Cape Kidnappers – Hawke's Bay & Wairarapa

25m Max

8-20m Vis

boat

Site Overview

Cape Kidnappers on the Hawke's Bay coastline offers exciting reef diving with seasonal bronze whaler shark encounters, large stingray aggregations, and schools of kingfish in a dramatic coastal headland setting. The rocky reef surrounding the cape supports diverse marine communities enhanced by the nutrient-rich currents flowing around the headland. Stingrays are the most reliable highlight of the diving experience, regularly encountered gliding over the sandy patches between the rocky reef sections during the warmer months. The cape is also famous for its gannet colony, the largest mainland gannet colony in the world, and the presence of these spectacular seabirds above water adds a unique dimension to the diving experience. Bronze whaler sharks make seasonal appearances during the summer months, cruising the reef edge in search of prey among the schooling fish. Kingfish patrol the reef in impressive schools, their golden bodies contrasting with the rocky substrate and kelp forest. The rocky reef extends from shallow kelp forest at 5 metres to deeper reef structures at 20 to 25 metres, providing a varied dive profile that rewards exploration at all depths. Snapper and moray eels are common throughout the reef system, and the kelp forest provides habitat for diverse macro species. The combination of shark encounters, stingray aggregations, and the famous gannet colony makes Cape Kidnappers one of the most exciting and unique diving destinations in the Hawke's Bay region.

Dive Briefing

"The dive begins on the reef near the Cape Kidnappers headland at approximately 5 metres, where the rocky substrate is covered in kelp and diverse marine communities. Descend along the reef slope, exploring the kelp forest and rocky outcrops that provide habitat for stingrays and kingfish. Large stingrays are frequently encountered on the sandy patches between reef sections, often in multiples. At 12 to 18 metres, the reef supports the most diverse marine communities and the bronze whaler sharks may be encountered during the summer months. Kingfish patrol the reef edge in schools, creating exciting wide-angle photography opportunities. Continue to the deeper reef at 20 to 25 metres where the largest stingray aggregations are found. The return follows the shallower kelp forest at 5 to 10 metres where the light creates beautiful patterns through the kelp canopy. The safety stop is conducted in the shallow kelp forest near the boat."