Lottin Point (Waihau Bay) – East Cape & Gisborne

Site Overview

Lottin Point at Waihau Bay on the remote East Cape coastline offers pristine rocky reef diving with huge crayfish, dense kelp forests, and abundant kingfish in an environment that receives almost no diving pressure. The rocky coastline creates dramatic underwater reef systems where massive crayfish, some exceeding 3 kilograms, shelter among the boulders and kelp stipes in numbers rarely seen at more accessible sites. The dense ecklonia kelp forest creates a cathedral-like environment with shafts of sunlight filtering through the canopy to illuminate the rocky reef below, supporting diverse marine communities from small nudibranchs to large schooling fish. Kingfish patrol the reef edge in impressive schools, their golden bodies contrasting with the dark kelp and blue water. The pristine condition of the marine environment is a direct result of the remote location and minimal human impact, with marine life behaving naturally and showing no signs of fishing pressure. The rocky reef extends from shallow kelp forest at 3 metres to deeper reef structures at 20 to 25 metres, providing a varied dive profile that rewards exploration at all depths. Snapper school in the mid-water column, while moray eels occupy the deeper rocky crevices throughout the reef system. Blue maomao aggregate on the deeper reef sections, adding colour and movement to the underwater landscape. The combination of pristine marine environment, huge crayfish, and remote wilderness atmosphere makes Lottin Point one of the most rewarding shore dives on the East Cape.