Dale Green - Fiordland
Hommer Reef is one of those spots that just keeps giving, especially when the current isn’t ripping through. We usually drop in just off the pinnacle, which breaks the surface, then let the cone-shaped reef guide us down to around 23 metres. It’s an easy circumnavigation if conditions are calm, perfect for really taking your time. The schooling fish here are what we love most. Think thick clouds of blue maomao, trevally, and kahawai, sometimes so dense they dim the light filtering down from the surface. Keep an eye out into the blue for kingfish cruising by, they often appear out of nowhere. We’ve even had a few fleeting glimpses of short-tail stingrays on the sand patches at the base. For a relatively shallow pinnacle dive, Hommer packs a punch, suiting divers who appreciate big fish action and an easygoing reef exploration. It’s our pick for a relaxing dive with plenty to see without needing to go deep.
- Location
- Fiordland, New Zealand, Australasia
- Coordinates
- -44.598600, 167.805500
- Type
- reef
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 - 15-40m (wall)
- Butterfly Wall (reef)
- Cray’s Crack (wreck)
- 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 Dale Green
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