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.
Dive Activity
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.
Top Wildlife Sightings in Milford Sound
Despite the sombre appearance of Milford Sound, it is actually bursting with life. One of the most popular residents has to be the black coral, so seldom seen by recreational divers. These large trees (ranging from 1 to 5 m in diameter) are actually ghostly white, with a black skeleton. The largest density of anywhere known in the world is found here.
Creatures litter the steep walls and you will see animals like feather stars, starfish, nudibranch, lobster, crayfish, anemone and brachiopods frequently, as well as abundant kelp growth. If you are lucky you might also spot octopus and spiny sea dragons amid the seaweed. Fish like blue cod can be seen as well as small reef fish.
Bigger animals such as several species of sharks like sevengill, carpet and mako are known. There have even been (albeit rare) sightings of great whites. Pods of dolphins are common and humpback and southern right whales have been seen. Seals enjoy “playing” with divers and at certain times of year, you may have the surreal experience of meeting a penguin as you dive.
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: 300
Alamy/Reinhard Dirscherl
14 Sightings
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The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 600
iStock/ultramarinfoto
Wrasse
7 Sightings
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The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 25
iStock/Juliosanjuan
Eagle Ray
4 Sightings
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The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 27
iStock-Global_Pics
Barracuda
4 Sightings
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iStock/Howard Chen
Blue Shark
3 Sightings
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The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 60
iStock-Global_Pics
Spiny Lobster
52 Sightings
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The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 55
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Lobster
28 Sightings
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The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 3000
SSI-Peter-Schinck
Nudibranch
15 Sightings
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The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 80
iStock/Extreme-Photographer
Stingrays
9 Sightings
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The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 40
iStock-wrangel
Triggerfish
9 Sightings
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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.
