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wellington
New Zealand’s capital city is
surrounded by the turbulent waters of Cook Strait and boasts many
natural marine wonders around its three coastlines.
The opportunities for shore diving and snorkelling are legion and
the powerful Cook Strait currents ensure a plentiful supply of
marine life. Fur seal colonies exist at Red Rocks on the south
coast and also at Turakirae Head, south of Wainuiomata.
Water temperatures range from 10°C to 18°C and visibility can
reach 15-20m once the periodic ‘Old Man’ southerly
blusters have settled down.
Dive shops in Wellington, Petone, Island Bay and Mana can arrange
New Zealand wide diving adventures and trips to local hot spots.
South Coast
The southern coastline between Owhiro Bay and Sinclair Head has
superb diving and snorkelling territory providing there are calm
seas and light offshore winds. Deep channels, ravines, caves,
luxuriant weed beds and abundant fish life can be found to depths
of 15m. Breaker Bay has a rocky landscape to 12m with rich marine
life and good opportunities for photography. Turakirae Head to
Pencarrow Lighthouse is great snorkelling country with good scuba
diving on several shipwrecks along the coast and a seal colony at
Turakirae. Palliser Bay is excellent diving in extensive rocky
reef systems and kelp forests.
West Coast
Makara Beach has spectacular inshore reefs from 3-25m with
prolific weed and schooling fish. Titahi Bay has good diving to
12m with caves, colourful anemones and great photography. Kapiti
Island has the finest underwater scenery in the region and is
rated as world-class diving. The remarkable Hole-in-the-Wall rock
arch, Tokahaki Reef and the Boulder Bank are home to a rich
variety of sea life. Underwater photographers take delight in the
bright colours of reef dwellers and the schools of blue water
pelagic species. The Hunter Bank between Kapiti and Mana Islands
rises to 18m from the surface and is rated as the best deep
diving in the region.
East Coast
Castlepoint is renowned for its weird and wonderful limestone
formations, fossilised shells and marine life. Flat Point is a
long sandspit with extensive inshore reefs swarming with fish
life.
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