Warkworth, a town on the Northland Peninsula of the North Island, offers dive charters to some of the best dive locations in New Zealand. While scuba diving in Warkworth it is possible to explore several marine reserves including the Poor Knights Islands – noted by Jacques Costeau as one of the top 10 dive sites in the world – as well as several wrecks. Impenetrable walls of schooling fish, manta rays, hammerhead sharks as well as orca can be witnessed!

Warkworth diving is possible from the only dive centre in the area, which offers charters and liveaboards to a wide variety of locations in New Zealand. The dive centre offers dive courses to novices as well as experienced professionals, training everyone including sports and technical divers.

Upcoming Events

Stress & Rescue

Stress & Rescue

The Diver Stress & Rescue Course is an important step in expanding your knowledge and experience as a diver. You will learn to prepare for unexpected emergencies, and how to avoid, recognize, and solve problems on the surface and under the water. Stress is a major cause of diving accidents and negatively impacts rescue situations. This program teaches you the skills and knowledge required to recognize and deal with stress, prevent accidents and properly deal with emergency situations encountered by divers. You will learn to perform diver assists and rescues, manage dive accident situations and render first aid. You will earn the SSI Diver Stress and Rescue Specialty certification after completing this program. Minimum Age: 12 Certification Prerequisites: Open Water Diver - Students must have proof of current training (within 2 years) of First Aid, CPR & O2 Provider We recommend having at least 20 logged dives and an advanced or specialty diver certification before starting your rescue course. The more comfortable you are under water, the more you'll get out of your training! Course overview: The course will be run over 2 or 3 days, depending on your experience and conditions. Included - Dive instructor - E-learning - Dive equipment - Training dives - Certification after completing the course successfully Please bring - Swimsuit & towel - Dry and warm clothing for after the dive - Water, snacks and lunch Important - We offer First Aid (including CPR) and O2 Provider training as well. Send us a message to book in if you don't have a current certification. - E-learning needs to be completed before the course. We will give you access when signing up, and it can be completed on a laptop, computer or online app (phone). - You need to be able to swim 200m unassisted and tread water for 10 minutes. If you're unable to do this, you can't start the course and are not eligible for a refund. - We offer SSI and SDI rescue courses. If you have a preference for a specific agency - let us know after booking.

NEW ZEALAND DIVING, Unit 2, 9/23 Morrison Drive, 0910, Warkworth, NZL
On Request

Dive Activity

Diving in Warkworth

While Warkworth diving, delve into New Zealand’s first marine reserve, Goat Island, which is ideal for novice divers and a site where try dives and dive courses are often held. On Hauraki Gulf, visit the kelp forests and sub-tropical environment of Little Barrier and Great Barrier Island in search of hammerhead sharks while there are some incredible wreck dives found at Great Barrier Island as well as close by to the Poor Knights Islands. Sites such as Sail Rock on the Hen and Chicken Islands are ideal for technical divers who want to head deeper.

Dive Centers

Dive Sites

The best Months to Dive in Warkworth

Warkworth is located in the North Island which is New Zealand’s warmest region and has two distinct seasons underwater. In the summer, between November and April, the water temperature can reach 20°C–23°C/68°F–73°F yet visibility is at its lowest due to plankton blooms. However, it is the best time to see stingrays and orca. In the winter, between May and September, the water temperature drops to 14°C–16°C/57°F–61°F and the visibility improves, reaching 30 meters/98 feet. If you plan to witness hammerhead sharks in the Hauraki Gulf, dive from mid-January to March.

Top Wildlife Sightings in Warkworth

As many of the islands in the Hauraki Gulf are fed by the East Auckland Current, the area sees a diversity of both tropical and temperate fish. Exploring the Great Barrier and Little Barrier Island’s, hammerhead sharks can be seen migrating. During the summer months at the Poor Knights Islands, giant schools of blue maomao, sea turtles, orcas and manta ray can be witnessed while groupers also visit. Dolphins can be seen during the journey to and from dive sites and there is a wealth of nudibranch, crayfish and invertebrates on volcanic rocks. Fur seals are often seen in the area.

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

39 Sightings
J
2
F
20
M
3
A
0
M
8
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
1
D
5

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

28 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
12
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
4
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
12

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

246 Sightings
J
46
F
32
M
29
A
23
M
0
J
14
J
5
A
2
S
12
O
18
N
15
D
50

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

156 Sightings
J
45
F
21
M
23
A
17
M
0
J
8
J
0
A
2
S
1
O
0
N
14
D
25

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

57 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
1
J
0
A
11
S
5
O
0
N
11
D
28

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

21 Sightings
J
5
F
2
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
1
A
0
S
0
O
11
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.: 3000

Nudibranch

Nudibranch

20 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
4
A
4
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
12

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

Total number of species approx.: 300

Squid

Squid

11 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
11

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

10 Sightings
J
0
F
1
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
2
A
1
S
0
O
1
N
0
D
5
Lion’s Mane Jellyfish

Lion’s Mane Jellyfish

7 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
7
N
0
D
0

Curated by Interest

Events by Lifestyle Category

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