Paihia Dive

Massive well done to Hanna, for completion of her SSI Openwater Course! Hanna smashed the skills and will be an amazing dive buddy 🤿👌 looking forward to seeing you in the water soon!

If you are interested in taking the plunge onto the deep blue, contact us on:

📞 094027551
📨 [email protected]
🌐 www.divenz.com

A wonderful day diving the Canterbury wreck and reef, even had a pod of Dolphins come say hi on the 2nd dive!

August diving in the Bay of Islands is epic! We have had some great days diving this week, and have a trip back out to the Canterbury wreck and reef tomorrow. Give us a call or book online as we have plenty of room tomorrow!

Epic day diving on the Rainbow Warrior wreck , then at The Teapot for our reef site today. 15m plus vis and 16/17c!🐟😍🐟

Paihia Dive Fish of the Week: Leatherjacket, kōkiri
Parika scaber

The Leatherjacket is one of New Zealand's most unusual-looking reef fish. With its tough, leathery skin, pointed snout, and unmistakable retractable dorsal spine, it's unlike almost any other fish you'll encounter beneath the waves.

Instead of scales, Leatherjackets are covered in thick, sandpaper-like skin that helps protect them from predators. Their common name comes from this tough outer covering, while their small mouths are equipped with powerful teeth designed for crushing hard-shelled prey.

Leatherjackets feed on sea urchins, crabs, shellfish, and other invertebrates, playing an important role in keeping reef ecosystems healthy. By feeding on kina, they help prevent overgrazing of kelp forests, making them an important part of New Zealand's underwater balance.

Their most distinctive feature is the strong spine on top of their head. When threatened, they can lock this spine upright, making it much harder for predators to swallow them or pull them from cracks in the reef. This clever defence has earned them the nickname "triggerfish's southern cousin," although they belong to a different family.

Leatherjackets are naturally curious and often seem unbothered by divers, sometimes swimming right up for a closer look before calmly continuing on their way. While they can be found around reefs throughout New Zealand, they're especially common around kelp forests, rocky outcrops, and wrecks in the Bay of Islands.

Next time you're diving with us, keep an eye out for their quirky swimming style and distinctive pointed face you might even have one come over to inspect you before disappearing back into the kelp!

Photos 📸 .r.johnston

Yes we are still diving! A few shots from Sundays trip out to the canterbury wreck and Deep Water Cove. We have a trip planned for Saturday, here's hoping the weather behaves itself!

Paihia Dive Fish of the Week: Mosaic Moray
Gymnothorax prasinus

The reef's hidden predator!

The Mosaic Moray is one of the Bay of Islands' most fascinating residents. With its intricate mosaic pattern of greens, browns, and creams, this master of camouflage blends seamlessly into rocky reefs, often leaving only its head peeking out from a crevice.

Although they may look intimidating, Mosaic Morays are generally shy and spend most of the day hidden amongst rocks, waiting for the cover of darkness to hunt. They feed on fish, crabs, octopus, and other small marine animals, using their excellent sense of smell to locate prey.

One of the most incredible features of the Mosaic Moray is its second set of jaws. Known as pharyngeal jaws, these sit deep inside the throat and can shoot forward to grab prey before pulling it back for swallowing. Unlike most fish that rely on suction to feed, morays use these specialised jaws to capture prey hiding within the reef's cracks and crevices.

You may also notice a moray constantly opening and closing its mouth. While it can look like a warning, it's actually just breathing! Morays pump water over their gills this way because they have relatively small gill openings compared to most fish.

Mosaic Morays can grow to around 1.5 metres in length and are an important predator, helping keep reef ecosystems in balance. While they are found throughout New Zealand, it's actually quite rare to encounter one at recreational diving depths. They are more commonly found in deeper water, so spotting one on a dive in the Bay of Islands is always a special treat.

Next time you're diving with us, take a careful look into the cracks, caves, and overhangs of the reef you might just find a curious Mosaic Moray watching you from its rocky hideaway!

Photos 📸

Paihia Dive Fish of the Week: Golden Snapper
Centroberyx affinis

The jewel of New Zealand's deeper reefs!

The Golden Snapper is one of New Zealand's most striking deep-water reef fish. not to be confused with a goldfish! Instantly recognisable by its brilliant orange-red body, shimmering silver-gold stripes, and large red eyes, this beautiful species is often found sheltering around rocky reefs, caves, and pinnacles throughout northern New Zealand.

Despite its name, the Golden Snapper isn't a true snapper at all. It belongs to the roughy family (Trachichthyidae), making it a close relative of the Orange Roughy. Its large eyes are specially adapted for life in deeper, darker waters, allowing it to spot small fish, squid, and crustaceans in low-light conditions.

Golden Snapper are most commonly found between 50 and 300 metres, although divers occasionally encounter them on deeper recreational dives around the Bay of Islands. We are lucky enough to have a resident school on the world famous Rainbow warrior approx. 26m! They are often seen hovering calmly beneath ledges or alongside colourful sponge gardens, making them a favourite subject for underwater photographers.

Like many deep-water fish, Golden Snapper are slow-growing and can live for over 40 years. Their longevity makes them particularly vulnerable to overfishing, highlighting the importance of protecting New Zealand's unique reef ecosystems.

Next time you're diving with us, keep an eye on the deeper reef walls or even come and join us on the Rainbow Warrior. Their vibrant colours are even more spectacular when illuminated by a dive torch!

Photos 📸 .r.johnston