Frenchmans Reef - Bay of Islands

Labyrinth, or Dave’s Cave as some of us call it, really is something special when conditions line up. We’re talking about a shallow, intricate tunnel system that winds right underneath the surf zone, from the Runway all the way to Black Rock. You feel the surge gently pushing you through these openings, the light from the surface playing tricks, shafts of blue cutting through the gloom. It’s not a deep dive, maxing out around 18 metres, but the experience is about the journey through the rock. This is a site for calm days, absolutely no question. If there’s any chop, the surge inside can get a bit much, making it genuinely tricky to navigate some of the tighter spots. But when it’s flat, we love drifting through, keeping an eye out for lurking crayfish in the cracks and those lionfish that seem to appear out of nowhere. We’ve spotted eagle rays cruising just outside the entrances, and a whitetip or two has been known to make an appearance. Visibility averages 16 metres, which is plenty for appreciating the scale of the caverns. It suits divers comfortable with overhead environments and a bit of a squeeze.

Location

Bay of Islands, New Zealand, Australasia

Coordinates

-35.228700, 174.181900

Type

cave

Marine Protected Area: Poroporo Island