It’s on the top 10 list. Should I do it?
Posted on 10 March 2009 by Natalie
A few months ago, before I became dive certified, I read about the top 10 places to scuba dive. Of course, New Zealand’s Poor Knights Islands made the list. I couldn’t decide if it would be worth it. It would take time to drive up north, it costs a lot of money to dive (still living off the Kiwi dollar), and we could potentially waste several days waiting for safe weather. I had not previously realized that ‘Dive-cations’ are weather dependent. When someone travels to a destination to dive, it is important to have backup days, incase a big storm rolls through the dive spot. This can mix and turn the water and ruin diving for around 48 hours.
Inevitably, Justin and I took the risk. We drove into the Northland to try to dive the Poor Knights Islands. After my first dive (we did 2 dives total), I knew why the Poor Knights Islands made the Top 10 list. The water was crystal clear and oceanic blue. I saw bright colored fish everywhere. Blue! Green! Yellow! I felt like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, shortly after arriving in Munchkin land, while seeing all of the spectacular colors swim and dash before my eyes.
While we were swimming along I noticed a small opening in the reef. Justin (my official dive buddy for life) and I looked at each other and motioned that we were going to swim into the opening. I swam through the narrow opening first and the narrowness widened slightly. I was able to swim completely through the reef tunnel for about 30 feet. I looked behind me and didn’t see Justin. Within another second, I saw bubbles and then Justin popped up through the tunnel. While I was in the tunnel I saw a bright green fish that was about two feet long. It looked like a cactus. I later found out that this is a scorpion fish and they change colors. We even saw a sting ray that was 4 feet wide!
During our second dive, we swam through an area known as ‘the labyrinth’. This provided even more opportunities to venture inside reefs and tunnel in and out of them like my favorite Disney princess, Ariel. I know it sounds a little silly, but the Poor Knights Islands are on the top 10 list for this magical reason. While diving the Poor Knights Islands you feel as though you have entered a hidden treasure few experience. Diving the Poor Knights Islands was the best thing we did in New Zealand.
Justin described it as, “swimming in a tropical aquarium.” I spoke with experienced divers who told me the Poor Knights Islands were the best reefs and underwater life they had ever seen. These divers had even dove the Great Barrier Reef. They told me to forget about the Great Barrier Reef, its overrated. How do I figure out what’s overrated verse what truly deserves its spot on the top 10 list? Whether it’s diving or other elements of travel, sometimes I will just take the risk and hope that the experience is fantastic and trust the top 10 list.
I have a new hope in top 10 lists. Perhaps they are not all hype and ploys to gather more tourist dollars. I intentionally avoided buying into top 10 lists in the past. They always seemed lame and overrated. Why would I want to experience something as commercial as a ‘Top 10 List’? In the future, I plan to skim over top 10 lists, but not base our entire travels on them. It can become dangerous if too much emphasis is put on other individuals opinions and ratings. I might swim with sharks, but basing our time as backpackers on top 10 lists is far too dangerous to imagine.
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Hi, Natalie & Justin,
My daughter, Rebekah, and I shared a room with you at The Colors Hostel in Rome. You gave us your website, and I just decided to check on your travels. It sounds like you have had quite an adventure since we met you at the start of your trip.
We just had a week to visit a few cities in Europe, but the experience has made us hungry for more. I hope you continue to have a great adventure!
May God bless you and keep you safe!
You should have known the Poor Knights would come through. They were recommended by a Yeastie Boy afterall
I only recommend truly great places, great beer, great people and nice suburban bus trips.
Good to hear you guys are still having fun. Yeastie Boys ‘Kid Chocolate’ is going to be at the Beer Festival in Akl this weekend if you are around. A rare appearance in Auckland for us.
Slainte mhath
Stu
Diving the Poor Knights Islands was the best thing we did in New Zealand.
Ahem… Second best thing?
@Marla – Marla and Rebekah it is great to hear from you. Rome was beautiful and the Color’s proved to be a great accommodation. I am so glad the 2 of you were able to enjoy Rome together.
As we leave New Zealand (tomorrow) and begin thinking of South East Asia, it feels so far and distant. It is wonderful to hear from you (in the mid-west) it makes the world feel small again. Thanks for the encouragement and support!
@Stu – We were able to enjoy Kid Chocolate at the Beer Festival yesterday with Sam and Anna. Thanks so much for brewing up a deliciously creative beer for the tasting! And congratulations on your new son.
What… you mean your favourite thing wasnt working in Te Anau? hahahaha
@cathryn butcher – Not exactly… since you are a permanent Kiwi, make sure you enjoy the beauty of the Poor Knights Islands sometime in the future. Plus, if you get your diving license we can meet up somewhere in the world and dive together. Remember, Justin swims to fast for me, so I’m looking for a new dive buddy that wants to swim slowly and make eye contact with the fish.