Some of the more popular dive sites on The North Coast:
George’s Wreck
This wreck, which is named after George Tyers, the first person
to dive it, started life as a Japanese marine cable layer, was
later converted to a mine layer and still remains unidentified.
The story goes that the skipper ran her aground after being skip
bombed or torpedoed on the port side. The bow of the vessel is in 12 metres of water and the stern is at 60 metres. The bridge area is approximately 30 metres.
Coral, Muck and Wall Dives
In addition to all these great wreck dives we have beautiful pristine
coral dive sites which include Tom, Dick & Harry, Hannah’s
Hotspot for schooling &
pelagic fish; The Lighthouse,
East Point and
Pigmie Point for macro
enthusiasts; and Reimers
Wall and Sub Base for
wall divers.
Tom, Dick & Harry
These are 3 reefs joined
by a submerged 15m
deep ridge. Each reef is
unique – Harry has large plate corals & barrel
sponges and is frequented by large schools of trevally and
rainbow runners. Dick, being the middle reef, features a coral
and rock field amongst which a diverse range of cryptic critters
can be found. A seamount adjacent to the final reef, Tom, is a
great place to hover in wait of mackerel & eagle rays passing
in the oncoming current.
The Lighthouse
On the southwest side of Ura Island is a small lighthouse, below
which there are huge coral rock bommies standing at least 6-7
metres tall. There are resident double-headed Maori wrasse,
coral trout, and crayfish, as well as heaps of critters like nudibranchs.
There are swim-thrus amongst the bommies and at the
bottom there are giant barrel sponges, sea whips, lettuce leaf
coral and schools of reef fish, all just in 16-20m of water.
Reimer’s Wall
This wall has over hangs, short swim-throughs, and canyons
spread right the way around the open side of the reef. The dropoff
plummets to 50m before easing away. Many small schooling
fish travel the wall, rainbow runner's and blue fin trevally to
name two, but the wall is also covered with smaller cryptic creatures.
Submarine Base
This sheer drop off (250 meters plus) located meters from the
shore line, was used in World War II for Japanese submarines
to unload and load cargo with a quick escape plan. Straight
down! Its natural sheer wall is the edge of a vast submerged
caldera, with many soft and small corals growing from the wall,
barrel sponges and
sea fans-whips decorating
the wall. Entry
here can get a bit
awkward at low tide
especially if you don't
have your booties but
once in, it is like you
are falling into the
abyss. A must dive.
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