Maunganui Bay (Deep Water Cove)
Explore the HMNZS Canterbury Wreck & Maunganui Bay (Deep Water Cove)
Escape to the Bay of Islands' premier dive location, offering the best of both worlds! Our trip to the Deep Water Cove area gives you the choice: explore two stunning and vibrant reefs, OR for our Advanced certified divers, combine a deep dive on the incredible HMNZS Canterbury wreck with a beautiful second reef dive.
Whichever you choose, you'll be treated to a world-class experience. The area is teeming with life, from massive schools of fish on the reefs to the majestic, purpose-sunk frigate waiting in the deep.
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You Choose Your Adventure: Enjoy a two-dive trip with the choice of two beautiful reef dives OR one wreck dive and one reef dive.
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Staying in Paihia? We'll pick you up! For ultimate convenience, if you're staying in or near Paihia, we can scoop you up directly from the Paihia wharf in our boat.
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Explore a World-Class Wreck: Advanced Open Water divers (and above) can descend onto the 113-metre long HMNZS Canterbury, an unforgettable experience.
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Vibrant Reef Diving: Discover the stunning underwater cliffs and kelp forests of Deep Water Cove, home to huge schools of blue maomao, snapper, and more.
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For Every Certified Diver: The two-reef option is perfect for all certification levels. The wreck option requires an Advanced Open Water certification or higher.
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The Fast Boat Advantage: More diving, less travelling! Our boat gets you to the sites quickly, making this unique combination trip possible and getting you back with your afternoon free.
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Expert Local Guides: Our friendly crew will ensure you have a safe, fun, and memorable day, no matter which option you choose.
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Tanks & Weights Included: We provide the heavy stuff! Full sets of modern Scubapro rental gear, including dive computers, are available to hire.
Availability: In Stock
Your Day with Dive Zone: What to Expect
We've designed our trips to be as fun, seamless, and relaxed as possible. Here’s a rundown of how our typical dive day unfolds:
1. Morning Meet-Up (8:00 AM) Your adventure begins at our dive base located at 5 Klinac Lane, Waipapa. You’ll get a warm welcome from our friendly team! We'll spend the first 30-40 minutes getting you checked in, completing the necessary pre-dive registration, and fitting you out with any high-quality rental gear you need. It's the perfect time to grab a coffee, chat with your fellow divers, and get excited for the day ahead!
Staying in Paihia? We'll pick you up! For ultimate convenience, if you're staying in or near Paihia, we can scoop you up directly from the Paihia wharf in our boat. Just let us know when you book, and you can skip the drive to our base.
2. Journey to the Water From our Waipapa base, it’s a scenic 20-30 minute drive to the boat ramp. We have some space in our company vehicle, but this is limited; depending on numbers, you may need to follow us in your own car.
3. All Aboard the Rika Maru! At the boat ramp, you’ll don your wetsuit and we'll board Rika Maru, our awesome purpose-built Stabicraft dive boat. We believe in quality over quantity, so we take a maximum of just 7 divers. This guarantees an intimate, personalised trip where you're not just a number. The boat ride out to the dive sites takes about 35 minutes – plenty of time to soak in the breathtaking views of the Bay of Islands.
4. Briefing, Checks, and Giant Strides! Before we hit the water, our experienced guides will give a thorough dive briefing, covering the site's layout, safety procedures, and the incredible marine life we hope to encounter. We'll do a final gear check to ensure everything is perfect. (Note: If you bring your own gear, our guides will need to conduct a quick safety inspection). With everyone energised and ready, we’ll gear up and make our entry!
5. The Underwater Adventure Your trip includes two incredible dives. We'll explore the best sites for the day's conditions, whether it's a vibrant reef, a legendary wreck, or both! Between dives, we’ll have our surface interval on the boat, giving you time to relax, re-gas, and share stories of what you’ve seen.
Important Notes:
- Bookings are essential, and full payment is required to secure your spot.
- Full Refunds are available if the trip is canceled due to adverse weather conditions.
- Don’t forget to bring your lunch, water, towel, sunscreen, and any personal dive gear.
- Before booking please make sure you have read and understood the Risk Disclosure form that can be found here. Booking onto a charter confirms that you have read and agree to this document.
If you would like to dive Nitrox and are not currently qualified then get in touch with us purchase a Nitrox Course and we can teach you on the day (your tanks will be included in the course).
We look forward to Experiencing an unforgettable day of diving in the Bay of Islands with you!
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