Our People
Come to Dive Tatapouri and discover the children of Tangaroa, the god of the sea, while immersing yourself in the local culture and magical marine surroundings of New Zealand’s East Coast.
Dive Tatapouri is famous for its interactive Reef Ecology Tour with wild stingrays, eagle rays, and other reef dwellers. Dive Tatapouri in Tairāwhiti Gisborne has been operating since 2000. We have hosted groups from Backpacker Buses, Schools, and Cruise Ship groups, along with our many domestic and international individuals, couples, families, and friends who reside here in Tairāwhiti Gisborne or visit for a holiday. Our business was started through Dean’s passion for the Moana (sea) and Chris’s love of hosting people.
Whanau (family) is a huge part of our operation with our children, nephews and nieces encouraged to become part of our team showcasing our products and our location in Tairāwhiti Gisborne. We also encourage young local students with a passion for tourism and Moana to become part of the Dive Tatapouri team and support them through work experience placements.
We have tried to retain a natural look and feel to our facility by using sustainable timbers and recycled timbers along with the natural sand and stone of the coast, helping to capture a unique base to welcome and host our visitors to begin their experience.
Meet Dean
Dean Savage is a qualified diver and skipper with more than 40 years of commercial diving experience. He loves to go out on the Moana (sea). With many tales to tell and his passion for the marine animals, a Reef Ecology Tour with Dean is always an experience in itself.
Dean has also been an underwater cameraman for New Zealand’s Tangaroa with Pio, Toa Hunter Gatherer, and other various shows and has filmed in exotic locations all over New Zealand, the Pacific, and Chile. His underwater footage of local and international dive spots and tourist attractions has been featured in several award-winning documentaries and showcased these areas to the world.
Meet Chris
Chris Savage is a born and bred Tairāwhiti Gisborne girl and your hostess on the land at Dive Tatapouri. She takes care of bookings, catering, travel arrangements, and any other special requirements you may have during your visit – all with the same friendly, easygoing nature the Tairāwhiti Gisborne region is famous for.
