Mount Maunganui / Moturiki Island – Bay of Plenty

15m Max

5-15m Vis

shore

Site Overview

Mount Maunganui and the adjacent Moturiki Island offer accessible and rewarding shore diving in the heart of the Bay of Plenty's most popular coastal area. The rocky reef platform surrounding Moturiki Island supports a diverse temperate marine ecosystem with stingrays, octopus, moray eels, and abundant reef fish inhabiting the shallow volcanic rock formations. The site is one of the most popular training locations in the Bay of Plenty, with easy shore access, gentle slopes, and calm conditions that make it ideal for Open Water certification dives and skills practice. Stingrays are the highlight of the diving experience, regularly encountered gliding over the sandy patches between the rocky reef sections during the warmer months. Large short-tail stingrays are particularly common, their impressive wingspans creating memorable encounters for divers of all levels. Octopus camouflage themselves against the volcanic rock surfaces, revealing themselves only to patient observers who search the crevices and overhangs systematically. The shallow reef supports diverse nudibranch populations and small reef fish that provide excellent macro photography opportunities at accessible depths. Night diving at Mount Maunganui reveals a completely different underwater world, with crayfish emerging from their daytime hiding spots and octopus becoming more active in their nocturnal hunting. The combination of easy access, diverse marine life, and excellent training conditions makes Mount Maunganui one of the most frequently dived sites in the Bay of Plenty region.

Dive Briefing

"The dive begins at the rocky shore entry near Moturiki Island, where a short walk over the volcanic rock platform leads to the water entry area. Descend along the rocky reef edge, following the boundary between the sandy bottom and the rocky reef at approximately 3 to 5 metres. Stingrays are frequently encountered on the sandy patches, often in multiples gliding gracefully over the bottom. Follow the reef to deeper sections at 8 to 12 metres where the rocky substrate supports more diverse marine communities. Octopus camouflage themselves against the volcanic rock, while moray eels occupy the darker crevices and overhangs. Search the rock surfaces systematically for nudibranchs and small cryptic species. Crayfish emerge from the rocky ledges, particularly during night dives when they are most active. The return follows the shallower reef at 3 to 6 metres where the light creates the best conditions for macro photography. The safety stop is conducted in the shallow rocky reef near the entry point."