Diving in the Bay of Islands
The Bay of Islands, located at the northernmost point of New Zealand’s North Island, encompasses 144 islands between Cape Brett and the Purerua Peninsula. The islands are volcanic in origin with underwater landscapes featuring towering walls, caves, caverns, swim-throughs, crevasses and kelp forests. Explore the world-renowned wreck of the Rainbow Warrior, Greenpeace’s flagship that was sunk on its way to protest France’s nuclear testing or have your first dive experience among sea turtles, manta ray and even whale sharks!
Scuba diving in the Bay of Islands is possible from dive centres located in Paihia and Waipapa, which offer dive courses from the first diving experience to becoming a professional diver. In Northland, a dive lodge provides access to the incredible sites as well as a place to stay.
Dive Activity
Diving in Bay of Islands
A 3-hour drive north of Auckland, the Bay of Islands is home to the world-class wrecks of the Rainbow Warrior and the HMNZS Canterbury. Both sites are accessible by advanced divers and are home to several swim-throughs. As well as these two incredible wreck dives, the Bay of Islands has lots of impressive reef dives. Kelp forests, volcanic boulders, tunnels, caves and walls are home to a myriad of colourful tropical fish. Most dive operators will combine a wreck dive with a reef dive to ensure you experience all that the Bay of Islands has to offer.
Top Wildlife Sightings in Bay of Islands
The East Auckland Current brings tropical fish down into the Bay of Islands temperate environment, creating a sub-tropical diving experience. Gold ribbon grouper, toadstool grouper, and green wrasse join with New Zealand’s residents, short tail rays, moray eels and the northern scorpionfish to delight divers. It is possible to see everything from dolphins, seals, penguins and whales while out on the dive boat - with sea turtles, manta rays and whale sharks most commonly sighted during late summer and autumn.
Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 200
Alamy-WaterFrame
177 Sightings
J
25
F
25
M
33
A
10
M
3
J
9
J
10
A
5
S
20
O
5
N
11
D
21
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 25
iStock/Juliosanjuan
Eagle Ray
102 Sightings
J
14
F
8
M
12
A
0
M
2
J
8
J
1
A
10
S
10
O
5
N
9
D
23
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 600
iStock/ultramarinfoto
Wrasse
67 Sightings
J
4
F
3
M
5
A
0
M
0
J
6
J
10
A
13
S
9
O
1
N
14
D
2
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 300
Alamy/Reinhard Dirscherl
Octopus
18 Sightings
J
4
F
0
M
0
A
1
M
1
J
0
J
0
A
10
S
0
O
0
N
2
D
0
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 110
iStock-Rainer von Brandis
Snapper
272 Sightings
J
28
F
33
M
44
A
11
M
19
J
28
J
12
A
14
S
27
O
11
N
23
D
22
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 250
iStock-Miguel-Angelo-Silva.
Scorpionfish
99 Sightings
J
11
F
23
M
2
A
2
M
17
J
0
J
7
A
12
S
15
O
1
N
8
D
1
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 90
Shutterstock-Levent Konuk
Goatfish
84 Sightings
J
6
F
5
M
12
A
1
M
9
J
8
J
8
A
12
S
14
O
2
N
5
D
2
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 60
iStock-Global_Pics
Spiny Lobster
80 Sightings
J
11
F
14
M
8
A
2
M
8
J
10
J
9
A
4
S
11
O
1
N
0
D
2
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 80
iStock/Extreme-Photographer
Stingrays
50 Sightings
J
3
F
5
M
0
A
8
M
0
J
5
J
1
A
2
S
10
O
0
N
2
D
14
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 3000
SSI-Peter-Schinck
Nudibranch
43 Sightings
J
16
F
18
M
0
A
1
M
1
J
0
J
0
A
3
S
1
O
0
N
2
D
1
The best Months to Dive in the Bay of Islands
Bay of Islands diving takes place year-round, with water temperature ranging from 15℃ in later winter to 22℃ in later summer and autumn – so remember to don a thicker wetsuit if you are bringing your own! Visibility ranges from 15–40 metres, with late summer having the best visibility. Also during late summer, easterly winds push the open ocean water into the coastline increasing the chance of spotting sea turtles and manta rays while scuba diving in the Bay of Islands.
