Freediving in NZ

By Andy Ross (19/3/2006)

 

Hi Crew, I’ve been saying for a while I’d do a short article on the freediving scene here in New Zealand, and I have finally got a few pics together to throw some words around.

The first impression I had of the NZ freediving scene is that it is very organised compared with freediving in Aus. (This will be my one and only cross Tasman comparison!) There seems to be three main groups of serious freedivers, two on the North Island and one on the South Island. As many of you are aware, Ant Williams, who has a dynamic PB of 200m, staged a record attempt in NZ last year. This brought out Aida judges to NZ and off the back of the attempt, NZ were able to run a judges course and now have about 6 judges and have also set up their National Aida body. They also have a freediving training and education body called No Bubbles which is affiliated with the National Aida.
Website: www.freedive.co.nz

The pool scene here is awesome, with none of the “apnea phobia” that we have to deal with in Sydney….oops, another comparison.:-). The pool staff not only allows you to train but are positive and interested in what we do. I’ll be bringing a few of them back in my suitcase!

Lake Pupuke

Deep diving is quite accessible with a 57m deep fresh water lake on the north shore (equivalent of Manly dam location but lots deeper)This is the entry point and we swim about half way out to the deep water. Very rough as you can see!!!

 

 

A pic of Ant Williams setting up the rig with 100m of rope on an adjustable setup

 


Closer view of the rig if you are keen to make one. This is the second day of trying the sounder unit that I have fitted to it….works great!!!

Diving in the lake is very similar to diving the back of the Spit. The key differences being that the water is fresh not salt, it is pretty cold(much colder than the ocean) and the vis …..well there really is not light at all from about 25m. We mark the bottom plate with a torch and use small head mounted torches to follow the line. It takes a bit of getting use to, but once you have beaten off the demons that come with the dark and cold, it is great as you can turn around a deep dive session in a few hours door-to-door. Not many weeks go by that I haven’t done 1 or more sessions of 50m+ dives.

 

 

Poor Knights (With Dive Tutukaka)
For more depth and warm blue water, we head a few hours North to Tutukaka. There is a big dive operator here called Dive Tutukaka(Dive Tuts). They operate about 5 large dive boats out to Poor Knights (rated in the 10 ten best dive sites in the world by Cousteau). It is about a 50min trip out to the Poor Knights Islands(I sleep like a baby the whole way).


Dive Tuts are one of the friendliest dive operators I have come across and are very supportive of the NZ freedivers. They are hosting the NZ Freediving Nationals off the Poor Knights next weekend. I would without hesitation recommend them to any Aussie looking for a weeks package including a mix of deep freediving diving, recreational freediving and or scuba. Having done my share of diving the Great Barrier Reef, I would rate Poor Knights over it any day! ….and that’s coming from a proud Aussie!
Website - http://www.diving.co.nz/index.html

The water off Poor Knights is deep, blue and warm(relatively) and yesterday we had flat seas, 30m vis and 21 degree water. The boat was anchored right up next to the island and we had a short 100m swim to get into 90m of depth!!!

 

Here is a pic of the boat I went out on yesterday.

Yesterday the conditions were perfect and I was feeling good about having a crack at a 60m free immersion dive having done a bunch of 55m efforts in the dark cold lake. Unfortunately I got behind on my equalisation and had to turn at 52m. I hung there for a moment, looking down at the bottom plate in some of the bluest water I have seen. A big school of what looked like kingies was circling the plate in what was otherwise a vast blue ocean. I headed back for the surface with mixed feelings about missing my depth but having a fantastic day of diving.

I hope that gives some idea of what it’s like here in NZ

Andy
(Aussie freediver in exile)

 

 

Freediving can be a potentially dangerous sport if done without proper instruction and use of correct buddy procedures. For safety it is essential that all freediving must be done with a competent buddy. The content on this site should not be used as instruction, it is only there for general information on the sport of freediving. No written information is a substitute for formal training. If you are interested in taking up freediving it is strongly suggested to do a freediving course or learn from an experienced freediver. The reader assumes all responsibility and risk for the use of the materials on this site. Remember to always dive with a buddy.