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OPITO BAY

Opito Bay, just a short hop from Goat Island, has always been a bit of a local secret, even with its recent scallop bed closure. We love it because it’s a brilliant reminder that you don’t need dramatic walls or colourful corals to find incredible life. This is a sandy bottom dive, maxing out at 13 metres, but don’t let that fool you. On a good day, with visibility around eight metres, you’ll find the bottom crawling with surprises. We’ve spent hours here, noses to the sand, spotting octopus peeking from shells, a parade of sea slugs in every colour, and gurnards scuttling past. Our favourite part? The sheer number of triplefins – mottled, spotted, blue dot, oblique-swimming – they’re everywhere, flitting over every ripple. We’ve even had fleeting visits from lemon sole and the occasional blue shark cruising by. It’s a macro photographer’s dream and a perfect spot for divers who love slow, observant dives, especially when you’re done with the usual reef hustle.