WILDLIFE ENCOUNTER

DEAN AND CHRIS SAVAGE,
DIVE TATAPOURI, GISBORNE

Gisborne is the first city in the world to see the sun rise and Dean and Chris Savage are only too willing to share it with their guests.

Dean and Chris are devotees of the laid back lifestyle, that’s one of the reasons they operate Tatapouri Dive. Their business is based on the waterfront at Tatapouri, a 10-minute drive from the centre of Gisborne on SH35.

The couple started their business after Dean, a qualified skipper and diver, had been taking Japanese tourists out jigging for kingfish and spotted a niche in the market for promoting Gisborne and the various marine activities it has to offer, along with the great weather and beaches. Dive Tatapouri provides a unique marine experience with wild stingray feeding, shark cage diving, dive trips and training, as well eco tours. They also provide backpacker accommodation and currently host Kiwi Experience ‘East As’ three times a week.

Visitors can take a moana eco tour, experience a marine environment and visit Whangaroa Island where Dean’s ancestors are said to have been whale riders. Or they can observe seabirds and stop at the marine reserve, get up close to a seal colony and play with dolphins. They can walk out on the reef, visit penguin habitats around Tatapouri Bay and look for new penguins and eggs. A qualified dive instructor is available to provide an open water dive.

A visit to New Zealand’s smallest marae, Te Whare Raupo O Turihaua, is another option. The marae was set up by Dean’s father to use as a place for family to get together and to hold information on the history of the area and its people.

“Development of new products for the business is ongoing,” says Chris. “We want visitors to have a truly outstanding time and take away memories that will last for years.” Dean says that meeting and mixing with so many different types of people of varying ages is great. “We share our knowledge and stories as well as our company. What better way to spend the day like this?”