Moby Dick's regularly organise trips to some of the most beautiful dive locations in New Zealand. If you want the best in underwater, or even over water, adventures then you've come to the right place! Trips are usually over a weekend and include transportation and food (though please let us know in advance if you have any special dietary requirements!). Consider some of these outstanding locations: and more! Bookings are on a "first come, first served" basis. We are happy to arrange anything - if you have any special requests then let us know! Fiordland
Picturesque. Good photography. Sheer walls drop to sandy bottoms. Temperate, sub tropical, deep and shallow water species al exist because of the freshwater layer and the small temperature range. There are two marine reserves inside the fiords where all life is protected. The marine environment of Fiordland is as unique as its acclaimed landscape. Run off from heavy rainfall on the mountains creates a permanent freshwater layer up to 10 metres deep which sits above the sea water within the fiords. Vis 20-30 metres. The 14 fiords support the world's biggest population of black coral trees, some of them 200 years old. View black and red corals at 5-20 metres. The are also home to brachiopods - clam like animals which have remained unchanged for over 300 million years. Approximately 160 species of fish have so far been recorded by divers. Species include copper moki, trumpeter, banded wrasse and pigfish. Bottlenose dolphins, fur seals, Fiordland crested penguins and little blue penguins are resident here. A small, unique area known as The Gut, near the eastern end of Bauza Island in Doubtful Sound is protected. This contains the highest diversity of species in the Fiords, include sea pens. Good photography. Strong currents make this a difficult dive. Visit Fiordland.org.nz Akaroa
60 km from Lyttelton, this side of the peninsula is free form silt and better diving. Reasonable diving at Magnet Bay, Tokoroa Bay, Tumbledown Bay and Te Oka Bay. Good diving under lighthouse, Damon's Bay to Flea Bay and Pompey's Pillar. Big crayfish. Vis to 15 metres Visit Akaroa.com Motunau
100 km north of Christcurch. Boat diving only. Reefs, schooling fish. Prolific fish life. Experienced divers. 12-30 metres. Vis 2-15 metres. Visit FishingMag.co.nz Kaikoura
Great diving. Home of Whale Watch. Swim with dolphins, dive with fur seals. Shallow reefs 10-12 metres. Vis 6-9 metres. Good photography. Paia Point - shore dive, two reefs to choose from 4-12 metres deep. Very scenic. See seals, dolphins, crayfish. Vis 2-10 metres. Visit FishingMag.co.nz Bushett Shoals
Access boat only, 36 km south of Kaikoura. 6km off the coast, depth to around 5m, at highest around 15-30m deep. Crayfish, blue cod and sharks. Good Photography. Ramp. Marlborough Sounds
Here at Moby Dicks we specialise in trips to the Marlborough Sounds. We have been taking clients to the Sounds for 6 years and know all the best diving and fishing sites. We run trips to the Sounds at least once a month and stay on either a luxurious 40ft liveaboard boat or at the gorgeous Kamahi Lodge.
We can fit some or all of the activites below into your Trip: Diving and Fishing, see (and catch) some of our awesome New Zealand Marine Life.
Dive one of the many fascinating wrecks in the Marlborough Sounds waters (gain your Wreck Specialty on the Mikhail Lermentov).
Diving at Long Island Marine Reserve.
Hunter Dives - Ride back to the boat on one of your freshly caught enormous crayfish
Walking / Cycling the Queeen Charlotte Track.
Wine Trails, try some of New Zealands finest wines at one of the many wineries in the Marlborough area.
One of the reasons we love diving at the Marlborough Sounds so much is that we can more or less guarantee diving whatever the weather, because of all the bays and coves. We have listed below some of the fantastic dive sites available:
Long Island Marine Reserve
Long Island-Kokomohua Marine reserve was the South Island's first marine reserve and was created In April 1993 by DOC. The reserve is nestled in the entrance to the Queen Charlotte Sound and extends 463 metres offshore from the Islands. Many features typical of the Marlborough Sounds marine environment are found within the the marine reserve, from those more representative of the exposed outer sounds in the rocky north, to those typical of the sheltered inner sounds. The reserve protects all life within it's boundaries. When diving here you can see blue cod, tarakihi, groper, crayfish and paua, plus seals, penguins and seabirds.
Long Island Marine Reserve D'Urville Island
Stephens, Rangitoto and Trio Islands have best fish life in area. Stephens Island - shallow reefs dropping into deep water. Great crayfish and sport fishing. Vis 5-18m.
Port Gore
All weather diving, can be calm. Large rocks and kelp in shallow depths (4-15 metres). Variety of fish species and crayfish. Scallops in season (15 July - 15 March). Two shipwrecks, shallow and deep: The Mikhail Lermontov (see below), requires guiding. The Hippalos, very interesting 120 year old wooden barque, in deepwater but still completely intact. Vis 2-10m
The Wreck of the Mikhail Lermontov
The Mikhail Lermontov, the largest dive-able wreck in New Zealand waters. The 170 metres, 20,000 tonne Soviet cruise liner was built in East Germany in 1972 and sunk in Port Gore in the Marlborough Sounds on 16 February 1986. The vessel is now lying on her starboard side in at a depth of about 30m (depending on tide) and is on an approximate 10-degree slope. The Port bridge wing is only about 12 metres below surface. Visability varies in the area depending on rainfall and currents but can be 5-20m. The wreck is massive and is still fully intact and can be one of the most spectacular dives in New Zealand.
The Mikhail Lermontov just before she sank.
Cape Koamaru
Northern entrance to Marlborough Sounds. Good crayfish, plenty of fish species.
Queen Charlotte Sound
Boat from Picton. Interesting reefs to 50m. Allports Island - schooling fish, northern entrances good all weather diving. Double Cove - ideal for novice divers. Wreck of the KOI - 11m. Weeds, sponges, anemones and starfish. Vis 5-15m.
Pelorus Sound
Boat 34km Havelock. Good diving at entrance. Interesting reefs at Chetwode and Forsyth Island and Duffers Reef. Waitui Bay exceptional diving. Alligator Head and Titi Island - good diving. Vis 5-15m.
Tory Channel
Boat 28km Picton. Sea cave at entrance to Tory Channel. Rocky canyons off coast to Cape Koamaru. Perano Heads to Robertson Point, depths to 21m. Southern fish. Vis varies.
Port Underwood
By Road 18km Picton. Popular diving area. Some of the best areas are Ocean Bay, Robin Hood Bay and Whites Bay. Vis to 6m. |
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