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New Zealand

© Shutterstock/Martin Vlnas

Explore New Zealand

New Zealand is famous as a land of rugged natural beauty, with coursing rivers, piercing mountain tops, pristine fjords and emerald green countryside. Below the water, the topography is no less varied and the diving here is diverse - sub-tropical reefs around North Island, fjords on South Island and wrecks around the Bay of Islands are just some of the options available. 

The country and its islands are sparsely populated, though the transport networks and visitors centres are excellent which makes getting around a breeze. As travel between islands usually requires a flight, be aware of scuba diving fly limits. 

There are dive centres dotted around the North and South Islands, with the higher density found in the north. On the South Island, they are concentrated around the largest cities of Christchurch, Blenheim and southernmost Dunedin. Dive resorts aren’t a popular phenomenon here and liveaboards exist but are rare, tending to stick around Poor Knights. Though New Zealand is not the most popular location in the world for diving courses, most good dive centres offer courses from introductions up to dive master.

Jacques Cousteau once said that New Zealand contained some of the top five dive sites in the world, speaking of the Poor Knights Marine Reserve. Much underrated as a diving destination, with over 15,000 kilometres of coastline, you will be glad you chose to dive in these virgin waters. Dolphins and seals are just some of the inquisitive encounters you might enjoy - sightings of whales are also not uncommon. Caves, kelp forests, wrecks and deep water drop offs, all encased in cool, clear water, are just some of the gems that await in this ancient, culture steeped land.

Power Plug Type
I
Payment Method
VISA, MC, AMEX, DIS, DC, JCB
Tipping
5–10% / Service Staff / Tipping is appreciated but not mandatory.
Airports
AKL
Currency
NZD
Dial Code
+64
Electricity
230V / 50Hz
Time
UTC+12, UTC+13

Top Regions to Explore

Upcoming Events

SSI Open Water Diver

SSI Open Water Diver

This certification is recognized worldwide and is the best way to become a qualified diver on an adventure that will last a lifetime. The combination of personalized instruction and practical training sessions ensures that you gain the skills and experience of a confident, safe diver. At the end of the course you will receive the SSI Open Water Diver certification.Open Water Diving CourseYour first step into the world of recreational diving!Whether you want to dive with us in the beautiful Bay of Islands, or in any of the world's other amazing dive locations, your Open Water certification is the ticket you need.Our scuba diving course will run over 3 days.We use the MySSI app to complete the theory before starting the course. Once signed up to the course we will send you the codes so you can get started.The confined water sessions are done in a heated swimming pool. This allows you the time to master the skills required to progress to the open water.The first dive day is at the beach at Matauri Bay, this gives you a taste of shore diving. On the last day we head out to Deep Water Cove to complete the last 2 dives of the course. This area is a reserve so the diving is awesome!Upon certification you will be qualified to dive with a buddy to 18 metres/60 feet.We require a minimum of 2 students booked for the course to go ahead at this price. If you're the only person booked then the course will run as a private course($999.00 total price) or be rescheduled to another date.

Paihia Dive, 35 Williams Road, 0247, Paihia, NZL
September 4, 2026 +49 More
$408.92
NZ$699.00

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Top Wildlife Sightings in New Zealand

The marine life you can find here is abundant, varied and will put New Zealand firmly at the top of every divers’ bucket list. The cool, nutrient rich waters attract life from deep within the oceans. Macro life such as nudibranch adorn many rocky reefs while crustaceans ranging from tiny, translucent glass shrimp to big, confident lobsters all scuttle along the seafloor. A highlight for many are the spiny sea dragons huddling in the seaweed of Milford Sound.

Small, iridescent fish hover in schools over the corals of the northern reefs and create aquarium-like vistas. The deep water draws in larger pelagic fish from the deep -  big game species like tuna, kingfish, blue cod, marlin and John Dory school and hunt out in the blue. The summer months can even bring the weird and wonderful mola mola and manta rays. 

Sharks are drawn by these large fish numbers. Big sharks swim in deeper waters away from the dive sites but bronze whaler and mako sharks are seen, as well as the rare seven gill. Other predators include stingrays, moray eels and sea snakes, while less intimidating turtles sedately glide around the reefs. 

New Zealand is marine mammal central - over half the worlds’ cetaceans are found here. Porpoises and dolphins are common sights and there are more penguin species found here than anywhere else in the world. Fur seals are a favourite, their inquisitive and playful dispositions have earned them the nickname of “puppies of the sea”!

Whales are natives to these deep, nutrient abundant oceans. The planet’s largest animal, the blue whale, is endemic, are are humpbacks, southern rights and sperm whales. Poor Knights marine reserve offers a spectacular chance to see orcas feeding on the resident stingrays.

