Salt Aotearoa - Goat Island & Hauraki Gulf
Salt Aotearoa operates out of Goat Island Marine Reserve and the wider Hauraki Gulf, offering easy access to New Zealand's oldest marine protected area. We find this area reliably delivers good numbers of snapper and stingrays, especially in the shallower sections. It’s a solid choice for newer divers or those looking for an easy day trip from Auckland, with shore entry options available. If you’re keen on temperate water diving with plenty of fish life, this is a good bet.
- Location
- Goat Island & Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand, Australasia
- Coordinates
- -36.724440, 175.714400
- Phone
- +64212967292
- [email protected]
- Website
- https://www.saltaotearoa.co.nz
- Certification Agencies
- SSI
- Courses
- SSI Freediving Certifications, Beginner Freediving Workshops, Huntress Experiences (Spearfishing/Kaimoana gathering)
- Address
- 289 kuaotunu-wharekaho Road, Whitianga, 3592, NZL
- Languages
- English, Māori
- Price Range
- budget
Dive Sites Near Salt Aotearoa
Salt Aotearoa provides access to 15 dive sites in Goat Island & Hauraki Gulf.
- 4 mile reef (reef)
- 4 mile reef (reef)
- Acacia Bay (reef)
- Acacia Bay (reef)
- Aldermens- Bishops Hat (cave)
- Aldermens- Bishops Hat (reef)
- Aldermens- Fish Factory (wall)
- Aldermens- Fish Factory (pinnacle)
- Aldermens- HoneyComb (cave)
- Aldermens- HoneyComb (reef)
- Aldermens-Middle Middle (reef)
- Aldermens-Middle Middle (wreck)
- Aldermens- Mooring Bay (wall)
- Aldermens- Mooring Bay (reef)
- Anemone Boulders (reef)
Other Dive Centres in Goat Island & Hauraki Gulf
- Cathedral Cove Dive Ltd - ["PADI"]
- Dive Doctor
- Dive HQ Auckland - ["PADI"]
- Dive Tatapouri
- Dive Zone Tauranga - ["PADI"]
- Dive Zone Whitianga - ["PADI"]
- Epic SCUBA - SSI
- GET WET WAIKATO
- GlobalDive
- MUSA DIVING
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
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 Marine Life
- Snapper (Pagrus auratus) - Reef Fish
- Short-beaked Common Dolphin (Delphinus delphis) - Whales & Dolphins
- European fan-worm (Sabella spallanzanii) - Worms
- Asian paddle crab (Charybdis (Charybdis) japonica) - Crabs & Lobsters
- Red Rock Lobster (Jasus edwardsii) - Crabs & Lobsters
- Smooth hammerhead (Sphyrna zygaena) - Sharks & Rays
- Bluefin Gurnard (Chelidonichthys kumu) - Reef Fish
- Bronze whaler (Carcharhinus brachyurus) - Sharks & Rays
- dory (Zeus faber) - Reef Fish
- California Yellowtail (Seriola lalandi) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Goat Island & Hauraki Gulf
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