Dive-site story
Located along the rugged coastline of Great Mercury Island (Ahuahu), The Bookcase earns its name from fractured volcanic basalt formations that split into neat vertical columns resembling shelves of books. Divers navigate rocky gutters, narrow crevices, and kelp-draped ledges. The site offers shelter on calm days, providing access to rich warm-temperate marine ecosystems representative of the outer Coromandel waters.
Stacked vertical columnar basalt rock formations resembling rows of library books
Dense Ecklonia kelp canopy sheltering varied temperate reef fish
Cracks and undercut ledges packed with hiding crustaceans and nudibranchs
Location
Use the map to plan with your operator and confirm the exact entry point on the day.
Seasonality
Austral summer and autumn bring warmer water and more settled offshore conditions around the Mercury Islands.
Marine life
| Species | Likelihood | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Rock LobsterJasus edwardsii | Common | ||||||||||||
| Australasian SnapperChrysophrys auratus | Common | ||||||||||||
| Blue CodParapercis colias | Common | ||||||||||||
| Sandager's WrasseCoris sandageri | Common | ||||||||||||
| Short-tailed StingrayBathytoshia brevicaudata | Seasonal |
Marine forecast
