Greenstone Beach
Protected Area
Piopiotahi
Why dive here
With 46+ marine species recorded in the area - including blue sharks, great white sharks, seahorses and southern right whales - Greenstone Beach offers some of Fiordland's richest reef diving. Water ranges 10-16°C, warmest January, February, March.
Le Tunnel de la Grande Vigie is a real adventure, and frankly, we love it precisely because it's not a guarantee. You're looking at a 40-minute boat ride from Port-Louis, and it's only really doable between June and October, and even then, conditions need to be just right. When they are, though, it’s worth the effort. The site itself is a journey. We start with a beautiful arch, then slip into a 20-meter tunnel. It's not a dark, claustrophobic squeeze; light filters in, illuminating the sponges and corals that plaster the walls in purples, reds, and yellows. Keep an eye out for lobsters tucked into crevices, and we’ve spotted plenty of shrimp and spider crabs scuttling about. Exiting the tunnel, you're on a vibrant reef, where barracudas often hang in the blue, and angelfish flit past. Visibility averages 15 meters, which is plenty for appreciating the scale of the formations. This spot is definitely for the diver who enjoys a bit of a chase and wants to feel like they’ve earned their dive.
Safety Notes
Cold water this month (avg 10°C). Drysuit or thick wetsuit (7mm+) recommended.
Reviews for Greenstone Beach
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Greenstone Beach
Greenstone Beach Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for Greenstone Beach, sourced from Copernicus Marine satellite data
August Averages
Sea Temperature
9.59°C
49°F
Current Speed
11.4 cm/s
Direction: NE (37.9°)
Chlorophyll-a
0.191 mg/m³
Clear water
Salinity
34.63 PSU
Data sources: Copernicus Marine Service (EU)
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