Diving in Bay of Islands
Why dive here
Bay of Islands offers some of New Zealand's richest diving, with 163+ marine species recorded in the area - including blue sharks, blue whales, dolphins, great white sharks and hammerhead sharks.
The Bay of Islands offers a real mixed bag for diving, which we appreciate. You’ve got the famous Rainbow Warrior wreck, of course, but don't overlook the natural reefs and walls around the islands. We love the dramatic drop-offs and the feeling of space out here, especially on a calm day when the visibility stretches out. Diving the Rainbow Warrior is an experience in itself. The history is palpable, and the wreck is now home to schools of snapper and koheru that swirl around the structure. We’ve spotted green turtles here, lazily finning past the bow, and once saw a ribbonfish gracefully undulating in the blue. Keep an eye on the current though, it can pick up around the wreck and make for a lively drift. Beyond the wreck, the reef dives can be stunning. Look for blackfoot pāua clinging to rocks and the unusual banded bellowsfish drifting near kelp forests. In summer, the water warms up and the visibility can hit a comfortable 15-20 meters. We always suggest an early morning dive to beat any crowds and catch the light filtering through the water. It’s New Zealand diving, so expect a bit of chill, but the sheer variety keeps us coming back.
Bay of Islands Dive Site Map
Dive sites and dive centres in Bay of Islands
Bay of Islands Dive Sites
46 dive sites in Bay of Islands
3 ways
Diving Casa del Mundo in Lake Atitlan is definitely a unique experience, more about the novelty than a riot of marine life. We usually boat out to this spot, dropping into the cool, freshwater. The main draw here is the volcanic activity; push your hand into the sandy bottom around 10-12 meters and you’ll feel the warmth from the earth itself. Visibility averages around 4 meters, so it’s an intimate dive, perfect for divers looking for something a bit different, rather than a coral spectacle. You might spot a few Mozambique mouth-breeders darting amongst the submerged rock formations, but really, it’s all about feeling that geothermal heat.
3 ways
Three Ways, tucked into the Bay of Islands, is one of those sites that just feels like home. We’ve probably spent more bottom time here than anywhere else in Northland, and for good reason. It’s an archway system cutting right through Te Anaputa Island, so you get this fantastic play of light and shadow, especially when the sun hits it just right in the late morning. The site is a network of swim-throughs and small caves, perfect for exploring without needing to be a tech diver. Max depth hits around 15 metres, so it’s forgiving for newer divers but still offers plenty to see for the more experienced. Keep an eye out for Bulldog Stargazers buried in the sand patches just inside the arches – they’re masters of camouflage. We’ve also had some cracking encounters with larger stingrays here, especially in the warmer months when they seem to cruise through the channels. Look up, and you’ll often see schools of demoiselles and goatfish darting around. It’s a great spot for an easy, leisurely dive, suited to anyone who loves a bit of cave exploration without the serious commitment.
Big Eyes Lair
Big Eyes Lair is one of our picks in the Bay of Islands, especially when you’re after something a bit different. The main draw here is a fantastic swim-through, kicking off around 24 metres and running for a good 35 metres before you pop out at 18 metres into a patch of kelpy boulders. It’s dark in there, properly dark in places, and we love how your torch beam picks out the big eyes of the resident Big Eye fish, alongside the odd scorpionfish tucked into a crevice. You’ll probably spot crayfish antennae waving from cracks, and if you’re lucky, a moray eel peering out. Visibility averages around 15 metres, which is decent enough for navigating the tunnel and checking out the Maomao and demoiselles schooling around the entrance and exit. We’d suggest a dive light even on a sunny day, just to appreciate the cave properly. It’s a great dive for anyone comfortable with confined spaces and keen to explore a natural tunnel rather than just a reef wall.
Big Eyes Lair
Devil’s Grotto North is one of our favourite dive sites when we’re in Grand Cayman, especially if you’re looking for something a bit different from the standard reef drift. We love the dramatic topography here, a real maze of huge coral heads sculpted with swim-throughs and chimneys. Sunlight shafts pierce the gloom, illuminating the schools of silversides that often pack the grottoes so densely you can barely see through them. It’s an immersive experience, feeling the cooler water as you duck under an archway, then emerging into the brighter open water again. Keep an eye out for the smaller critters tucked into crevices – we’ve often spotted roughhead blennies and the shy brotula here. Tarpon lurk in the shadows, unperturbed by divers. While it’s often touted for beginners, we think experienced divers will appreciate the intricate layout and the chance for some fantastic light play photography. Maximum depth is around 15 metres, so you get plenty of bottom time to explore. We’d suggest going in the morning before it gets too busy.
