Diving

New Zealand is a diving paradise. With accessible coastlines, marine reserves and hundreds of offshore islands, the underwater world is vast and diverse. Many people consider the Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve—just off the Bay of Islands—one of the world’s top five diving locations. Explore wrecks and sub-tropical reefs in clear waters, dive through huge kelp forests, and swim alongside dolphins. For a different experience, try kayak diving or a descent after dark. Most of the popular spots are easily accessed from the mainland, though you can opt to take a boat to the more remote reefs and islands. If you’re new to diving, lessons and certification in scuba diving are readily available, while organised diving tours make it easy for amateurs to learn the ropes.