From above, the Three Kings Islands look like a group of massive rocks emerging from the sea. While some are covered in sparse vegetation, others are completely barren, but for the seabirds that nest there. Beneath the surface though, these magnificent islands are a rich and varied habitat where hundreds of different species thrive. Located 64 kilometers northwest of Cape Reinga and 53 kilometers from Cape Maria van Diemen, this group of thirteen minuscule islands, which were named by Dutch explorer Abel Tasman in 1643 are simply stunning. Let’s take a look at just a handful of the challenging dive sites at Three Kings.
Durey’s Dream Pipe
With a chimney that descends from the top of the reef, then turns to follow a horizontal profile, finally opening up into daylight at 40 meters beneath the surface, Durey’s Dream Pipe is a truly magical site where the beautiful reds of gorgonians and purples of sea fans contrast spectacularly with the white sandy bottom and ivory colored coral that grows along the wall. An ascent back up the wall reveals even more color, with orange and violet sponges in dense profusion, and fish in all shapes and sizes accompanying you toward the safety stop. Crayfish and moray eels, groupers and nudibranchs, plus starfish and other creatures inhabit this wall, which is cracked and literally bursting with life.
Like the rest of the dive sites around Three Kings, this site is subject to swift currents and can be challenging, even to divers with years of experience.
Elingamite Wreck
The fabled wreck of the steamship Elingamite lies beneath 39 meters of water. Washed by strong currents since her sinking on November 5th of 1902, the ship has broken up over time, yet she is still a favorite dive site. This could be due to the fact that she struck the rocks while carrying more than £17,000 in gold and silver bullion in 52 boxes. There were thousands of coins, including 6,000 gold half sovereign coins on board, and there are thousands remaining. Coins, some in good condition and others so worn that they are nearly unidentifiable, are brought up with regularity. This incredible treasure dive is often not accessible due to winds and surface conditions, but for those fortunate enough to make it to the site, it is simply spectacular.
Besides the scattered remains of the Elingamite, which took 45 of the 194 people on board to a watery grave when she sank, you will see huge pelagic fish as well as some large crayfish and other creatures, beautiful coral and gorgonians, and if you are lucky, the unmistakable glint of gold hiding beneath a crust of pebbles.
King Bank
Located in open water, a long distance from land and shelter, King Bank has long been a favorite fishing site with anglers and spear fishermen alike. Once you dive beneath the deep blue water here, you will find yourself among schools of tuna and mackerel, with the occasional marlin or group of marauding sharks on the prowl. Watch for schooling red maomao, and keep your eye out for big trevally. This area is subject to a strong current and can sometimes be washed by big, steady swells that average four feet. Visibility is generally excellent, allowing for a spectacular look at some of the biggest fish you might have ever encountered. Kingfish caught here sometimes weigh more than forty kilograms!
Princes Arch Pinnacle
Dropping to meet the seabed 55 meters below, Princes Arch Pinnacle is surrounded by swathes of busily swimming pink maomao and shoals of butterfly perch. Frequently visited by large kingfish and big silver trevally, it features a swimthrough which is more like a huge crack, as well as a foreboding cavern at its base. Covered in a tapestry of gorgonians and sea fans, corals and sponges in a rainbow of colors that contrast beautifully with the blue ocean beyond, it is pounded by the current and topside, steady swells and a mist of sea spray makes navigation hazardous. Visibility is excellent when conditions are good – sometimes you can see beyond thirty meters. Watch for sharks as you circumnavigate the pinnacle, and keep one eye on the structure itself, where crayfish and nudibranchs in various colors and shapes can be found.
One of the best sites for underwater photography the Three Kings Islands has to offer, this is a good place for both macro and wide angle shots. Mixed gas is recommended, and if you’re lucky, you will get to do more than one dive here as there is so much to discover.
Dentist’s Cavity
A huge, gaping crack in a sharply outlined group of rocks about 40 meters beneath the surface, Dentist’s Cavity is the aptly named home to a group of enormous spotted black gropers which will emerge when they see dive lights. This colony of gropers has been here for years, and they are completely fearless. Covered in orange and purple sponge and coral growth, the massive rocks host crayfish and other creatures, and in the brilliant blue water that surrounds the cavity, you’ll find an abundance of pink maomao, demoiselle, and butterfly perch, along with the occasional trevally and a few kingfish. Visibility tends to be very good here, as in other Three Kings locations, and the rocks offer some shelter from the relentless current.
Diving at the Three Kings Islands takes serious planning and preparation. All the sites in the area are suitable for the most experienced divers only, and as the sites are remote, it is important to be in good physical condition in order to withstand the demands this wild and wonderful environment will place on you. Whether it’s gold and silver you are after, or if you simply want to see some of New Zealand’s most incredible natural treasures, this is certainly the place to do it. Be sure to plan for your trip at least six months in advance, as space is limited and this is a destination coveted by divers from around the world.