Taharoa Domain (Kai Iwi Lakes)
Protected Area
Ruawai
Why dive here
With 163+ marine species recorded in the area - including blue sharks, blue whales, dolphins, great white sharks and hammerhead sharks - Taharoa Domain (Kai Iwi Lakes) offers some of Bay of Islands's richest muck diving. Water ranges 16-22°C, warmest January, February, March.
The Kai Iwi Lakes, part of Taharoa Domain, offer a freshwater dive experience that’s a real change of pace from the usual Bay of Islands ocean sites. We found the eastern end of the lake a good spot to get in; it's shallow at first, maybe half a meter, before quickly dropping to around 10 meters. The bottom here is soft, fine white sand, shifting to a siltier texture as you go deeper. You’ll be looking for koura, the freshwater crayfish, perhaps a brown or rainbow trout, and perch. Visibility averages around eight meters, which is decent for a lake, and with a maximum depth of 14 meters, it’s a relaxed dive suitable for newer divers or those looking to refine their buoyancy in calm conditions.
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Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Taharoa Domain (Kai Iwi Lakes)
Taharoa Domain (Kai Iwi Lakes) Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for Taharoa Domain (Kai Iwi Lakes), sourced from Open-Meteo marine data - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (-35.24, 174.22) (2km away)
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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