Five Mile Bay - Goat Island & Hauraki Gulf

Koi Island is one of those Raja Ampat sites we’d happily dive on repeat. It's a slope, not a wall, and that subtle angle really lets the light play on the corals as you drift. We love the feeling of being gently pushed along, spotting white-tip and black-tip reef sharks cruising below. Look closely for the Pygmy seahorses, both Denise’s and Bargibant’s are often nestled in the gorgonians. The reef here starts shallow, around five meters, and then slopes to a maximum of 21 meters, which makes it an ideal spot for a longer, relaxed dive. We’ve had some truly fantastic drifts with visibility often hitting 20 meters, though it can drop a bit if the currents are really ripping. You'll pass schools of fusiliers, sweetlips, and snapper, often finding a cruising eagle ray in the blue. Keep an eye out for the Flame Cardinalfish and Snakehead Cowries, they’re just lovely. It’s a site that suits anyone comfortable with a gentle drift, offering plenty of time to soak it all in.

Location
Goat Island & Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand, Australasia
Coordinates
-38.760800, 176.067200
Type
drift

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 Five Mile Bay

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 Five Mile Bay

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