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THE TWINS, Waikato

The Twins, near Whitianga, is one of those spots that just delivers when the conditions line up. We usually find ourselves dropping in around high slack tide, which helps keep the swim through at 10 metres from turning into a washing machine. The structure itself is a pair of rocky pinnacles, hence the name, and we love the way the light filters down into the gaps between them. You’ll see plenty of the usual suspects here: schools of little Pacific sardines shimmering past, and the flash of butterfly perch darting in and out of crevices. We’ve had some cracking encounters with black stingrays gliding over the seabed, and once even watched an Australian spiny pipehorse doing its best impression of a piece of kelp. Visibility averages around 11 metres, but on a good day, after a stretch of settled weather, it can push past 15 metres, which really opens up the place. Avoid it after heavy rain, though, as that average vis can plummet. It's a dive that suits those with a bit of experience, especially if you want to explore the deeper sections on the north and south sides. Expect to spend your time exploring the nooks and crannies, keeping an eye out for the subtle movements of green wrasse and southern reef squid.