Do you know some great dive spots? So do we, some are listed below

Dive Trip Locations

New Zealand Diving:

 

Napier

National Aquarium

If you are a certified diver, come and take the plunge in the beautiful oceanarium. Eyeballing a seven gill shark, having a stingray flap over your

shoulder or getting up close and personal to feed a kahawhai or snapper are all part of the programme.  This is an awesome, interactive, diving experience.  Not to be missed.

 

Coromandel

The Alderman Islands - Coromandel

The Alderman Islands lie off from the Coromandel coast and boast very similar species to the Poor Knights and White Island dives, possibly without the same numbers of species or fishlife.  The temperate currents run through the Aldermans so some spectacular diving can be found around these islands.  Having only dived two dives there myself, it is hard to write specifically of what can be seen, however a good charter operator should be able to show any keen divers some awesome dive sites.

 

Marlborough Sounds, South Island

Mikhail Lermontov Wreck

The Mikhail Lermontov was once a Russian Cruise Liner owned by the Baltic Shipping Company, in the Soviet Union.  She was built in 1972.  On 16 February 1986 she hit rocks at the Cape Jackson and although successfully beached, in Port Gore, with failing electrical systems, was unable to let go her anchors and drifted back into the bay.  The ship was was listing badly to her starboard side.  20 minutes after the last passenger was removed from the ship she sank into the waters of Port Gore.  She lies in approximately 25-30 metres of water on her starboard side.  The water can be quite dark, with limited visibility however, this does not deter scuba divers.  The Mikhail Lermontov is 155 metres long, 23.6 metres across, and could carry 700 passengers. 

 

One crew member, a refrigeration engineer lost his life, believed to have occurred at time of impact of the hull against the rocks.  Three divers have also lost their lives whilst exploring the wreck.

 

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Mikhail Lermontov

 

 

Scallop/Crayfish Diving

The Marlborough Sounds is a diverse underwater environment, touting a large array of shellfish and crustaceans.  It is very popular to dive during July through to February for scallops, which are larger and more abundant than their North Island relatives.  With many deep water coves and protected bays, the diving possibilities are endless and are enjoyed by many during the summer months. 

 

Wellington

Mana Island/Makara

Quite possibly one of the most underrated diving areas in Wellington.  Mana Island has a variety of dive sites available for different experience levels of divers.  It is important to note that it may not appear challenging around the Island however, care must be taken due to change of tides and currents as these can become swift and take the diver unaware.  That said, if all care and precautions are taken, divers can experience some beautiful underwater scenery and fish life.

 

Makara is well known, locally, for it's vast hunting ground.  The life underwater along this particular part of the coastline is very rocky and kelpy, so home to butterfish, crayfish, crabs, cod to name a few.  One of the best places I have dived is at Boom Rock.  As with most west coast dive sites, weather, tides and currents is always a factor. 

 

Kapiti Island

Personally this is one of my favourite dive sites, perhaps because this is where I completed my open water training.  Kapiti Island lies off the coast from Paraparaumu and Waikanae.  It has been partially designated as a marine reserve, whilst the other portion is open to fishing and underwater hunting.  Please see the below map showing the marine reserve boundaries. 

 

Kapiti Island is the only large island bird sanctuary between the Hauraki Gulf and New Zealand's southern outlying islands.  A Department of Conservation permit is required to land on the island and no overnight staying is permitted.

 

The marine life is varied and abundant, especially in the marine reserve.  There are numerous swim throughs and a variety of topography for divers to experience.  If you are into underwater photography, Kapiti Island Blue Cod will always give you some great, close up shots.  I have seen many stingrays, large fish - including kingfish and tuna patrolling the waters on the west side of the Island as well as played with the seals and seen little blue penguins from a distance. 

 

 

Taupo

If you are expecting crystal clear waters and lots of fresh water trout and other fishlife to be seen, you may well be disappointed. 

However, Lake Taupo is a very unique dive site.  Close in-shore diving can take you to reef systems of large building block, volcanic boulders that drops off to 50 metres in some parts.  There is relatively shallow dive sites as well.

 

Take a moment to wonder at the rock systems and then notice the number of Koura (free water crayfish) that are crawling around rocks, under drift wood and on the silty bottom.  Good buoyancy is definitely a must when diving in Lake Taupo. 

 

Night diving is just fantastic here as all the Koura come out and there are literally hundreds covering the lake bottom.  Remember, you will require a permit to hunt and collect these small crustaceans. 

 

Wanganui/South Taranaki

Waitotara/Patea Reef

Touted as one of the best cray diving spots in New Zealand.  Self protected from the prevailing westerly winds, the Waitotara and Patea Reef systems can provide diving as good as Kapiti Island on a good day.  Visibility can vary from very limited to up to 30 metres after a period of settled weather. Currents are definitely a factor to be taken into account, as they can be very swift on the surface.  Many locals have their "secret" dive spots, so if you are fortunate enough to be offered a seat on a dive trip out, show them the courtesy of not trying to see the GPS co-ordinates.

