Dive! Tutukaka is your full-service dive charter and PADI training operator based at Tutukaka in Northland, New Zealand.
Last updated: 15 October 2026
Offering full-day scuba-diving, snorkelling, sightseeing and training experiences at the legendary Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve.
Dive! Tukutaka’s day trips provide a world-class subtropical dive site with the opportunity to see spectacular archways, caves, and kelp forests teeming with subtropical marine life. Offerings suit observers, snorkelers, first time divers through to certified divers or those wanting training for PADI certifications.
Available day-trips
- Certified Diver - Two dives at the Poor Knights with full gear hire including BCD, regulator with computer, wetsuit, fins, mask, and two tanks with weights.
- Discover Scuba - Try scuba diving for the first time, breathe underwater, and hang out with friendly fish at the Poor Knights.
- Refresher Dive - Haven't dived in a while? Full gear, skills refresher, and two dives at the Poor Knights.
- Snorkeler / Passenger - Come along for the ride. Snorkel in the marine reserve or relax on deck while the divers explore below.
- Private Charter - Private charter of the boat for 8 hours. Perfect for groups, events, or exclusive dive trips.
Training courses provided
- PADI Open Water
- PADI Advanced Open Water certification
- Specialist diving courses (see website for details)
Dive locations
Trips access the fully protected offshore Poor Knights Island marine reserve where warm ocean currents support a mix of subtropical and temperate species. The underwater landscape includes kelp forests, large arches, caves, cliffs and sponge-covered reef systems.
With excellent visibility and dive sites reaching depths of up to 30 metres, it’s the perfect place to learn to dive or advance your diving skills. World-renowned diver Jacques Cousteau rated it his favourite subtropical dive site and one of the top 10 dive sites in the world.
The selected dive or snorkel sites vary according to conditions and participant experience.
Awards & certifications
Dive! Tutukaka has Qualmark Gold accreditation(opens in new window) - a best-in-class sustainable tourism business in New Zealand, delivering exceptional customer experiences, as an integral part of everything they do.
Instructors are PADI certified. Dive! Tutukaka is a PADI Five Star Instructor Development Centre (IDC)
Ratings & reviews
Rated 4.7 out of 5 from 615 reviews on TripAdvisor(opens in new window)
TripAdvisor Reviews
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A truly Awesome New Zealand experience. 5 out of 5(opens in new window) by sueuk2018(opens in new window). Visited February 2026. "Our family group of 6 adults, including octogenarians had a truly memorable snorkelling and sight-seeing day around Poor Knights Islands. From start to finish, Perfect Day was professional, efficient, friendly and knowledgeable. They provide all equipment, food, drinks, safety instructions and knowledge of the area. Our crew, Hunter, Jackson and Sean, was friendly, helpful; nothing was too much trouble. We saw fish and birds galore, swam through shoals of snapper, trevaly and blue fish, were followed by dolphins and Buller's shearwaters, then to end the day, we sailed around the Poor Knights, into caves, through ancient rock tunnels and under rock archways. Truly awesome in every way." |
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Great Dive Experience. 5 out of 5(opens in new window) by eric m(opens in new window). Visited January 2026. "Dove with Dive Tutukaka in early January. A very well organized operation. Detailed safety briefings, and detailed dive briefings, along with an excellent dive leader Matt, made for a very enjoyable two day experience. Surface interval between dives was very informative, with boat Captain giving detailed history of the Poor Knights Islands. I would highly recommend them." |
See all reviews for Dive! Tutukaka on TripAdvisor(opens in new window).
Who is this experience suited for?
- Solo travellers
- Couples
- Friends
- Families
- Groups
Dive! Tutukaka suits travellers interested in active holidays, adrenaline and adventure, nature & wildlife, marine sea life and water sports.
Experiences suit a wide range of people who enjoy being out in nature, in or on the open-water and observing marine life.
It is suitable for both beginners, experienced divers, snorkellers and observers. Private charters and training courses are also available.
Fitness & mobility requirements
Fitness level required: Moderate
Participants should be comfortable boarding a moving boat and moving around wet, potentially slippery decks. Training courses may require a higher level of fitness.
If you have a medical condition, mobility requirement, or concerns about water confidence, contact the team before booking.
Age requirements
Minimum age: Varies by experience
Please check the website for specific product details. Travellers under 18 years of age must be supervised by a parent or guardian.
How long is it?
Experience duration: Full day (approx. 8 hours)
Start and end times: 8am to 4pm
Includes travel to and from the Poor Knights Islands.
Itinerary:
- Check-in, complete paperwork, certification checks (if relevant), equipment fitting and safety briefings
- Boat journey from Tutukaka Marina to the Poor Knights Islands.
- Guided diving or snorkelling activities
- Time for lunch and breaks between water sessions
- Opportunities to view marine life and coastal cliffs, arches and cave features
- Return to Tutukaka Marina in the afternoon
Actual timings, dive locations and return times may vary depending on weather, sea conditions and wildlife activity.
Training courses are available and may run over multiple days.
Maximum Group Size: 30
Day trips can have up to 30 passengers on a boat (depending on the vessel).
Instructor ratios range from one instructor to 2 to 6+ divers. Read more on our website.
Private charters are available.
Pricing
| Experience | Price |
| Certified-diver day trip | $399 |
| Discover Scuba day trip | $499 |
| Snorkellers/passengers. | $299 |
| Training courses | From $300 |
Prices are in NZ Dollars (NZD).
Booking and availability
Contact Dive! Tutukaka:
- Web: https://www.diving.co.nz/offerings(opens in new window)
- Phone: +64 9 434 3867
- Email: info@diving.co.nz
Booking in advance is required. Use the online booking engine to explore dates. For bookings within 24 hours of the trip date, please call.
