Bay of Islands Canterbury Trust

The Bay of Islands Canterbury Trust has admitted that the frigate is sitting 6m deeper than planned.
Julia Riddle, trust secretary and director of Northland Dive, said that was because delays during the scuttling ceremony had caused the ship to move from its original mark. She said the trust was ordered to sink it by the harbour master before they were able to move it back.
Phil Andrews, manager of Paihia's Dive HQ, said it was important to appreciate the dangers of any dive site and the Canterbury was no different.
Anyone who wanted to dive the wreck was encouraged to do so as part of an organised dive where there were supervisors in the water at all times.
"It's not a dive that many people would try to do off their own bat unless they were very experienced," Mr Andrews said.
He said divers who wished to dive the Canterbury on a Dive HQ excursion had to first prove they had enough experience beyond having their dive ticket.
If they weren't experienced enough they could only dive the wreck with an instructor.
Ms Riddle said there was an element of risk with any dive site and warned that people should not dive deeper than they were qualified to go. Divers who had an open water certificate could only dive to 18m and only those with an advanced diving certificate could descend to 30m.
"It's about diving to your ability and not exceeding your certification levels," she said.
Bay of Islands Canterbury Trust spokesperson Kelly Weeds said despite being deeper then the other wrecks he didn't believe the Canterbury was any more dangerous, provided divers were sensible.