 

Many of our dive club members have reported times when landing on a pinnacle of rocks, being completely spoilt for choice as everywhere the eye can see are crayfish.  Not only are there a huge number of crays, but they are also quite large. 

 

Northland

Learn to Dive Today!

Bay of Islands - Rainbow Warrior & HMNZS Canterbury

Rainbow Warrior - The original Rainbow Warrior, a Greenpeace vessel was bombed by French Agents on 10 July 1985, whilst it was docked in the wharf in Auckland. After the first bomb exploded at 11.58pm 35 year old photographer, Fernando Pereira, went below to collect some possessions when the second bomb blast rocked the ship.  He was the only fatality of the bombing with the rest of the crew managing to escape to safety.

 

On 2nd December 1987 the Rainbow Warrior was towed north, with a patched hull, to Matauri Bay, in New Zealand's Cavalli Islands.  Ten days later, a crowd of people gathered as it was given a traditional Maori burial.  It is now an artificial, living reef, attracting marine life and recreational divers.  This is a spectacular dive site in approximately 24 metres of water, and is covered in anemones and macro sealife.  A must see for any underwater photographers.

 

 

 

HMNZS Canterbury

The HMNZS Canterbury F421 is a Leander Class Frigate that was operated by the Royal New Zealand Navy from 1971 to 2005.  After decommissioning in 2005 she was sunk as a dive attraction, in Deep Water Cove on 3 November 2007 in the Bay of Islands.  The wreck is a deep dive, with the frigate sitting at approximately 38 metres of water. 

 

Poor Knights, Tutukaka

The wonderland of the Poor Knights Islands lay twenty three kilometres off New Zealand’s Tutukaka Coast and with the warm currents coming down from the Coral Sea, the Poor Knights are simply spectacular.  The Poor Knights are a total Marine Reserve and Nature Reserve - and pending World Heritage Site.  The 11 million year old Islands’ volcanic origins provide splendid drop offs, walls, caves, arches and tunnels.   This includes the world's largest sea cave.  The Islands have an amazing Maori history and are populated with a huge array of plants and animals, tauting New Zealand's largest insect.    Below the water there is an abundance in both variety and numbers of fish life to see.  The Poor Knights Islands was rated by the infamous Jacque Cousteau as one of the top ten dive sites in the world. 

 

Check out the small dive gallery below from previous trips to the Poor Knights.

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Poor Knights Dive Sites

 

Tutukaka - HMNZS Tui & Waikato

HMZNS Tui was used by the Royal New Zealand Navy for hydrological survey work and to help protect our anti nuclear protests at Mururoa.  She

now lies in 30 metres of water off the Tutukaka coast.  The Tui has broken in half and as such is teeming with fish life and covered in jewel anemones.

A truly beautiful wreck dive.

 

HMNZS Waikato was also a Royal New Zealand Navy vessel, a Leander Class Frigate.  The Waikato also lies just a short boat ride out from Tutukaka

Harbour.  She is 113 metres long and is complete with guns and helicopter hanger.  She sits in 28 metres and is basically upright but the bow section has

been broken off.  This is an awesome wreck dive.

 

Goat Island, Leigh - The  marine reserve at Goat Island was established in 1975 and is the longest established marine reserve in New Zealand.  It is an easy shore dive to the Island, that will surprise you with the abundance of fish life with cheeky blue maomao around your knees as you walk into the water and many more during your dive exploration.  Don't be concerned if a shadow passes over you during your dive, its probably one of the ancient, massive resident snapper coming into check you out.  It may shadow your every move during the dive but these great-grandaddys  are used to divers in their territory.  On previous  dives there we have encountered crayfish (NZ rock lobster) on the march, nudibranch, pink and blue maomao, moray eels, stingrays and many more species.

 

 

White Island, Whakatane       

This is an absolute must do.  White Island is an active volcano that lies 48kms off the coast of Whakatane on New Zealand's East Coast.  The diving is quite spectacular and varied.  White Island is one of the most fascinating and accessible volcanoes on earth, carrying with it an A Grade level of scientific importance.  As New Zealand's only live marine volcano, scientists and volcanologists are attracted by its unique features.  The volcano is estimated to be between 100,000 and 200,000 years old.  However, the small portion of the island that is visible above sea level has been in its present form for an estimated 16,000 years.  It is constantly steaming so therefore very active.

 

White Island is home to a diverse underwater marine environment and offers a range of diving environments from beginners to the more advanced diver. 

 

International Diving

Vanuatu

Hideaway Island

 

Santo - Louganville

 

Fiji

Kadavu

 

Tonga

Vava'u

 

The Solomons

 

Great Barrier Reef

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

  
     
   
 

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