Sonic Boom Cave - Bay of Islands

The Tugboat Boris is one of those wrecks we keep coming back to. Sitting upright at 26 metres, it’s not enormous, maybe 30 metres long, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in character. We often find a gang of barracuda just hanging out over the bow, their eyes following you as you descend. It’s got an open wheelhouse, easy to swim through, and if you peek into the engine room, you’ll usually spot some bigger pufferfish tucked away, almost shy. What makes Boris special for us is how quickly it’s become a vibrant artificial reef. You’ll see angelfish drifting over the decks, and if you look closely around the props, there are often lionfish – beautiful, yes, but watch where you put your hands. Our favourite find here is often the nurse sharks, usually snoozing underneath the deeper parts of the wreck, sometimes a couple of them. Visibility averages a comfortable 22 metres, making it a great dive for anyone comfortable with a bit of depth and keen to explore a friendly, well-colonised wreck.

Location

Bay of Islands, New Zealand, Australasia

Coordinates

-35.181800, 174.314900

Type

wreck

Marine Protected Area: Oke Bay