The main deck of the Taioma is around 22m, base of the wreck at 27m and the funnel at 17m. There is only one ascent/descent line which leads down to the stern. when i was there it still had the steering wheel turned and all

Aquatic Life:

Goatfish, blue cod and octopus on the sand around the base, anemones blanket the hull, snapper, terakihi and blue maomao patrol the decks, small crayfish lurk in the boiler, and beautiful tiger shells and clown nudibranchs can often be found amongst the profuse encrusting life.

Warnings:

There are reefs around the northern side of Long Island and the bottom slopes away on the eastern side. Towards the south east there is a steeper drop off where more pelagic species may be seen cruising by.

The best diving here is to depths of 12 - 15 metres, Visibility typically ranges between five and ten metres. Due to the sheltered nature of this site (both from southerly winds and swells) and shallow average depth, this is a good site for new divers.

Aquatic Life:

The swim through bisecting the rocks here is the highlight of this site. It is quite narrow so be careful not to hit the sides as you go through. If you continue clockwise when you get to the southern end of the swim through you will hopefully hit a small swim through archway also. There is plenty of broken rocky area here to explore with ecklonia and other kelp forest. Between the site and shore is a sandy and at times gravelly bottom.

Aquatic Life:

This site lives up to its name with plenty of rocky terrain to explore that gradually gets deeper with nice walls and gullies to explore. Most of this site is quite shallow, getting down towards 13 metres when it is about time to turn around and make your way back.

Aquatic Life:

At the southern entrance to Middle Arch on the left is Bernie's Cave, a small cave with a sandy bottom at 13 metres and an air bubble at the top, about 7 metres. The cave has a ledge at the back where a statue of a frog and one of a teddy bear have been placed.

Middle Arch itself is a large, fairly well lit large archway that ranges from 10-16 metres deep drops off on either side through ecklonia forest with the reef dropping down to 40 metres. A swim through starts inside the archway at 16 metres and comes out at about 22 metres just outside the northern entrance.

This site is based on the archway. A sandy bottomed channel (Labrid Channel) leads into the arch. Take a look at the large boulders in the channel where colourful triplefins and blennies perch.

Once inside the arch let your eyes adjust and slowly work your way though. A window of light penetrates into the arch making for some great silhouette photos or conveniently spotlighting blue maomao for you.

The Lermontov now lies on her Starboard side and is fully intact. Diving on the Lermontov is a fantastic experience, with the propellers, damage, funnel, bridge and pool area all easily assessable. Penetration dives are not recommended unless with an experienced guide. Visibility on the outside of the wreck can get down to 5 metres, inside the wreck it averages around 12 metres. you find all sorts of gear that divers have dropped, most removable items belonging to the boat have been stripped by divers over the years.

Aquatic Life:

The bay is very kelpy with some large rocky parts (from memory...feel free to amend!). Out towards the end of the reef it drops off a bit and there is a lot of life with fish seeming to congregate there. There is a good spot here to sit and take in your surroundings on your safety stop too - see photo!

Aquatic Life:

Rocky and weeds with some sandy spots. avg depht 15m - 20m
A Cave which is full of sea food

Aquatic Life:

CRAYS CRAYS CRAYS

Warnings:

Rough water in N / NE and NW if the sweel is up.
and rocks that will hurt the boat

Directions:

Heading out of the heads turn left and there is a nice BIG rock that is Awash and low tide. drop in by the rock

If you jump in on the eastern side of the point you find yourself in a fairly shallow bay kelpy dropping off fairly quickly to the north to sand flats. A reef runs along the west side of the bay and about a third of the way along is the hole in the rock. Divers swim through here then pop out the other side to slightly deeper rocky terrain with sandy channels.

This site is a marine reserve so you cannot take anything out or discharge anything into it.

Aquatic Life: