Waiwiri Rock
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 - Waiwiri Rock offers some of Bay of Islands's richest pinnacle diving. Water ranges 16-22°C, warmest January, February, March.
Waiwiri Rock is one of those places that feels like a lucky dip, even if we know what’s generally around. This isn't a deep dive, mostly hovering around the 15-20m mark, but it’s packed. The entire site is essentially a series of massive boulders and smaller rocks, which means plenty of nooks and crannies. We’ve seen enormous schools of trevally here, swirling so tightly they almost black out the sun, and the vibrant blue maomao add a constant flash of colour. It’s the sort of dive where you keep your eyes peeled for something bigger cruising by, with bronze whalers and even hammerheads making appearances, especially in summer. Our favourite time to hit Waiwiri is on an incoming tide. The visibility often bumps up a few metres, and everything seems a bit more active. You’ll find New Zealand scaly-headed triplefins perched on the rocks, and those little crimson cleaner fish are always busy. It’s a great site for divers who appreciate the thrill of the unexpected and enjoy spending time exploring rocky terrain.
Typical Waiwiri Rock Dive Profile
Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.
Safety Notes
Depth of 30m - Advanced Open Water certification recommended.
Always perform a 3-minute safety stop at 5m before surfacing.
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Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Waiwiri Rock
Waiwiri Rock Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for Waiwiri Rock, 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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