Dive-site story
Situated along the rugged Wellington South Coast inside the Taputeranga Marine Reserve, Mermaid's Kitchen features a series of shallow rocky gullies, kelp-covered reef gutters, and small overhangs. Divers navigate channels formed by greywacke bedrock that shelter diverse temperate marine life from Cook Strait swells. The protected status of the area has allowed benthic species and reef fish to flourish without fishing pressure.
Lush temperate kelp canopies hosting camouflaged macro critters
Protected marine reserve ecosystem with abundant invertebrate life
Sheltered rocky channels and fissures offering dynamic terrain to explore
Location
Use the map to plan with your operator and confirm the exact entry point on the day.
Seasonality
Late summer and autumn bring the warmest water temperatures and settled weather windows.
Marine life
| Species | Likelihood | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand rock lobsterJasus edwardsii | Common | ||||||||||||
| Blue codParapercis colias | Common | ||||||||||||
| New Zealand eagle rayMyliobatis tenuicaudatus | Seasonal | ||||||||||||
| ButterfishOdax pullus | Common | ||||||||||||
| Variable triplefinForsterygion varium | Common |
Marine forecast
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