Dive-site story
Situated off the Coromandel Peninsula in Mercury Bay, Spectacle Reef features a pair of rocky underwater rises surrounded by sandy channels and kelp-covered boulders. Divers navigate gullies, overhangs, and swim-throughs formed by broken volcanic rock. Dense forests of paddleweed and common kelp shelter a rich variety of temperate reef dwellers, while pelagic species cruise the edges when coastal currents pick up.
Twin submerged reef structures interconnected by rocky gullies and sandy channels
Kelp canopies sheltering diverse native temperate fish species and invertebrates
Frequent sightings of large coastal stingrays resting in the adjacent sandy gutters
Occasional schooling yellowtail kingfish hunting along current-exposed faces
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 generally higher underwater clarity.
Marine life
| Species | Likelihood | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Rock LobsterJasus edwardsii | Common | ||||||||||||
| Blue CodParapercis colias | Common | ||||||||||||
| Short-tailed StingrayBathytoshia brevicaudata | Common | ||||||||||||
| Yellowtail KingfishSeriola lalandi | Seasonal | ||||||||||||
| LeatherjacketMeuschenia scaber | Common | ||||||||||||
| Yellow-banded MorayGymnothorax prasinus | Common |
Marine forecast
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