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.: 25

Eagle Ray

Eagle Ray

1.3k Sightings
J
200
F
137
M
243
A
71
M
109
J
20
J
45
A
41
S
43
O
90
N
76
D
184

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 200

Moray Eel

Moray Eel

992 Sightings
J
162
F
114
M
176
A
93
M
67
J
47
J
37
A
21
S
47
O
41
N
63
D
124

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 600

Wrasse

Wrasse

725 Sightings
J
164
F
79
M
74
A
62
M
47
J
18
J
42
A
36
S
42
O
28
N
56
D
77

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 300

Octopus

Octopus

432 Sightings
J
69
F
41
M
23
A
25
M
14
J
32
J
18
A
28
S
22
O
19
N
52
D
89
Green Turtle

Green Turtle

93 Sightings
J
9
F
1
M
6
A
11
M
11
J
19
J
9
A
7
S
4
O
9
N
3
D
4

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 110

Snapper

Snapper

3.2k Sightings
J
524
F
340
M
560
A
235
M
238
J
142
J
137
A
99
S
135
O
166
N
225
D
378

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Goatfish

Goatfish

1.4k Sightings
J
275
F
167
M
240
A
101
M
66
J
49
J
57
A
38
S
79
O
102
N
62
D
179

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 80

Stingrays

Stingrays

1.1k Sightings
J
185
F
140
M
210
A
85
M
59
J
24
J
43
A
43
S
41
O
44
N
80
D
135

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 35

Trout

Trout

819 Sightings
J
63
F
74
M
105
A
115
M
95
J
40
J
26
A
39
S
60
O
52
N
68
D
82

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3000

Nudibranch

Nudibranch

614 Sightings
J
91
F
83
M
64
A
49
M
18
J
22
J
15
A
15
S
42
O
49
N
45
D
121

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

Spiny Lobster

Spiny Lobster

585 Sightings
J
79
F
70
M
87
A
49
M
31
J
38
J
35
A
11
S
31
O
46
N
49
D
59

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 250

Scorpionfish

Scorpionfish

568 Sightings
J
105
F
71
M
81
A
47
M
47
J
16
J
17
A
18
S
30
O
31
N
40
D
65

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 2000

Loach Goby

Loach Goby

567 Sightings
J
69
F
26
M
123
A
82
M
57
J
40
J
16
A
40
S
0
O
23
N
21
D
70

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 16

Eel

Eel

550 Sightings
J
50
F
80
M
88
A
48
M
76
J
40
J
28
A
40
S
29
O
12
N
23
D
36

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

Triggerfish

Triggerfish

406 Sightings
J
76
F
46
M
40
A
27
M
46
J
16
J
13
A
21
S
31
O
31
N
18
D
41

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3

Perch

Perch

379 Sightings
J
44
F
51
M
44
A
53
M
46
J
63
J
14
A
12
S
14
O
14
N
10
D
14

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Angelfish

Angelfish

322 Sightings
J
52
F
54
M
33
A
26
M
11
J
21
J
12
A
9
S
19
O
13
N
18
D
54

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 350

Damselfish

Damselfish

243 Sightings
J
42
F
48
M
15
A
14
M
12
J
13
J
9
A
16
S
14
O
12
N
15
D
33

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 7000

Crab

Crab

203 Sightings
J
20
F
7
M
25
A
8
M
9
J
4
J
2
A
18
S
19
O
11
N
33
D
47

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 100

Parrotfish

Parrotfish

202 Sightings
J
35
F
25
M
15
A
11
M
15
J
13
J
11
A
12
S
26
O
16
N
9
D
14

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Butterfly Fish

Butterfly Fish

142 Sightings
J
19
F
19
M
6
A
7
M
9
J
15
J
17
A
8
S
16
O
11
N
4
D
11

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 28

Clownfish

Clownfish

128 Sightings
J
12
F
9
M
3
A
10
M
8
J
15
J
22
A
9
S
18
O
9
N
5
D
8

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

Jackfish

Jackfish

126 Sightings
J
16
F
16
M
27
A
6
M
5
J
5
J
10
A
6
S
13
O
1
N
11
D
10

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 55

Lobster

Lobster

117 Sightings
J
13
F
14
M
31
A
9
M
3
J
0
J
2
A
15
S
6
O
8
N
10
D
6

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Pufferfish

Pufferfish

93 Sightings
J
22
F
6
M
13
A
5
M
6
J
3
J
10
A
4
S
11
O
6
N
2
D
5

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 250

Grouper/Basslets

Grouper/Basslets

88 Sightings
J
13
F
17
M
6
A
9
M
4
J
5
J
4
A
6
S
10
O
9
N
1
D
4

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 8

Bannerfish

Bannerfish

85 Sightings
J
13
F
13
M
2
A
1
M
2
J
4
J
16
A
4
S
9
O
3
N
2
D
16

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 22

Cod

Cod

80 Sightings
J
14
F
7
M
16
A
11
M
2
J
1
J
2
A
0
S
6
O
4
N
2
D
15

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