Stunning Dive Sites
Dave probably has more dive experience on the Rainbow Warrior than any other charter operator in the Bay of Islands nowadays and having taken virtually all of the Rainbow Warrior crew out to her over the years, certainly has a yarn to tell.
"A great day diving the Rainbow Warrior. Dave and crew were above and beyond the call of duty. Top quality and professional all around. Couldn't do it better. Thanks for a memorable day. Ross Williams Ex 2nd mate Rainbow Warrior I"
The Rainbow Warrior
Once the proud flagship of Green Peace until it was bombed and sunk in 1985. The Rainbow Warrior now lies peacefully on the ocean floor in the Cavalli Islands. Laid to rest in 1987 it is now home to an abundance of marine life.
Schools of Big eye fish and mackerel shelter within the ship while snapper, leatherjackets and demoiselle roam the outside. Amazing colours are displayed by the colonies of jewel anemones scattered along the hull and rails. Moray eels, scorpion fish and crayfish are tucked into their own little piece of the wreck.
For divers the Rainbow Warrior gives many reasons to dive, the history, the wreck, the marine life. With a maximum depth of 27 metres and just over 40 metres in length there is plenty of time to explore almost the entire wreck in one dive.
The Rainbow Warrior is a perfect place for photography, scenic diving, advancing your qualifications in PADI adventure diving or just having a great time.
HMNZS Canterbury
After 34 years service the HMNZS Canterbury, a 113 metre Leander Class frigate, was scuttled in the tranquil waters of Deep Water Cove. This site attracts experienced divers from far and wide.
She has become a peaceful home for many aquatic species; Nudibranchs, Crayfish, John Dory, Leather Jackets, Pigfish, Wrasse as well as a resident Octopus or two. Quite a Garden of Eden in 38m of water sitting perfectly upright.
Cathedral Cave
One of the gems of NZ diving located under the famous Piercy Island, this site has it all from crystal clear water teeming with life to an amazing sea cave home to resident stingrays.
The brief is done inside the sea cave with the dive starting at the entrance of the cave. Divers use the brightly coloured wall to descend to a max depth of 40m.
Once at your max depth huge boulders litter the seabed giving excellent hiding places for a huge array of species from the common Crayfish to the rarer Lord Howe and Yellow Branded Perch. Time to head into the cave from 25m the beautiful clear water starts to turn darker until only torch light can be seen this is where the stingrays are stretched out along the bottom seeking refuge from predators and Open Ocean.
Because of sub tropical water currents, depth and visibility often over 20m marine life around this island has been unpredictable and exciting. Whales, dolphins, sharks, big pelagic hunters and occasionally Marlin have all been sited here with some seasonal visitors hitching a ride on the Eastern Auckland Current this site truly can provide anything.
Great dive from Advanced to experienced.
Putahataha Island
One of the sentinel islands guarding Deep Water Cove. This little island has a very cool dive site suitable for all levels of divers. Starts nice and shallow greeted by hundreds of mackerel, wrasse and leatherjackets. Under rocks and kelp hide octopus moray eels and other nocturnal creatures. The reef expands over a large distance heading to deeper water which in turn attracts big and small fish by there thousands.
A wicked under water cave opens out from 18m rising up to 10m as divers enter and eyes adjust to the dark, a school of hundreds and hundreds of big eyes come into view herding together while remaining slow and calm divers can be completely engulfed in the shoal. Protected from most directions of weather this makes this site a haven for both fish and us.
Night diving makes this site very different from the day with the roles reversed the octopus and eels come out and the wrasse and mackerel seek shelter. The cave itself changes dramatically also with no fish to be seen gives it quite an eerie appeal. Squid and flying fish show up to join in the fun.
The Dog
The rock that used to be part of Piercy Island is a tricky but rewarding dive. Swift currents make this site ideal for a drift dive. The currents attract big kingfish and huge shoals of Trevally and Kahwai can easily be seen from the surface. A good reason to dive this site is you never know what you are going to see. With ledges at 15m providing a good anchoring spot, divers can glance out into the blue where the fish seem to gather. Bronze whaler and Mako sharks are top dogs here adding even more excitement.
Bird Rock
This rock has a fine white covering thanks to the squadrons of gannets and shags. The source of the white covering is thanks to the abundant amount of fish stock attracting the birds.
Ruahine Shoal
This is not your ordinary day to day diving site; it is an exceptionally stunning dive site!
When you first arrive, you feel you are in the middle of nowhere, but once you drop into the blue, huge schools of Mau Mau literally block your view, spit through your reg and suddenly 35 metres of vis becomes your playground, you won’t want to go far though, as cruising round the pinnacle a mass of Demoiselles part like a curtain and schools of Trevally and Kahawai come to greet you.
The top of the pinnacle is barren with stubbly weed, notably this site is one of the unspoilt beauties of the Cavalli’s and a prize for the more experienced divers. Kingfish swim around in large shoals, as do the Bronze Whalers – if you’re lucky!
Takehe Reef
This is a pure adrenaline dive!
This isolated reef is approx 1.2 miles from the nearest land and usually has a current so it is a dive for the brave and experienced only. The top of the pinnacle is 8 metres from the surface and drops vertically to 40 metres. The walls are a profusion of brilliantly coloured anemones and sponges. Various rare fish can be seen including Gold Ribbon Groper and Lord Howe Island Coralfish often with sightings of Marlin and the occasional ‘Munchies’.
The Tunnels
This is one of the best dives under 16 metres you’ll ever experience!
This stunning site is as beautiful above the surface as it is below. Dive it right and it will be a current assisted dive where you’ll be propelled through some great swimthroughs with little or no effort. Once out of the Tunnels, a beautiful dive starts in earnest; around a couple of small pinnacles with yet more archways and swimthroughs to enjoy. From the very beginning of this dive you’ll be absolutely captivated; Spotted Groper, Stingrays and an array of fish around the pinnacles are all there for you to enjoy.
Neptunes Garden
Sheltered by two islands this shallow dive site is a haven for small fish who follow you as you dive. A favourite resting spot for fur seals who between their napping may come to see what you're doing. A safe shallow cruise for a second dive or a test ground for a bigger day.
Truelove Reef
At 32 – 35 metres it’s a serious dive with some serious scenery, watch out for the crayfish, they can be giants!
