Dive Sites : Oceania and Pacific : New Zealand

New Zealand Scuba Diving

289 Dive Sites in 17 Destinations

Bay Of Islands (9)
Bay Of Plenty (16)
Canterbury (6)
Coromandel Peninsula (10)
Fiordland (10)
Gisborne District (8)
Hauraki Gulf (29)
Hawke's Bay (3)
Invercargill (6)

Marlborough (17)
Marlborough Sounds (15)
North Island (3)
Northland Region (74)
Otago (34)
South Island (22)
Stewart Island (3)
Wellington (39)

Ever wondered what hobbits would see if they dived their local 15,000km long coastline? Between the tropical reefs of 'Rivendell (Poor Knights)', the freshwater springs of 'Minas Tirith' or the alpine fiords in 'Middle earth'( Fiordland), there are no fantasies, myths or legends in New Zealand... it really is scuba fairytale land. The Island's proximity to the equator and South Pole are its recipe for a wide variety of scuba diving to suit every taste and qualification.

These otherworldly energies also congregate below and inhabitants do not follow the normal pattern as in other tropical environments. Coral reef crinoids live amid forests of kelp, volcano formations encrusted with hard corals and seafans. Demoiselles, stingrays, moray eels, rare tropical groper and perch and blue maomao also frequent its waters.

Dutch cartographers originally named the islands 'Nova Zeelandia' which James Cook twisted gently to New Zealand. A massive 93% is submerged due to plate tectonics that began to rip it apart around 25 million years ago. The South Island is split down the middle by the Southern Alps with 18 peaks as high as 3,000 meters.

The most significant of the smaller inhabited islands include Stewart Island/Rakiura; Waiheke Island, in Auckland's Hauraki Gulf; Great Barrier Island, east of the Hauraki Gulf; and the Chatham Islands, named Rekohu by Moriori.

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The North Island has more prevalent signs of volcanism. In the Hawkes Bay region is: Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu, the hill with the longest name in the world. The areas first settlers were of Eastern Polynesian decent arriving between 800 and 1300AD. The culture is now known as the Maori a tribe who hold fast and proud to their unique culture. Their native language of Maoritanga is closely related to Tahitian and Hawaiian. Their numbers were subject to much war and disease over the years and the preset population figures estimate 250,000. They live mostly in the North due to its warmer climes.

Scuba Diving in New Zealand

Ranking high on Jacques Cousteau's list of favorites is the Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve with its caves, arches, gorgonian fields, sponge gardens, pinnacles, vertical cliffs and multi-coloured reefs. Here you will see the Spotted Black, Toadstool and Gold Ribbon groupers; Lord Howe Island Coral Fish and Banded Coral Shrimp, Lionfish, Trumpet Fish , Long-nosed Butterfly Fish and occasional Hawksbill Turtles. Visibility is excellent at 15 - 30m. Trips are run from Tutukaka Harbour and sites include Northern Arch, Middle Arch, Red Baron Caves, Nursery Cove, Blue Maomao Arch and Rikoriko Cave.

Bland Bay off the Tutukaka Coast sports the hydrographic research ship Tui and the frigate Waikato both penetrable wreck dives.

The amazing Bay of Islands consists of 50 islets offering great variety, canyons, reefs, kelp forests and caves with their local bottlenose dolphins, stingrays, manta rays, octopus, moray eels and many fish species.

The northland is known for its marine reserves and wreck dives around the Karikari Peninsula, Whangaroa Bay and Cavalli Islands. A good example is near Matauri Bay's Tokananohia and Taheke Reefs and the Greenpeace Shipwreck 'Rainbow Warrior'. The Purerua Peninsula is a significant example of New Zealand's volcanic constitution, with its breathtaking formations at Black Rocks, Lion Rock, The Needles and Cape Wiwiki.

Other islands include Cape Brett, the Outer Islands of Red Head, Urupukapuka, Stewart Island and Sugar loaf islands. Port Taranaki's nearby marine park is rich in butterfish, blue maomao, blue cod, red moki, kingfish , kahawai, baitfish, flying fish, sunfish, marlin and mako sharks.

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