True Love Reef

Best months: Jan–Mar

Protected Area

Totara North

Why dive here

With 163+ marine species recorded in the area - including blue sharks, blue whales, dolphins, great white sharks and hammerhead sharks - True Love Reef offers some of Bay of Islands's richest reef 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

CharacterReef dive

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

True Love Reef in the Bay of Islands is one of our picks for a reason. It's a proper pinnacle dive, those big rock formations that rise from the deep, with their summits just shy of the surface. We always feel a real sense of exposure here, especially when the current is pushing through and you're hanging onto a rock, watching schools of blue maomao swirl and pulse in the open water. The reef itself is a tapestry of life, not just the fish, but the colourful sponges and anemones that cling to every surface. Look for the little mimic blennies peeking out of their holes, or the crimson cleaner fish darting around bigger species. We've seen short-tail stingrays cruise by in the sand channels between the pinnacles, and if you’re lucky, a fleeting glimpse of a manta ray out in the blue. Keep an eye on your depth here, it’s easy to drift deeper than planned chasing a yellowtail. This spot really suits divers who appreciate intricate reef systems and aren't afraid of a bit of current.