Bird Rock
Director's Bay is one of those spots we always point people to for an easy, rewarding shore dive. You’re kicking out over a sandy slope that slowly drops to the reef wall, which eventually meets up with the Tugboat site if you head west. That wall is where the real show starts; we’ve found some fantastic macro life tucked into the crevices there. Think tiny nine-lined gobies, often a spotfin dragonet or two, and the vibrant orange ball corallimorphs clinging to the overhangs. Keep an eye out for a hawksbill turtle cruising by – they’re fairly regular visitors here. Our favourite way to dive it is early morning. The light paints the corals beautifully, and you often have the place to yourself before the day boats arrive. The current is usually mild, making it a relaxed drift along the wall if there’s any push. It's a fantastic site for photographers focusing on small stuff, but the sheer number of creole wrasse and schoolmasters makes for a lively wider scene too. Maximum depth around 21 metres means plenty of bottom time, and the average 22-metre visibility rarely disappoints.
Bird Rock
Bird Rock is one of those sites we always recommend, especially if you’re comfortable with a bit of a push. It’s essentially a big rock poking out of the water, and what makes it special is how the currents play around it. We’ve found the eastern side often offers the best show, especially on an incoming tide. You’ll drift past walls covered in sponges and anemones, feeling the water move around you, keeping an eye out for kingfish zipping by. The maximum depth here is 19m, but it’s the sheer density of life in that shallower zone that grabs you. Look closely into the cracks and you'll spot moray eels, crayfish, and those iridescent Luculentus wrasse. Our favourite dives here have been in late winter when the fur seals are often lounging on the rock. They’ll frequently drop in for a swim, twisting and turning just out of reach, a really playful interaction. Visibility averages 16m, which is decent for New Zealand, giving you enough clarity to appreciate the schools of butterfly perch and snapper that hang in the current. This site really shines for experienced divers who appreciate a dynamic drift and aren’t afraid of a bit of movement.
Blue Maomao Arch (Bay of Islands)
The Blue Maomao Arch, tucked into a sheltered bay, might sound like a simple dive, but we think it’s a real cracker. Drop in, and you’re immediately enveloped by the site’s namesake, those electric blue maomao. They hang in the archway, a shimmering curtain you can swim right through. It’s shallow, maybe five metres, but don’t just pop through and leave. We love lingering here, letting the light play off their scales. Follow the contour out, and you hit boulders and a mix of kelp and kina barrens. The maximum depth is 17 metres, which means plenty of bottom time to poke around. We've often found snapper hiding in the nooks, and we keep an eye out for stingrays gliding over the sand. Visibility averages around 16 metres, giving you a good view of the rocky reef and its inhabitants. This spot is perfect for photographers, or anyone who enjoys a relaxed, fish-filled exploration without too much depth.
Blue Maomao Arch (Bay of Islands)
E6 is a classic Somosomo Strait dive, a substantial pinnacle rising from the deep, breaking the surface at low tide. We’ve found it busy, but for good reason. Down to its maximum 22m, the corals are healthy, with plenty of soft corals swaying in the often mild currents. Look for the resident fluted and small giant clams, and keep an eye on the blue – we’ve seen whitetip reef sharks cruising past, and there’s always a chance of something bigger like a scalloped hammerhead or even a shortfin mako in the right season. It's a great spot for solid wide-angle photos, especially when the light is good.
Boulder Garden
Boulder Garden is one of our favourites in the Bay of Islands, especially when we’re after a relaxed, meandering dive. Don’t let the 16-meter max depth fool you; there’s plenty to explore. We love the way the light filters through the kelp, dappling the large, sponge-covered boulders that give the site its name. It’s a genuinely pretty place, a riot of orange and purple sponges clinging to the rock. You’ll want to take your time here, poking around the nooks and crannies. We’ve had some fantastic encounters with Longfinned Triplefins darting between the rocks and spotted the odd Clown Toado hiding in plain sight. Keep an eye out for nudibranchs – they’re often tucked away amongst the various Neptune's necklace seaweed. Visibility here is usually great, often pushing 20 metres, so you get a good sense of the gentle slope as you descend. It's a perfect site for photographers or anyone who enjoys a slower pace, just soaking it all in. We often combine it with a surface interval spent watching Sooty Shearwaters dip and dive.
