Diving and Snorkeling

Dive Tatapouri. Dean and Chrissie lead an extremely popular snorkeling excursion that lets you swim freely with stingrays, eagle rays, kingfish, crayfish, octopuses, and other ocean creatures. You’ll get to observe, touch, and feed them in their natural habitat (NZ$70, wet suits, snorkels, and masks provided). If you’d rather not dive right in, try the Reef Tour. On this one you wade out to spy all manner of marine life. Huge rays slide up the rocks and put their head clear of the water; when you pop a morsel into their mouth, they take it gently, and then glide silently away (NZ$45, waders included). Tours are available year-round but are dependent on tides. Dive Tatapouri is (9 miles) north of the city, off State Highway 35. Whangara Rd., Gisborne, Gisborne, 4010. 06/868–5153; www.divetatapouri.com. From NZ$45.