Top Five Diving Spots in New Zealand

New Zealand has an amazing and diverse marine life and we’ve created a list of the top diving spots to consider while on your ocean vacation.

1) Poor Knights Island: one of the best diving spots in the world. 

• Located off the coast of a small coastal town, Tutukaka, near Whangarei (North Island)

• Home to the largest sea cave in the world (by volume)

• Home to multiple fish species as well as Whales and dolphins that you might get to see on the boat ride out to the islands 

Diving trips as well as a day cruise, for those who prefer snorkeling are available here.

2) Cavalli Islands: a Far North paradise and a summer hot spot.

• Located in the Bay of Islands off the coast of Matauri Bay (North Island)

• The site of the famous Rainbow Warrior wreck

• Here you can see dolphins, orcas, stingray and crayfish and maybe even seals among other species

Day trips in this area.

3) Kaikoura: where the mountains and sea meet.

• Located on the east coast of the South Island (north of Christchurch)

• Swim with fur seals in the cold waters

• Watch out for Whales and Dolphins that often frequent the area.

Both shore and boat diving experiences here.

4) Goat Island: the first Marine Reserve in New Zealand.

• Located in Leigh, North of Auckland (North Island)

• This area is filled with snapper and other fish such as kingfish, red moki, leatherjackets and blue maomao.

Swim, dive or snorkel straight from the beach

5) Bluff: a spot is for the adrenaline junkie and oyster lover

• One of the best places in the world to go shark-cage diving

• Sharks you can expect to see in the Foveaux Strait include Great Whites, Makos, and Blues.

Sightseeing tour and cage diving tours available.

(picture by Erin Anderson 2017)