reef

Log This Dive

THE BOOK CASE - GMI

The Book Case, tucked onto the northwestern side of Great Mercury Island, lives up to its name. We love diving along this wall; it’s a vertical library of marine life. The reef drops sharply, not a bad thing, but be mindful of your depth – it goes down to around 25-30m though we rarely venture past 15m. Visibility averages about 9m, which is decent for the region, but it’s the sheer density of fish that really stands out here. We've seen snapper in impressive numbers, along with rig and plenty of those flat New Zealand soles hugging the bottom. Keep an eye out for short-tail stingrays cruising past. This spot also has a reputation for larger pelagics, and we’ve had good luck seeing bronze whalers here, especially when there's a bit of water movement. It's a dive that rewards a slow drift along the wall, letting the current do some of the work, and just absorbing the activity. This one is best for experienced divers comfortable with deeper walls and potential currents, offering a solid chance to encounter some of the Hauraki Gulf's bigger residents.