Spectacular diving in the caves and arches of Cape Brett

Cape Brett on the north–east side of the Bay of Islands hosts a myriad of diving opportunities.

For a start there’s the Rahui at Deep Water Cove and the excellent HMNZS Canterbury which are the typical go-to sites for most dive operators and recreational divers not looking to hunt.
But if you take the time to head to the entrance to the Cape Brett Reserve then take a right hand turn and head up the Cape, the diving can be spectacular.

The first sea cave is located at the entrance to the reserve at Putahataha Island, one of the sentinel or guardian islands of the reserve. A typical dive here starts by anchoring on the protected inside of the island on a rocky/ sandy bottom of around ten metres depth. A large cut slices into the island and this is directly in line with an underwater cave on the seaward side of the island. Perhaps in years to come we will see an underwater tunnel form.
By heading down the rocks on the inside of the island and travelling with the island on your right shoulder you will head out around a large pinnacle off the end of the island. Typically this is home to some scorpionfish and a beautiful pair of painted moki.

By continuing around the island’s edge at a maximum depth of 13–15m you will travel across a large kelp area home to eels, nudibranchs and rays. Keep your eyes wide open on the blue water too as kingfish school here in the current.

If you keep the island on your right and your depth to 13-15m you will come across the entrance to the cave on your right. This cave is home to several large snapper and hundreds of bigeye cavefish. In the winter the bluebell tunicates bloom and this attracts lots of clown nudibranchs (Ceratosoma ameonum).

As you enter the cave keep to the right and move to the back, then look up to the roof. Look behind you too. The entrance looks stunning with the bigeyes filling it up.

Several ledges act as hiding places for scorpion fish. As you exit the cave on your right a pair of spotted morays and a yellow moray have made a ledge their home. They are pretty much permanent residents and easy to photograph.

To be continued
For more info contact Paihia Dive at www.divenz.com