Boulder Garden
Eel Valley is one of our favourite spots in southeast Curaçao, especially for a relaxed afternoon boat dive. Don’t let the name fool you, you’re not really here for the eels anymore – think of it as a historical nod. Instead, we love dropping onto the sandy bottom at around 12 metres, often finding the sand rays lazily sifting for snacks. From there, it’s a gentle swim towards the wall, a lovely coral slope that bottoms out around 20 metres. The real draw here is the sheer density of the smaller reef fish. We’ve seen entire schools of Glassy Sweepers shimmering like liquid silver in the overhangs, and the wall itself is alive with Yellowhead Wrasses, Parrotfish, and plenty of Coney. Keep an eye out for the tiny Four-fin Blennies perched on coral heads and the bright pop of Candy Basslets hiding in crevices. Visibility averages a solid 20-25 metres, making for some great wide-angle photo opportunities of the reef structure. It’s a perfect site for newer divers or those who just want to drift along and observe the details, with current usually being minimal. You might even spot a rogue golf ball or two from the nearby course, an amusing souvenir of the surface world.
Bowling Alley
Bowling Alley has this classic Bay of Islands feel to it, that rugged, slightly wild beauty. It’s not a deep dive, peaking around 15 metres, but we love how the light plays through the kelp. You’re weaving through these massive boulders, all carpeted in the stuff, and that’s where the real hunt begins. Look closely and you’ll find crayfish tucked into crevices, moray eels peering out. It’s a very fishy dive, as the local skippers say. We’ve seen huge schools of butterfly perch here, clouds of them, and plenty of those vibrant blue maomao zipping by. Keep an eye out for a Southern Eagle Ray gliding over the sand patches between the rocks, or even a rig shark tucked away. It's an ideal spot for newer divers, or anyone who just wants a relaxed, beautiful dive without the pressure of depth. Our favourite time to visit is mid-morning, just after the sun has properly risen but before the afternoon chop can sometimes pick up.
Bowling Alley
We’re big fans of El Aquario, especially for a second dive or when you’re after something a bit more relaxed. It’s exactly what the name promises: a big, natural fish tank. We usually drop in on the top reef, around 8 meters, which is covered in barrel sponges and big plate corals. Then it's a short kick over to the wall, where the real show begins. The name El Aquario really clicks once you’re hanging out by that wall. You'll find yourself surrounded by so many small, colourful fish, it’s hard to know where to look first. We’ve spent whole safety stops just watching squadrons of fairy basslets darting in and out of the coral, or spotting a plump puffer trying to look inconspicuous. Look closely and you might even find a shy mottled conger moray peeking from a crevice. The reef itself has some impressive tube sponges and azure vases, but it's the sheer density of the smaller stuff that makes it for us. Visibility is usually good, around 20 meters, making it an easy, enjoyable dive for anyone. It's a great spot to practice your photography, too, with plenty of willing subjects.
Bay of Islands Dive Centres
3 dive shops and operators in Bay of Islands
Ocean Wildlife in Bay of Islands
163 species recorded in Bay of Islands
Bay of Islands Daylight & Sunrise/Sunset
Sunrise and sunset times for Bay of Islands, calculated from coordinates
Today - Monday 24 August
Sunrise
06:55
Sunset
17:58
Daylight
11h 3m
Golden Hour
17:24
First light (dawn) at 06:29 · Last light (dusk) at 18:24
Monthly Averages
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 05:25 | 19:41 | 14h 17m |
| Feb | 05:57 | 19:20 | 13h 23m |
| Mar | 06:22 | 18:44 | 12h 22m |
| Apr | 06:47 | 18:01 | 11h 14m |
| May | 07:11 | 17:29 | 10h 18m |
| JunShortest | 07:30 | 17:18 | 9h 48m |
| Jul | 07:30 | 17:29 | 9h 59m |
| AugNow | 07:06 | 17:52 | 10h 46m |
| Sep | 06:25 | 18:14 | 11h 50m |
| Oct | 05:42 | 18:37 | 12h 55m |
| Nov | 05:10 | 19:07 | 13h 57m |
| DecLongest | 05:03 | 19:34 | 14h 30m |
Times are approximate local times based on longitude. Actual times may vary slightly depending on the exact timezone observed in Bay of Islands.
Where to Stay near Bay of Islands
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Marine Protected Areas near Bay of Islands
48 protected areas near Bay of Islands - please respect local regulations when diving
2B2 b
Whangarei Harbour Wildlife Refuge
Poor Knights Islands
Long Bay-Okura
Te Matuku
Cape Rodney-Okakari Point
Tawharanui
Motu Manawa-Pollen Island
Whangarei Harbour
Mokohinau Islands
Waipu River Mouth Wildlife Refuge
Ruakaka Wildlife Refuge
Showing 12 largest of 48
Getting to Bay of Islands
Kerikeri
Auckland
Whangarei
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