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white island
New Zealand’s most active
volcano lies 50 km offshore from Whakatane where it continuously
lets off steam and releases clouds of ash.
The volcano sits on the continental shelf where the White Island
Trench runs parallel to the huge abyss of the Kermadec Trench.
These undersea canyons convey the subtropical East Auckland
Current directly to the island, bringing a colourful array of
tropical marine life and very large pelagic fish.
The diving here is simply incredible. Many local divers regard
White Island as being right up there with the best - as good or
even better than the Poor Knights Islands. Visibility can exceed
40m and schooling fish often attract the sort of predators you
yearn to see underwater - bronze whaler and blue sharks, mako
sharks, marlin, tuna and kingfish. Down in the depths expect to
spot huge packhorse crayfish (lobsters), groper, bass and even
black coral.
Dive charter boats operate out of Whakatane and Tauranga to the
island where the top locations are:
Volkner Rocks
This awesome open water dive location lies 5km north west of
White Island and can produce almost every pelagic fish species
you can imagine. The eastern flanks are a good place to start,
with depths to 18m. The west side has a staged descent to 30m and
then plummets to great depths. The north east corner is virtually
over the continental shelf and drops to 1,000m and more.
Club Rocks
These are off Crater Bay where the volcanic rocks are riddled
with caves and holes, which are home to packhorse crayfish and
groper. On the western side is an interesting plateau, 18m at the
deepest part, which is alive with every species of reef and
pelagic fish. A kaleidoscope of coloured sponges, hydroids and
gorgonians line the sheer cliff face down to 37m.
Liason’s Reef
This is located midway between White Island and Volkners Rocks in
open water with 30m plus visibility and endless possibilities for
viewing every northern fish species. The reef rises to 18m and
the sides plummet to 150m with countless reef fish and kingfish
cruising past.
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