Whangamumu Reef
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 - Whangamumu Reef offers some of Bay of Islands's richest reef diving. Water ranges 16-22°C, warmest January, February, March.
Whangamumu Reef is one of those spots in the Bay of Islands that feels a bit like a secret. It’s not about dramatic drop-offs, but more about the sheer number of fish swirling around you. We love the feeling of being completely enveloped by schools of demoiselles and maomao; sometimes they’re so thick the light gets dappled. The top of the reef sits at about 10 meters, and it’s a lively place, gently sloping to 14 meters before hitting kelp-covered boulders. Keep an eye out for snapper patrolling through the kelp, and we’ve often spotted eastern king wrasse darting between crevices. Our favourite thing about Whangamumu is poking around the small caves in the shallows; they’re often home to red and packhorse crayfish, sometimes a moray eel peering out. Visibility here hovers around 7 meters, so it’s not about seeing huge distances, but rather the close-up, busy action right in front of you. This is a great dive for anyone who enjoys a relaxed pace and wants to feel truly immersed in a shoal of fish.
Typical Whangamumu Reef Dive Profile
Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.
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Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Whangamumu Reef
Whangamumu Reef Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for Whangamumu Reef, 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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