5-20 metres. In the shallows there is little but kina barrens but further down the walls it is magic.

Aquatic Life:

A few crayfish hide in the caves and reef fish include Sandager's wrasses. Large John dory cruise the edge of the kelp, hunting for small fish. Colourful sponges, anemones, sea stars and a variety of nudibranchs including Jasons.A few snapper plus schools of trevally, kahwawai and baitfish.

Directions:

West side of Mayor Island.

0-30+ metres. Lots of volcanic rock form these reefs with chunks of black volcanic glass occasionally seen on the bottom. The fishing boat San Benito wrecked here but little is left that can be seen.
Source: DIVE New Zealand magazine.

Aquatic Life:

Fire brick sea stars, tiger shells, triplefins, nudibranchs and sponges are all in profusion. In early summer you may find the fragile shells of the paper nautilus. Plenty of fish schools that attract kingfish, especially in summer.

Directions:

Southeast side of Mayor Island.

0-20 metres. Good site for snorkellers above the kelp-covered boulders. Bubbles show where gas still rises from this extinct volcano's vents.
Source: DIVE New Zealand magazine.

Aquatic Life:

Spotties, goatfish, and scarlet wrasses cruise above and black angelfish and demoiselles nest amongst the sea lettuce. Moray eels and rock lobster, including packhorse lobster, live amongst the boulders and Lord Howe coralfish and sharp-nosed pufferfish are often seen. You might notice some scorpionfish have growths from sitting too long near the vents.

0-25 metres. Exposed to any wind from the south and often has current. Good photographic dive.
Source: DIVE New Zealand magazine.

Aquatic Life:

Jewel and common aneones among unusual sea chells like circular saw, trumpet and helmet shells. Red moki hide in the cracks alognwith rock lobster and yellow moray eels. Schools of trevally, kahwai, butterfly perch and demoiselles feed in the current. Banded and scarlet wrasses move amongst the kelp covered rocks along with leatherjackets.

Directions:

0-30 metres. Exposed to northerly and easterly swells and strong winds. Good reefs with a few small caves.
Source: DIVE New Zealand magazine.

Aquatic Life:

Big schools of demoiselles, blue maomao and trevally. Some rock lobster and the odd moray eel. Red and painted moki and a few wrasses around the kelp forest. The walls are very colourful and nudibranchs are common.

Directions:

East side, Slipper Island.

0-30 metres. Quite well protected from the southwest wind with lots of broken reef, boulders and kelp forest.
Source: DIVE New Zealand magazine.

Aquatic Life:

Rock lobster, red and painted moki, numerous wrasses, blue cod and snapper. Lots of sponges and anemones with untold triplefins and nudibranchs. Large baitfish schools in summer have kingfish buzzing around them.

Directions:

About 5km south of Stony Bay, Northeast Coromandel

16-30+ metres. Very exposed pinnacle with steep walls and regular current. Awesome dive in blue water.
Source: DIVE New Zealand magazine.

Aquatic Life:

Walls are covered with sponges, hydroids and ascidians that thrive in the passing current. Schools of blue and pink maomao, demoiselles, butterfly perch and trevally. Lots of red moki and leatherjackets feed on the encrusting life and the occasional kingfish or rarely shark or marlin may come past. Often a large stingray population cruises around the pinnacle.

Directions:

10-30 metres.
Source: DIVE New Zealand magazine.

Aquatic Life:

Reef fish include porcupinefish and scarlet wrasse. Sponges, anemones, ascidians and hydroids below 15 metres on the walls. Keen-eyed photographers will spot up to a dozen nudibranch species here. A few large rock lobster in the cracks including the occasional packhorse lobster. Kingfish common in summer among the baitfish.

Warnings:

Exposed to swells and strong wind with reasonably strong current.

Directions:

0-20 metres. Exposed to easterly wind or swell. Good snorkelling over the reefs including a swim-through.
Source: DIVE New Zealand magazine.

Aquatic Life:

Colourful walls with plenty of photographic subjects. Red and painte moki, porae, pigfish, John dory and occasional snapper cruise around. Rock lobster usually in the deeper cracks.

Directions:

Southeast side of Middle Island, Alderman Islands.