Diving in New Zealand is always spectacular. With picturesque white sand beaches, massive rock formations, steep underwater canyons and incredibly diverse marine life, it is a wonderful place you’ll never forget. While scenic dives are fantastic in themselves, wreck diving can be even more rewarding, particularly if you love history. There are many wrecks to explore along New Zealand’s ruggedly abundant coastline; here are just five of them to get you started.
HMNZS Canterbury - New Zealand Wreck Sites
The wreck of the 113 meter HMNZS Canterbury was deployed as an artificial reef in November of 2007, and is quickly gaining popularity as a world class dive site. The massive ship was well prepared for diving, and has several swimthroughs which make penetration fun, simple, and safe.
Sitting upright and completely intact with her keel at 38 meters and her topside accessible at 12 meters, the wreck of the Canterbury is quickly acquiring a coating of soft corals and sponges, and lovely patches of kelp add their own magical touch to the abundance of aquatic growth already in place. Shimmering schools of baitfish attract larger predators, including barracuda and Yellowtail Kingfish. Watch for moray eels, octopus, schooling snapper, and others as you explore this magnificent wreck.
HMNZS Tui - New Zealand Wreck Sites
The HMNZS Tui had a long and storied life. She began as a hydrographic research vessel called the Charles H Davis, and was then leased out by the US Navy. Finally, she became the Tui, and was sent to Mururoa, where her crew observed the last of the South Pacific French nuclear bomb tests, and provided protection to the anti-nuclear testing protest vessels which were on site as well. After her working life was over, she was given to Tutukaka Coast Promotions and was deployed as an artificial reef on February 20th of 1999.
Today, the 62 meter long ship lies about two kilometers north of Tutukaka heads, in just 30 meters of water. She is accessible at about 18 meters, and is easy to penetrate, thanks to the fact that many access points were cut in order to allow divers easy access. You can explore the bridge and engine room, living quarters, control room, and other spaces with ease. Wreathed in soft coral and sponges, and filled with snapper, groupers, lots of invertebrates and crustaceans, and plenty of other species, the wreck is a fantastic multi-level dive site which is ideal for all divers to enjoy.
HMNZS Waikato - New Zealand Wreck Sites
The HMNZS Waikato was deployed as an artificial reef in November of 2000, and was well-prepared for safe penetration prior to her sinking. Lying 30 meters beneath the surface, she is a classic shipwreck – completely upright and intact. You can access this 113 meter beauty at just 8 meters beneath the surface, where swathes of fish swim to and fro, and other creatures are in abundance, hiding in the soft coral and sponge that has begun to coat the decks.
The Waikato was built in Belfast by Harland & Wolfe Ltd, and was launched in 1965. The first of the New Zealand Navy’s Leander Class frigates, she was equipped with air and surface radar, as well as undersea detection devices. Armed with 115mm guns, torpedo tubes, a quad Seacat anti-aircraft missile launcher and other weaponry, and powered by twin steam turbines, the ship was capable of a top speed of 30 knots.
The Waikato served proudly, undertaking a variety of missions, until she was decommissioned in 1998. Granted to Tutukaka Coast Promotions, she is the only intentionally sunk frigate in the Southern Hemisphere. Today, she enjoys her retirement, adorned in a steadily growing coat of sponges, coral and jewel anemones, which are much more splendid than the grey coat of paint beneath. She provides shelter to innumerable fish, invertebrates and crustaceans, and is an excellent dive site, not to be missed.
HMNZS Wellington: The F69 - New Zealand Wreck Sites
The Leander Class HMZNS Wellington F69 was deployed as an artificial reef on November 13th of 2005, after being carefully prepared for divers. Only a few months later, in February of 2006, the ship broke into two massive sections during a storm. Lying on the sandy bottom just 21 meters beneath the surface, the Wellington was commissioned as the HMS Bacchante in 1969, and was decommissioned in 1999. 113.4 meters long before breaking up, the ship was equipped with double propellers and was capable of reaching a speed of 27 knots.
Today, all divers can enjoy a trip to the Wellington F69, which is a fun multi-level dive site. The wreckage is quickly attracting sponge, soft coral and kelp growth, and is home to an abundance of life, from small baitfish that swim together in protective masses to avoid being eaten by larger Kingfish and barracuda, to groupers and moray eels, as well as the occasional shark.
The Rainbow Warrior - New Zealand Wreck Sites
The Rainbow Warrior belonged to Greenpeace, and had plans to take part in a protest over French nuclear testing in Moruroa. In an unprecedented attack on a civilian ship, the Action Branch of the French Foreign Intelligence Services bombed the vessel on July 10th of 1985. The operation, which had the codename Opération Satanique, took place in Auckland harbor. As a result, a photographer named Fernando Pereira drowned onboard the sinking ship, and two French agents did time in prison for manslaughter. In the wake of the scandal, the French Defense Minister, Charles Hernu, resigned.
Refloated on August 21st of 1985, the Rainbow Warrior was sent to her rest in her present position. With the gaping eight-foot hole from the blast creating an excellent point for penetration, the ship lies beneath 23 meters of water with her top deck accessible at about 16 meters. She is slowly nestling further into her sandy resting place, and over the years, her superstructure has broken up allowing for a view into the engine room from above. A small ship, she can easily be explored in a 25-35 minute dive, although you will certainly want to go back a second time, perhaps at night.
Covered in a beautiful blanket of jewel anemones and brilliant soft corals, algaes, and sponges, the wreck of the Rainbow Warrior is home to schooling golden snapper, John dory, scorpionfish, and others. Watch for leatherjackets and Spanish lobster, as well.
All of these wrecks are very easy to travel to, thanks to the many fantastic dive operators based nearby. Be sure to plan your trip in advance, particularly if you want to see the Rainbow Warrior, since local dive shops prefer to take small groups, especially on night excursions. Last but not least, be sure to become well-acquainted with your underwater camera well before your visit. The photo opps on all these wrecks are simply astounding.