The Dive Zone building, once a restaurant, being moved to its current location from the Esplanade in 2005.
Beginning from scratch in October 2004 – ‘DIVE ZONE– Whitianga’ is now the largest Dive Shop and Dive Training establishment in New Zealand. Scuba Diving is one of the fastest growing water sports worldwide, so watch this space. DIVE ZONE Whitianga will definitely be part of Whitianga’s future growth.
Darrell grew up in Palmerston North. He was an outdoor person but with no particular interest in playing rugby. His Dad owned and operated a sheet metal workshop and his Mum ran the motels they developed and operated.
Darrell’s OE (Overseas Experience) drifted on for five years. Finally, in Egypt on the Sinai Peninsula at a Red Sea resort, scuba diving caught his attention. He decided to take a PADI diving course. To earn the tuition fees, he worked odd jobs around the resort. He obtained his first PADI Dive qualification in Egypt and over the years he has earnt many more, to the point that he now holds PADI’s highest qualification, ‘Platinum Course Director’.
By the time he returned to New Zealand, he had the ‘Dive’ bug. The idea of opening a Dive Shop was burning in his brain. At that time all the Dive Shops were located in the main centres, not close to dive locations. Darrell began searching for a location where interesting and varied dive sites were close at hand.
He had never visited Whitianga. His first journey to Whitianga was in April 2004. He still remembers the excitement he felt when he first viewed Mercury Bay, the beaches and the islands. The locations amazed him. “This is it,” he thought. And that is why he decided to establish his Dive Shop in Whitianga.
When he opened in October 2004 he had one student – Craig Rasmussen. Believe it or not, Craig never left. Craig is part of Dive Zone Whitianga’s staff and Darrell’s right-hand man. Craig is a testament to one of Darrell’s strongest qualities, loyalty, especially to employees. This is a foundational value of this excellent business.
Darrell Bird, one of New Zealand’s most highly qualified divers at the front counter, Dive Zone in Whitianga
The Dive Zone’s premises are notable, eye-catching. When I first viewed them, I thought the building looked like something out of the Rocky Horror Show. Thereby hangs a story.
The large two-story premises began life as a restaurant. It was prominently located on the Esplanade and built with a nautical theme and fittings, but it gave way to re-development. In 2005 it was transported on a huge truck to its present location at 10/12 Campbell Street, Whitianga. The premises became a restaurant-bar but didn’t thrive in this location. Darrell re-located from Blacksmith Lane and rented the property for his Dive Shop and teaching location in 2017.
In 2021, Darrell and Linda purchased it. The premises are full of the atmosphere of the sea and diving. The second floor is now the location of a most suitable class space for the many courses which now take place at Dive Zone Whitianga.
Dive Zone Whitianga’s capacity for large groups of divers has seen it become the country’s largest Dive Training facility. It is also a retail outlet and filling facility for all dive related needs.
