CORALIE BAY - GMI - Goat Island & Hauraki Gulf

Blue Lagoon at Hastings Reef is a proper shallow dive, maxing out around 13 metres. What we really love here is the sheer density of small stuff. It’s not about huge pelagics or dramatic walls, though there is a nice wall feature that drops away from the shallows. Our favourite part has to be the sandy patches, absolutely riddled with sea cucumbers, including leopard and pineapple varieties, just doing their thing. Keep your eyes peeled low, near the sand, and along the coral. We've seen some fantastic decorator crabs camouflaging themselves perfectly, and the nudibranchs are often out and about if you take your time. You’ll spot schools of Yellow Spotted Trevally cruising by, and the cauliflower corals are particularly vibrant. It’s also a solid spot for sunburst and racoon butterflyfish. This site really suits divers who enjoy a slower pace, hunting for the smaller, more elusive creatures. If you’re into macro photography, or just like finding weird and wonderful things tucked into crevices, this is your kind of place.

Location
Goat Island & Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand, Australasia
Coordinates
-36.602800, 175.796000
Type
reef

Marine Protected Area: Rabbit Island

Best Time to Dive in Goat Island & Hauraki Gulf

The warmest water temperatures in Goat Island & Hauraki Gulf occur in February, averaging 22.4°C. The coolest conditions are in August at 14.1°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 21.4°C
  • February: 22.4°C
  • March: 21.8°C
  • April: 19.8°C
  • May: 17.4°C
  • June: 15.3°C
  • July: 14.1°C
  • August: 14.1°C
  • September: 14.7°C
  • October: 16.3°C
  • November: 18.5°C
  • December: 20.3°C

Nearby Dive Sites in Goat Island & Hauraki Gulf

Nearest Dive Centres to CORALIE BAY - GMI

Marine Life in Goat Island & Hauraki Gulf

Home to 77 recorded species including 43 reef fish, 11 sharks & rays, 3 whales & dolphins, 3 crabs & lobsters, 3 other, 3 sea snails & nudibranchs.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for CORALIE BAY - GMI

Based on average water temperature of 18.0°C, currents 2 cm/s.

  • Wetsuit (3-5mm) - comfortable for 18°C water
  • 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