reef

Log This Dive

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.