Subscribe to The NZUA And Support the Underwater Community

Packed with the latest diving news, events and deals, the NZUA newsletter is a monthly must-read for all those passionate about the New Zealand underwater realm.
Subscribers directly support NZ Underwater's activities in the marine environment, help leverage govt. funding for safety campaigning and grow participation across the sector.

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new zealand underwater

Join NZ Underwater

New Zealand's recognised leading not-for-profit organisation promoting and advocating safe* and enjoyable underwater activities in a protected marine environment.

Key Missions.

Drivers of marine safety messaging specifically where it relates to underwater sports and activities.

Promoting participation in underwater sports and recreational activities throughout New Zealand.

Advocating and supporting marine environmental campaigns.

Supporting NZ Underwater clubs, specifically those involved in scuba diving and snorkeling,spearfishing and underwater hockey.

marine environment

Environment.

The NZU is an advocate for clean sea programs, supporting environmental campaigns with volunteers and expertise.

Get Involved
diver safety

Safety.

NZU flies the flag for diver safety in New Zealand, managing essential services like the Dive Emergency number (DES).

Dive Safe
underwater sports

Sports.

Many of our members a keen sports people engaged in scuba, spearfishing underwater hockey or snorkeling.

Get Wet

NZ Underwater People

The NZUA's board is elected annually at an AGM, and generally reflects key-stakeholder groups of diving, water-sports and safety.

Tom Karstensen

Tom Karstensen

Born in Norway and raised in New Zealand, Tom has a strong connection with the ocean from birth, and enjoys diving, spearfishing, sailing, and fishing. Tom has had a varied professional life, gathering a wide range of experience in the built environment, business strategy and governance support across several industries in New Zealand and Australia. Graduating with a Bachelor of Forestry Science in 2012, Tom began work in that sector before cutting his own path by starting, building, and exiting several small businesses.

From 2017 to 2020, Tom worked primarily in property consulting between Christchruch, Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, and continues to work in the property sector today. In 2021 Tom became the President of the Nelson Underwater Club and has been working with a wonderful and engaged committee to breathe new life into the club. Tom is currently studying his Masters in Property Practice at Auckland University.

Andy Stewart

Andy Stewart

Andy’s diving experiences began snorkeling as a 7 year old hanging on to his father’s spearfishing float line.  With a passion for introducing people to the underworld he eventually became a PADI dive instructor and in 2014 a PADI Course Director, PADI’s highest recreational instructor rating.  

When not blowing bubbles Andy works as the GM Information & Technology for the Selwyn Foundation, a non for profit aged-care are organisation.

Allan Davidson

Allan Davidson

A Director of NZUA since 2023 and Chair of NZUA Dive Publishing Ltd, Allan’s NZUA connection started in his life via his father Eddie Davidson, an active NZUA member and competitive spearfisherman since the early 1960’s, winning several titles including the 1969 spear fishing Nationals and being part of the NZUA’s 1969 International team, even winning the inaugural, Father & Son - Ray Hope trophy in 1978. Coupled with Allan’s Uncle John Gallagher’s role as NZUA president from 1973 to 1977, his links to our past and current NZUA members are his motivation to help ensure NZUA’s future remains relevant to today’s diving community.  

Still diving in the Cook Strait region regularly, Allan is a former commercial paua owner and diver, and has nearly a decade being part of Govt appointed Fisheries Management groups as part of his Mana Aquatic Diver club presidency and Commodore for the Mana Cruising Club, he draws on these experiences as well as his 40 years of Company directorships within the Auckland and Wellington Building and Utilities industry, and Maritime consultancy as far back as Kelly Tarlton’s Underwater World build project, in helping the NZUA’s board goal of continuing to improve support for our membership stakeholders and engagement with NZ’s Underwater business community.    

Lisa McCosh (nee Thompson)

Lisa McCosh (nee Thompson)

Lisa holds the Sports portfolio on the NZUA Board, due to her strong connection with the largest affiliated sports body, Underwater Hockey New Zealand (UWHNZ). She has been playing for twenty years and was in the New Zealand Masters Women's UWH team that attended the World Championship in 2023.

Lisa is a NZ Chartered Accountant, holding Bachelors of Commerce and Law from Canterbury University. Lisa worked as an auditor at Ernst & Young, in financial reporting at Lloyds Banking Group in Edinburgh, and at Fonterra on her return to New Zealand. Based in Hamilton, she is now a stay at home mother of three boys and spends much of her days administering underwater hockey as current President of UWHNZ.

Josh Barclay

Josh Barclay

Josh joins us an independent director of NZUA, bringing a strong focus on environmental initiatives and sustainability strategy. With a background in environmental management, policy, and strategy, he has spent much of his career working across government and NGOs, including as a consultant advising on fisheries and coastal management. Now based in Marlborough, he works in the wine industry, leading sustainability projects and helping shape long-term ESG strategy. He’s passionate about healthy oceans, sustainable resource use, and supporting communities to thrive alongside their environment. Outside of work, he’s a keen diver, spearo, outdoorsman, and is building a governance career with a particular focus on ESG leadership.

Jenny Craig

Jenny Craig

Jenny qualified with a media arts degree and has spent most of her career in advertising.

I qualified diver Jenny believes there is no place more relaxing than underwater.  She prefers to dive and snorkel in warm water preferably with lots of pretty creatures to look at. Jenny manages our publishing or commercial side of the business and ensures our partnerships are mutually beneficial. She creates campaigns for advertisers and ensures their Dive Pacific activity meets objectives.

Alongside this she helps strengthen partnerships for NZUA ensuring they feel supported and helping where she can. Most of this work advocates for safe and enjoyable underwater activities in a protected marine environment which is the organisations purpose.

If you are interested in working with Dive Pacific or NZUA please contact Jenny -

Mobile: 021890250