Bay of Islands, New Zealand
    Oke Bay

    Cathedral Cave

    Best months: Jan–Mar

    Protected Area

    Oke Bay

    Why dive here

    With 163+ marine species recorded in the area - including blue sharks, blue whales, dolphins, great white sharks and hammerhead sharks - Cathedral Cave offers some of Bay of Islands's richest cave diving. Water ranges 16-22°C, warmest January, February, March.

    Best timeJan–Mar
    WetsuitA 5mm wetsuit
    Marine lifeBlue Sharks, Blue Whales, Dolphins, Great White Sharks and Hammerhead Sharks · 163+ species recorded
    Water16-22°C · warmest January, February, March
    CharacterCave dive
    StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

    Cathedral Cave is one of those places that genuinely feels special, even if you’ve been in a hundred caves before. We love the way the light filters down through the surface opening, hitting the deeper walls in shifting beams. It’s a proper cathedral, just underwater. Drop down near the entrance and you’ll find the walls plunging to 22 metres, sometimes more if you venture a little further out. Visibility here averages around 14 metres, which is usually plenty to appreciate the scale. Our favourite moments are often spent in the quieter corners at the back, where you might spot a dark shape that resolves into a black stingray or a moray eel peering out. Keep an eye out for nudibranchs too; this place is absolutely crawling with them, a genuine delight for macro photographers. Out towards the mouth, reef fish gather, and if you’re lucky, a sleek pelagic might cruise by. It's a comfortable dive for most, and the real appeal is simply soaking in the atmosphere.

    Safety Notes

    Overhead environment - never enter without proper cave/cavern training, redundant equipment, and a guideline.

    Today05:4718:3412h 47m daylightGolden hour 18:00

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    Conditions

    Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Cathedral Cave

    Cathedral Cave Ocean Conditions

    Monthly averages for Cathedral Cave, sourced from Open-Meteo marine data - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (-35.24, 174.22) (2km away)

    ExcellentGreatGoodFairPoor★Best monthsThis month

    October Averages

    Sea Temperature

    16°C

    61°F · Range: 14.9–16.8°C

    Air Temperature

    16°C

    60°F

    Wind Speed

    7.43 m/s

    14.4 knots

    Atmospheric Pressure

    1019.1 hPa

    Based on 4 years of monitoring data · Data sources: Open-Meteo marine data

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