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Log This Dive

Ngatamahine Point

Ngatamahine Point is a wall dive with real character, especially if you get it on a good day. We love dropping in on the northern side, letting the gentle current (most days, anyway) carry us along the rocky face. You’ll find butterfly perch in thick schools here, so thick they almost obscure the wall in places. Keep an eye on the cracks for green and red rock lobsters, tucked in deep, and look up often for eagle rays gliding past in the blue. The kelp forests are extensive at Ngatamahine, almost cathedral-like in the way the light filters through the canopy. It’s a great place to spot big-belly seahorses clinging to the stalks if you have the patience. The maximum depth of 21m makes it a relaxed dive, good for photographers keen to spend time in the kelp, or newer divers looking for a mellow wall experience. We’d suggest going on an incoming tide for the best visibility, which averages around 11m, but can push to 20m if you’re lucky. It’s exposed, so pick your day to avoid a lumpy ride.