Five Mile Bay
Why dive here
With 72+ marine species recorded in the area - including blue sharks, dolphins, hammerhead sharks, humpback whales and seahorses - Five Mile Bay offers some of Goat Island & Hauraki Gulf's richest drift diving. Water ranges 15-21°C, warmest January, February, March.
Five Mile Bay is one of those easy-access spots that’s just, well, easy. You’ve got decent parking, toilets, and a grassy area to spread out your gear, all making for a fuss-free start. The entry is a gentle wade across 50 metres of sand before the slope drops away, bottoming out around 10 metres for most recreational divers. Visibility averages 12 metres, often a bit clearer over the sandy flats, though you can stir up some silt at the deeper edges. We’ve spotted little black cormorants often, even a rainbow trout once, which was a surprise, plus the usual assortment of small reef dwellers. It’s a good choice for newer divers or anyone looking for a relaxed bimble, especially on a calm easterly day when the chop stays away.
Typical Five Mile Bay Dive Profile
Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.
Safety Notes
Drift dive - carry a surface marker buoy (SMB) and stay with your group. Brief the current direction before entry.
Reviews for Five Mile Bay
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Five Mile Bay
Five Mile Bay Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for Five Mile Bay, sourced from Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU) - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (-36.93, 175.86) (22km away)
October Averages
Sea Temperature
16°C
60°F · Range: 14.5–16.9°C
Current Speed
1.41 cm/s
Direction: SE (135°)
Chlorophyll-a
0.497 mg/m³
Moderate productivity
Salinity
34.91 PSU
Based on 4 years of monitoring data · Data sources: Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU)
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