Explore Milford Sound

Milford Sound is a fiord located in the south west corner of New Zealand’s South Island. It is famed for its rugged beauty and is routinely nominated among the world’s top travel destinations. Running 15 km inland from the Tasman Sea, it is surrounded by austere rock faces, carved by glaciers during the last ice age. 

Diving here is a challenge but an increasingly popular one. The dive centres are minimal and require a 4 hour round trip from Te Anau. Diving courses are possible but beginner diving courses aren’t common. Drysuit courses are the most popular, which is unsurprising due to the temperature of the water. Liveaboards are not currently operating in Milford Sound. 

Known as New Zealand’s “coral capital”, one of the highlights of diving here is the chance to see black coral which is normally found below 100 m depth.

Top Dive Sites Map

★★★★☆ Sinbad Gully

Inner Fiord dive with some reef and steep walls. Some black coral trees, tube anemones, wrasses, perches and a chance for seven gill and dogshark shark encounters.

10
Logs
10
Divers
16.0 m
⌀ Depth
18.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ The Triangle

This inner Fiord dive site is a mix of rocky shoreline leading onto sand plus steep wall diving. There is a steep drop-off that houses one of the largest black coral trees in the Fiord at about 18 meters that has a few carpet shark eggs attached. Generally a thick surface freshwater layer and darker conditions.

24
Logs
16
Divers
17.0 m
⌀ Depth
10.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ Harrison Cove

Dive Site starts out on shallow gravel bottom composition to 45 degree sloping muddy sandy bottom with a few rock outcrops with some growth of black coral. Sharky site.

14
Logs
8
Divers
18.0 m
⌀ Depth
11.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ Bridal Veil

Bridal Veil is a gentle sloping site, starting at Bridal Veil beach with a wall extending out all the way to Copper Point. Generally sheltered training site in the shallow part.

18
Logs
12
Divers
15.0 m
⌀ Depth
10.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Butterfly Wall

Butterfly wall starts in a sheltered cove with gently sloping stoney sandy bottom down to rocky sandy reef. Turns into a steep wall dive on both sides.

36
Logs
34
Divers
19.0 m
⌀ Depth
11.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ Walk the Dog Wall

Walk the dog Wall is an extreme wall dive site with a towering cliff above extending to at least 80 meters depth on parts of the wall. Main features are black and red coral, butterfly perch and dogsharks.

11
Logs
9
Divers
18.0 m
⌀ Depth
5.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ Cray’s Crack

This marine reserve site has a rocky reef extending on a 45 degree slope to about 18 meters before turning to sand. Turns into steep wall with initially a seafloor shelf at 20 meters but dropping off to around 80 meters in parts. Rich in black coral and crayfish.

121
Logs
99
Divers
19.0 m
⌀ Depth
11.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Dale Point

This marine reserve site is a mix of wall dive with steep drop offs and some reef. Abundant in large black coral, yellow zoanthids and plenty of fish life.

18
Logs
13
Divers
21.0 m
⌀ Depth
11.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ Penguin Cove

This marine reserve site starts on shallow shelf. From here a rocky reef slopes to deeper waters on a 45 degree angle. Features large black coral trees. Both sides of the cove turn into steep and deep wall dives.

201
Logs
139
Divers
19.0 m
⌀ Depth
11.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ Dale Green

Dale Green features a varied site with some reef and steep wall aspects. Walls drop to 80 meters depth close to shore. Large black coral trees and abundant fish life around them. Has red coral colonies in overhangs.

20
Logs
16
Divers
20.0 m
⌀ Depth
13.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ Greenstone Beach

Greenstone Beach features a rocky shoreline starting at 5 meters depth with a sloping 45 degree rocky reef with large boulders dotted along the coastline.

14
Logs
13
Divers
20.0 m
⌀ Depth
15.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ Greenstone Point

Wall dive suitable for deep and technical diving profiles extending to a max depth of 90m. Greenstone Point is located on the southern side of the entrance to Milford Sound.

52
Logs
30
Divers
18.0 m
⌀ Depth
11.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Post Office Rock

This near coastal features a colourful kelpy rocky reef and drops off gently to sandy floor at about 25 meters max. Abundant with reef fish and the occasional seven gill shark.

27
Logs
22
Divers
18.0 m
⌀ Depth
11.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ Fox Cove

Located on the outer Fiord this site features a rocky reef to sandy bottom with a max depth of around 20 meters depending where in the cove. Exposed in north to northwest winds and sheltered in southwesterly wind directions.

14
Logs
14
Divers
17.0 m
⌀ Depth
10.0 m
⌀ Visibility

Diving in Milford Sound

Milford Sound diving is mostly boat diving, as they navigate to various dive sites depending on the days weather conditions. Almost all dives are wall dives, as the sheer rock faces disappear into the dark water below. Upon these rock faces, you can see impressive coral gardens and kelp growth. 

One weird aspect of diving in Milford Sound is the dual layered water. A layer of dark, tannin stained freshwater sits above a layer of clearer salt water below. This creates a dark, twilight world below as well as a surreal, shimmering halocline as you descend through the freshwater. It is this dark water, along with the shadows of the surrounding mountains, that enables black corals to grow at such shallow depths in a phenomenon called “deep water emergence” where it is normally only found below 100 m.

The best Months to Dive in Milford Sound

Diving in Milford Sound is possible year round. The summer temperatures around Milford Sound peak at around 18°C each year, whilst the winter temperatures hover just above freezing. The water temperatures can be confusing, as Milford Sound is formed of a fresh water layer sitting above a salt water layer, which tends to be warmer. Generally, the water stays between 12°C and 16°C year round, so the main difference is the air temperature when you surface! Diving with a thick wetsuit or drysuit is essential year round. 

It is important to bear in mind that Milford Sound is one of the rainiest places in New Zealand – expect rain every day, no matter the season. 

Statistics

Historical data and trends

Dive Activity & Environmental Conditions