Butterfly Wall - Fiordland
Butterfly Wall, nestled deep in the fiords, has a real sense of being somewhere wild and untouched. We usually drop into a calm cove, the stony sand gradually giving way to rock, and from there, the wall just drops away. It's not a deep dive, maxing out at about 19m, but that’s plenty to explore the dense kelp forests and the big schools of butterfly perch that give the place its name. They truly are everywhere, shimmering orange and yellow, often so thick they dim the light filtering down from the surface. Visibility here averages around 11m, which might not sound like much, but in Fiordland's green-blue light, it feels perfectly clear. As you cruise along the wall, keep an eye out for the small, delicate black corals clinging to the darker overhangs – a real treat to spot. We often find red rock lobster tucked into crevices, their antennae waving gently. It’s a site that really makes you feel like you’re exploring, perfect for divers who appreciate the unique, cooler water ecosystems and don’t mind a bit of a journey to get there.
- Location
- Fiordland, New Zealand, Australasia
- Coordinates
- -44.609200, 167.835900
- Type
- wall
- Maximum Depth
- 15-40m
Marine Protected Area: Piopiotahi
Best Time to Dive in Fiordland
The warmest water temperatures in Fiordland occur in February, averaging 15.7°C. The coolest conditions are in August at 9.6°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 15.6°C
- February: 15.7°C
- March: 15.1°C
- April: 13.8°C
- May: 12.4°C
- June: 10.8°C
- July: 9.8°C
- August: 9.6°C
- September: 10.4°C
- October: 11.2°C
- November: 13.3°C
- December: 14.2°C
Nearby Dive Sites in Fiordland
- Aramoana Mole (reef)
- Aramoana Mole
- Bridal Veil (reef)
- Bridal Veil
- Butterfly Wall (reef)
- Cray’s Crack (wreck)
- Dale Green (reef)
- Dale Point (cave)
- Dive Otago
- Fox Cove (reef)
- Greenstone Beach (reef)
- Greenstone Point (wall)
- Harrison Cove (reef)
- Marakura Bay (reef)
- Penguin Cove (reef)
Marine Life in Fiordland
Home to 49 recorded species including 21 reef fish, 10 sharks & rays, 9 other, 3 whales & dolphins, 3 seagrass & algae, 1 crabs & lobsters.
Notable Species
- Red Rock Lobster (Jasus edwardsii) - Crabs & Lobsters
- Sandperch (Parapercis colias) - Reef Fish
- Cape Shark (Squalus acanthias) - Sharks & Rays
- Blue Shark (Prionace glauca) - Sharks & Rays
- Rig (Galeorhinus galeus) - Sharks & Rays
- Auckland Sea Lion (Phocarctos hookeri) - Whales & Dolphins
- Ghost Shark (Callorhinchus milii)
- Lemon Sole (Pelotretis flavilatus) - Reef Fish
- blackfoot pāua (Haliotis iris) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
- Bluefin Gurnard (Chelidonichthys kumu) - Reef Fish
- Carpet sea squirt (Didemnum vexillum)
- Rig (Mustelus lenticulatus) - Sharks & Rays
- Dark Ghost Shark (Hydrolagus novaezealandiae)
- Soldier (Pseudolabrus miles) - Reef Fish
- Smooth Skate (Dipturus innominatus) - Sharks & Rays
- Bugler (Notopogon lilliei) - Reef Fish
- Jack Mackerel (Trachurus murphyi) - Reef Fish
- Light-bulb sea squirt (Clavelina lepadiformis)
- Banded bellowsfish (Centriscops humerosus) - Reef Fish
- Pale Ghost Shark (Hydrolagus bemisi)
Recommended Packing List for Butterfly Wall
Based on average water temperature of 12.7°C, currents 10 cm/s.
- Wetsuit (5-7mm) - recommended for 13°C water
- Hood & Gloves (3-5mm) - helps retain warmth
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories