The Bay of Plenty offers a number of offshore islands and reefs, but the reality is that not everyone has access to a boat to take advantage of these dive sites.
Shore diving is a convenient & fun alternative, but still requires some careful planning.
1. Select the Site

Your first priority is to check weather and tide forecasts. The best time to dive is an hour either side of high slack tide, which will provide an extra bit of depth, while avoiding the risk of strong outgoing tides.
Take time to consider what the weather was like over the few days prior, as rain, wind & swell can have considerable impact on visibility.
Keep a watchful eye out for possible hazards around the site (e.g. boat traffic / people fishing off nearby rocks etc) before you enter the water, & always display a regulation sized (600mm x 600mm) dive flag … a semi-rigid flag is best as it will be clearly visible at all times.
Check entry & exit points for ease of access.
2. Gearing Up & Entry
Avoid gearing up too far away from the entry point to reduce the risk of overheating & fatigue.
After performing your pre-dive safety check with your buddy, enter the water as soon as possible, don your fins, then take a few minutes to rest & relax on the surface before you start the dive.
It’s a good idea to have a non-diving shore support person ready to assist in an emergency.
3. Take a Transit Bearing
Line up a couple of obvious landmarks before descending, to pinpoint your position along the shoreline. A distinctive tree close to shore and a powerline further away are an ideal example.
Effective underwater navigation will help avoid a lengthy surface swim at the conclusion of the dive, when you’ll need to locate your exit point by lining up your pre-selected landmarks again.
4. Plan the Dive
Plan the dive with your buddy, & stick to it. Ensure you know who is leading, & agree on actions for unforeseen events such as buddy separation.
There are several shore dive sites that we utilise on a regular basis: Pilot Bay, Leisure Island, Lake Rotoma & Rabbit Island. If you’re not so keen on the surface swim to Rabbit Island (400m off Mount Maunganui beach), our hire kayaks are purpose designed for kayak diving, & provide a really fun alternative.