Dive-site story
Situated along the rugged Wellington South Coast, Owhiro Bay serves as a classic cold-water shore dive featuring rocky reefs, dense kelp canopies, and scattered boulders. Divers navigate gullies and shallow channels carved into the coastline, where juvenile fish seek shelter amid macroalgae forests. The bay also acts as a primary staging area for exploring the western boundary of the Taputeranga Marine Reserve.
Extensive temperate kelp forest canopy providing shelter for native reef species
Interlocking rocky channels, gutters, and boulder gardens close to shore
Frequent encounters with active macro life and camouflaged benthic fishes
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 prolonged stretches of settled weather.
Marine life
| Species | Likelihood | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue codParapercis colias | Common | ||||||||||||
| Spiny rock lobsterJasus edwardsii | Common | ||||||||||||
| ButterfishOdax pullus | Common | ||||||||||||
| Variable triplefinForsterygion varium | Common | ||||||||||||
| New Zealand octopusOctopus tetricus | Seasonal |
Marine forecast
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