, maybe 2-3 days a year are diveable out west.
The diving around Auckland itself isn't good at all, but a 45 min-1hr drive north will see you in some good areas, or a 1.5hr drive south and you are in good areas too.
I'd suggest you join the www.fishing.net.nz forum and put a post up in the 'spearos corner'.
On a side note, spearing on scuba in NZ is hugely frowned upon and pretty much no-one will let it happen from their boat.
We do have bag and size limits- learn them.

[z1taz]

hello Heads-Up.
try to stop in Fakarava atoll in the Tuamotu..there you ll find incredible dives and spearing in case!!
Papeete is having LOT less fishes..but is still nice ..
you can contact me in PM..
Rgds
Marco

[kjflyfish]

What Herby said. If you get on www.fishing.net.nz, you will find lots of spearos in the Auckland area, and if you get wet, you'll likely have some great diving.

[toggy]

I dove on the island of huahine (its very close to tahiti) and it was amazing...best diving i've done. you can get a cheap ticket to huahine from papeete and hitch about a mile to the only "town" on the island. There's a great hostel and its real easy to charter a boat from there. It was paradise...i miss it

by the way (the fisherman there are very friendly but mostly speak french and tahitian...not much english)

-matt

marco, you are so lucky to live there!!!!

[z1taz]

I dove on the island of huahine

marco, you are so lucky to live there!!!!

Yes Toggy ..i know ..
Huahine is very nice ,still lot nicer than Papeete, but it has nothing as good to compare with the tuamotu atolls..!!!
Also january is often the main `raining`month of the year..and as all islands Huahine waters could be muddy..specially in the Pass where are located the best divings..
In the Tuamotus there is no mountains ..so no mud...so all year crystal waters..:thumps:

[diver pat]

There is some good diving around Papeete, though if you rent a car and head south it gets better. Don't expect to shoot many fish though! Too smart!

[Heads-Up]

Hey everyone...sorry for disappearing from this post. I just returned from a 3 week trip where I did not have much computer access. Anyway, thanks so much for the replies and input.

Herby, I have started to check out the www.fishing.net.nz site, NZ looks amazing! I will have access to a car so driving up to Tutukaka seems easy. No problem about freedive only spearing...that's the way I like. I am still deciding on raveling with my gun or not. Are there any shops or charter outfits that rent guns? Traveling internationally with a speargun, especially with multiple stops, can sometimes be a real hassle.

Thanks again for the info Marco! I am going to try and make it up to the Fakaraua atoll but may be tied a bit to Papeete and places reachable by car while in Tahiti. If anyone can recommend an outfit in Papeete or would welcome a diver on their boat (obviously willing to pay more than my share to get wet) I am all ears.

For all the mentioned places...are there any customs I should know about or "gifts" I can bring to the locals that would be appreciated? I always like to offer the locals something gracious when I travel to foreign lands.

Thanks again everyone and I'll be there soon!!! :thumps:

[z1taz]

[QUOTE=Heads-Up;84091
.
about or "gifts" I can bring to the locals that would be appreciated?
:[/QUOTE]

BLOND GIRLS & BEERS.....:rolleyes:;););)