Dive-site story
Situated along the eastern flank of Wellington's Miramar Peninsula, Mahanga Bay provides an accessible sheltered harbor environment favored for macro photography and night diving. The seafloor gently slopes outward across a mix of silty sand, scattered boulder clusters, and patches of sea grass. Given the calm conditions during prevailing southerly winds, local instructors frequently use the bay for training sessions.
Prolific macro life hiding around weed beds and discarded harbor debris
Reliable habitat for big-belly seahorses clinging to kelp fronds
Calm conditions for easy night dives focused on nocturnal critters
Location
Use the map to plan with your operator and confirm the exact entry point on the day.
Seasonality
Late summer and early autumn bring the warmest water temperatures and typically more settled coastal weather.
Marine life
| Species | Likelihood | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big-belly seahorseHippocampus abdominalis | Common | ||||||||||||
| Spotted pipefishStigmatopora argus | Common | ||||||||||||
| Maori octopusPinnoctopus cordiformis | Common | ||||||||||||
| Variable triplefinForsterygion varium | Common | ||||||||||||
| Short-tailed stingrayBathytoshia brevicaudata | Seasonal |
Marine forecast
Book with DIVEROUT
