Diving Guide to Hawke's Bay & Wairarapa

About Hawke's Bay & Wairarapa

Hawke's Bay and Wairarapa offer a growing diving scene centred on artificial reefs, navy wrecks, and rugged limestone coastlines along the eastern seaboard of the North Island. The highlight is the HMNZS Kahu, a decommissioned Navy inshore patrol boat scuttled in 2018 off Napier at 15 to 20 metres, which has rapidly developed into an excellent artificial reef covered in marine growth with frogfish, moray eels, and abundant macro life. The Napier artificial reef system of concrete modules provides additional structure attracting crayfish, morays, and nudibranchs. Cape Kidnappers offers rocky reef diving with stingrays, kingfish, and seasonal bronze whaler sharks, complemented by the famous gannet colony on land. Further south, the Wairarapa coast features the rugged limestone reefs of Castlepoint with crayfish, paua, and nudibranchs, while Palliser Bay holds several historical shipwrecks including the Zuleika and Aotea. The region is also one of New Zealand's premier wine destinations, making it an excellent choice for divers who appreciate fine dining and vineyard visits alongside their underwater explorations. While less famous than northern dive destinations, Hawke's Bay and Wairarapa reward exploration with uncrowded sites and authentic coastal experiences.

Highlights

• ✓HMNZS Kahu Wreck: decommissioned Navy patrol boat scuttled 2018 at 15 to 20 metres with frogfish and excellent macro life
• ✓Napier Artificial Reefs: concrete modules attracting crayfish, moray eels, and diverse nudibranch species
• ✓Cape Kidnappers: rocky reefs with stingrays, kingfish, seasonal bronze whalers, and a spectacular gannet colony
• ✓Castlepoint: rugged limestone reefs with crayfish, paua abalone, and nudibranchs
• ✓Palliser Bay shipwrecks: historical wrecks including the Zuleika and Aotea in advanced diving conditions

Getting There

Drive from Wellington approximately 1 hour to Wairarapa or 4 hours to Napier