6)Poor Knights Marine Reserve. 21 km out of Tutukaka lie the world renowned Poor Knights Islands. These islands are excellent for beginner and pro alike. They are a photographers dream with very clear water and a huge variety of marine life. The topography ranges from 5-10 meter areas to 100m drop-offs and plenty of caves for all. See also our gallery and map.

7)Hen and Chickens Group. A group of seven islands lying between 11-18km of Whangarei Heads. Dolphins are often sighted. Fish life is varied with schoolfish, snapper, kingfish, crayfish, prolific kelp beds. V 7-30 meters. All islands good photography.

8)Mokohinau Islands. 29km to the east of the Hen and Chickens group. Rated as one of NZ's best dive spots by many people. Fish life abound in wonderful colours with cavern diving and large areas never dived before. Groper Island pinnacles with deep drop-offs, wall dives. V 15-30+m. Very good photography.

9)Goat Island Marine Reserve. Just over an hours drive north of Auckland a very popular dive and snorkeling spot. You can literally walk off the beach into NZ's oldest marine reserve. Most of the diving is in 3-10 meters which makes it popular with new divers.

10)Little Barrier Island 22km out boasts more than 24km of diveable coast and is generally considered good crayfish diving. During the season scallops are plentiful and when the stingrays are schooling there is plenty of excitement. Visibility between 6-20m. Boulder type diving with kelp bed zones. Whale sightings prior to December. Horn Rock weather dependent pinnacle just over 6km SE of Little Barrier. Big Fish

11)Great Barrier Island is 75 km northeast of Auckland. The diving is varied ranging from shallow scallop dives to pin and wall dives. There are the wrecks of the Wairarapa and Wiltshire here which are worth a nose around. The size of the island means good diving no matter what the weather.

12)Cuvier island between Gt Barrier and the mainland. A small island most notable for the post world war 2 ammo dump. While most of the 4.5 inch shells have already gone there are still some to be found. We do not recommend diving for live ammunition, it can be dangerous.