South Island

Bridal Veil (★4.8)

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.

Descend NZ, 9600 Southland

Fox Cove (★4.7)

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.

Descend NZ, 9600 Southland

Butterfly Wall (★4.2)

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.

Descend NZ, 9600 Southland

Greenstone Beach (★5.0)

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.

Descend NZ, 9600 Southland

Dale Green (★4.7)

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.

Descend NZ, 9600 Southland

Sinbad Gully (★4.4)

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.

Descend NZ, 9600 Southland

Walk the Dog Wall (★4.8)

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.

Descend NZ, 9600 Southland

Penguin Cove (★4.6)

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.

Descend NZ, 9600 Southland

Harrison Cove (★4.7)

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.

Descend NZ, 9600 Southland

Dale Point (★4.3)

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.

Mares, Janez Kranjc

Wiakawa Swim Spot (★3.8)

A very sheltered spot that is normally only used when weather prevents diving elsewhere. It is surrounded by boating exclusion buoys so it is very safe.

Daves’ Diving Kaikoura, 7300 Kaikoura

Old Wharf (★4.4)

8 minute drive from Daves Diving Kaikoura behind the Fyffe House. Entry/Exit point is located at the old boat ramp that is deused. Note that Boats launch from the beach do take care. The yellow ’No Fishing’ Buoy is a reference for you surface swim.

Daves’ Diving Kaikoura, 7300 Kaikoura

Barney’s Rock (★4.6)

Barney’s Rock (Panau Island) is located 15min south on SH1 From Daves Diving Kaikoura. This is the gateway to the Hikurangi Marine Reserve and diving around the island you reach depths of 19m.

Daves’ Diving Kaikoura, 7300 Kaikoura

Seal Colony (★4.5)

A rough walk over the rocky peninsular of Kaikoura with a difficult entry. Swim through a kelp forest and rock formations with swim throughs and small caves to explore. With many entry and exit points this dive site can be enjoyed many times. Surge and swell can make this dive tricky especially the entry and exit.

Mares

Aramoana Mole (★3.9)

Deepest off the very end at about 30 metres, although most dives are around 10 – 15 metres. The Mole is a man-made rock wall constructed to protect the harbour entrance from silting. It directs the tidal jet and keeps the channel clear. Generally the further along the Mole you go, the deeper the water is.

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