Moa Point / Lyall Bay – Wellington & South Coast

12m Max

3-12m Vis

shore

Site Overview

Moa Point and Lyall Bay on the Wellington south coast offer accessible and convenient shore diving with octopus, stingrays, giant sea stars, and diverse reef fish in a sheltered rocky reef environment. The site is one of the most popular training locations in Wellington, with easy shore access, gentle topography, and calm conditions that make it ideal for Open Water certification dives and skills practice. Octopus are the highlight of the diving experience, regularly encountered camouflaged against the rocky substrate and revealing themselves only to patient observers who search the crevices and overhangs systematically. Stingrays glide over the sandy patches between the rocky reef sections during the warmer months, their impressive wingspans creating memorable encounters. Giant sea stars are abundant on the rocky surfaces, their bright orange and purple colours adding visual interest to the reef at all depths. The shallow reef supports diverse nudibranch populations and small reef fish that provide excellent macro photography opportunities. The proximity to Wellington city centre and the free public access make Moa Point one of the most frequently dived sites in the Wellington region, with divers able to enter the water within minutes of parking. The combination of easy access, diverse marine life, and excellent training conditions makes Moa Point an essential component of Wellington's diving scene.

Dive Briefing

"The dive begins at the rocky shore entry near the Moa Point car park, where a short walk over the volcanic rock platform leads to the water entry area. Descend to the shallow rocky reef at 2 to 4 metres and begin exploring the crevices and overhangs for octopus. Search the rock surfaces systematically, looking for the distinctive camouflage patterns of octopus against the rocky substrate. Stingrays may be encountered on the sandy patches between reef sections. Giant sea stars are abundant on the rocky surfaces at all depths. Continue to the deeper reef at 6 to 10 metres where the rocky substrate supports more diverse marine communities. The return follows the shallower reef at 2 to 4 metres where the light creates the best conditions for macro photography. The safety stop is conducted in the shallow reef near the entry point. Giant sea stars are abundant on the rocky surfaces at all depths, their bright colours visible in torch light. Search the deeper crevices and overhangs systematically for octopus, which are well camouflaged against the rocky substrate throughout the reef."