Diving Hot Spots in New Zealand

New Zealand has the fourth largest exclusive oceanic economic zone in the world and as such many New Zealanders' pastimes revolve around the sea from boating, fishing, whale watching to diving.
New Zealand has many different dive sites across the country, whose waters span from sub-tropical temperatures in the north to the sub-Antarctic waters in the south. There is a distinct range in the underwater flora and fauna that can be observed across New Zealand, but not only that, due to New Zealand’s isolation it also means many of the species here are endemic to this country and cannot be seen anywhere else. Tropical islands that offer warm, crystal clear waters for diving can't compete with New Zealand’s waters, which are rich with nutrients and bursting with life.
Here are just a few dive sites from North to South to whet your appetite:
Tutukaka, North Island
Tutukaka is located approximately 30 km north of Whangarei and is home to one of the top 10 diving spots in the world known as the Poor Knights. The Poor Knights was the second marine reserve created in New Zealand and as a result the marine life is bountiful.
The adventurous divers can check out the Twin Wrecks, which consists of the HMNZS Tui and the HMNZS Waikato, both of which were once large navy vessels. Their final resting places were chosen specifically for divers in mind with access and exit points cut out to allow safe access to areas that would otherwise be unreachable, so you could find yourself 30 m under the water sitting in the bridge with your hands on the steering wheel.
Goat Island, North Island
This is a great place for shore diving, especially for those who are new divers as the water rarely gets deeper than 5 m close to shore. And for those who want a challenge, night diving is a popular activity here. The shallow water and the nearness to land provide an environment where a diver can feel safe.
Just as on land where some species can only be viewed at night, the same can be seen under the water. For instance brittlestars, with their small bodies and long thin legs, can be seen creeping around. The crayfish that hide in rocks and crevices during the day come out to feed and when your torch alights on them they become illuminated.
Napier Aquarium, North Island
If diving in the open water doesn't appeal to you then maybe diving in a more controlled environment will. Diving into New Zealand's national aquarium offers you the chance to feed the local inhabitants from the fish to the stingrays and for those brave enough you can also feed the sharks and have your photo taken at the same time so you can prove it to all your friends.
Fiordland, South Island
Luminous mountains and spectacular waterfalls that are always heavy with the intense rainfall provide a picturesque backdrop to one of the most extraordinary and unique dive spots in New Zealand. The sea water here is layered with fresh water due to the amount of rain in the area. As a result the water is generally darker than can be seen on most dives. While this might not sound appealing at first it has meant that deep water species can be seen at a much shallower level, such as the red and black corals that are normally too deep.
With so many choices available there is something for everyone.