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Fairchild Reef

Fairchild Reef, despite its average visibility, offers something genuinely special for divers willing to look a little closer. We’ve had some of our most rewarding New Zealand dives here, particularly when the wind drops and the easterly swell stays away. This site is a sprawling kelp forest, thick and green, with rocky gutters and holes carving through it. You're constantly pushing through the fronds, revealing surprises like big nests of crayfish tucked into crevices. We love dropping in and just letting the slight current push us along, scanning for those elusive dory or the distinctive shape of a smooth skate on the sand. Visibility hovers around 6 metres on a good day, but don't let that deter you; it forces you to slow down, to really examine the reef. The juvenile snapper and parore darting through the kelp are a constant, and if you're lucky, you might even spot a kingfish cruising past in summer. Just keep an ear out for the boat traffic, especially in peak season. This is a site for the patient observer, someone who enjoys a more intimate dive, seeking out the small details rather than grand vistas.