Diving Guide to Bay of Plenty

About Bay of Plenty

The Bay of Plenty offers some of New Zealand's most dramatic and unique diving, headlined by the active marine volcano of White Island and pristine offshore volcanic islands. White Island, known as Whakaari, provides an extraordinary diving experience where divers explore black sand slopes while volcanic gas bubbles rise through the water, surrounded by huge schools of demoiselles and kingfish in a landscape shaped by ongoing geothermal activity. The Volkner Rocks, also known as Te Paepae o Aotea, are offshore pinnacles that attract massive kingfish aggregations, bronze whaler sharks, and seasonal manta rays in water of exceptional clarity. Tuhua, or Mayor Island, is a volcanic island with crystal-clear water, dramatic walls, large crayfish, and occasional encounters with marlin and oceanic sharks. Closer to shore, Mount Maunganui and Moturiki Island offer accessible reef diving with stingrays and octopus, while the purposely sunk tug Taioma provides an excellent wreck dive covered in sponges and macro life. The Maketu shoreline delivers macro shore dives with seahorses, pipefish, and cuttlefish. The Bay of Plenty combines volcanic geology, pelagic encounters, and accessible shore diving in a region known for its warm climate and abundant sunshine.

Highlights

• ✓White Island: active marine volcano with black sand slopes, volcanic gas bubbles, and unique geothermal marine environment
• ✓The Volkner Rocks: offshore pinnacles with massive kingfish aggregations, bronze whalers, and seasonal manta rays
• ✓Tuhua Mayor Island: crystal-clear volcanic walls with large crayfish, kingfish, and occasional marlin encounters
• ✓Taioma wreck: purposely sunk vintage tug at 18 to 24 metres covered in sponges and macro life
• ✓Maketu shore dives: accessible macro diving with seahorses, pipefish, and cuttlefish

Getting There

Drive from Auckland approximately 3 hours to Mount Maunganui or Tauranga