Log This Dive

South Canyon Watamu

Waione, tucked into Tuparehuia, feels like a secret, a quiet corner of the Bay of Islands where you can just *be*. We love it for its simplicity. Forget deep dives; the maximum eight metres here is all about taking your time, really noticing the small stuff. The bottom is a jumble of rocky formations and boulders, perfect habitat for those creatures that thrive in the shallows. You’ll weave through thick kelp strands, keeping an eye out for Big-belly seahorses clinging on, or the flash of a New Zealand Scaly-headed Triplefin darting between rocks. Visibility averages around seven metres, which, for a site this shallow, feels perfectly adequate – it actually enhances that feeling of intimacy. You’ll spot kina everywhere, and if you’re lucky, a koura peeking from a crevice. It’s a gentle dive, suited to photographers or anyone who appreciates the quieter side of coastal New Zealand, perhaps with a touch of swell gently rocking you.