Diving Guide to Wellington & South Coast

About Wellington & South Coast

Wellington and its south coast offer world-class wreck diving and diverse marine environments at the southern tip of the North Island. The HMNZS Wellington, a Leander-class frigate scuttled in 2005 off Island Bay, is the region's flagship dive site, sitting upright at 20 to 30 metres with massive schools of blue maomao, kingfish, and abundant macro life. The wreck is also one of New Zealand's best night dives when the marine life transforms with nocturnal species. The nearby F69, another frigate wreck, offers penetrable wreck diving with prolific fish life. The Taputeranga Marine Reserve protects kelp forests, crayfish, and diverse macro species, while Matiu/Somes Island delivers exceptional macro diving with horse mussel beds, seahorses, pipefish, and resident New Zealand fur seals. The south coast also holds several deeper historical wrecks including the Devon, City of Newcastle, and Oanui for advanced divers. Wellington's vibrant culture, excellent dining, and compact geography make it an ideal base for combining city life with outstanding diving.

Highlights

• ✓HMNZS Wellington Wreck: frigate scuttled 2005 at 20 to 30 metres with blue maomao, kingfish, and excellent night diving
• ✓Taputeranga Marine Reserve: kelp forest with crayfish, macro life, wrasse, and rays in protected waters
• ✓Matiu/Somes Island: macro paradise with horse mussel beds, seahorses, pipefish, and resident fur seals
• ✓F69 Frigate Wreck: penetrable wreck with abundant fish life for advanced divers
• ✓South Coast rocky shore dives: octopus, stingrays, giant sea stars, and training sites

Getting There

Drive from Wellington city centre approximately 15 to 30 minutes to most south coast dive sites