map>>WAIHI POINT
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Waihi Point is situated on the eastern side of Cape Jackson, New Zealand. It offers very good protection when the wind is from the western or northern quarters. There is a reef running offshore from the Point, starting off at 10 metres and progressively getting deeper. The current can be quite strong further out, so most of our dives are done closer to the shore in around 10-12 metres of water. When the current is running, big shoals of Butterfly Perch are seen and just sitting in from the Point looking out makes for a great dive, as you fin back around into the bay large Moki and Crayfish are seen amongst the kelp. Visibility averages around 8-10 metres.
map>>LONG ISLAND
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Long
Island was appropriately named by Captain Cook and is Marlborough’s
only Marine Reserve. Our favourite site at Long Island is called
Jurassic Park due to the resident giant crayfish. Normally crayfish
are timid as they are a popular catch for local divers, but these
guys are diver friendly. Other marine life includes very docile
Carpet sharks and cheeky Blue cod. During Southerly conditions,
no matter how hard the wind is blowing the site is always protected
as sheer cliffs back it. Visibility averages around 5 to 8 metres,
average depth 12 metres. This is a great site for snorkellers
and first time divers, as it is not affected by offshore swells.
WELLINGTON BAY
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Wellington Bay is situated at the eastern side
of Tory Channel, where the Inter-island Ferries make landfall
with New Zealands South Island. 100 metre high rock 
cliffs
surround the bay. This is a very dramatic area and offers many
sea caves, arches and undulating kelp covered reefs. Due to its
Cook Straight location the sea-life and bottom topography is quite
different to other sites, with fish species such as Arrow Squid,
Octopus, Mullet, Abalone and Mackerel, being common. Diving depths
can range from 8 metres to 18 metres, the area can be subject
to current at certain times of the day, but is suitable for all
levels of experience as long as a guide is used. Visibility averages
around 10 to 12 metres. If we dive this site we quite often stop
off on the way home to visit the old Whaling Station which was
in use right up to 1964.
map>>KOI WRECK
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The Koi was built in Scotland in 1906, it was twin screw steamer
or 53 net register tons. The wreck is 30 metres long with a beam
of 4.9 metres. She was used as a passenger ferry in and around
the Motueka area.
The Koi sunk in Picton harbour on March the 10th 1940 and was raised, towed across the Sound and sunk off a point between Torea Point and Double Cove on the 5th of May 1940, in a depth of 12 metres.
Since then the Koi has become encrusted with invertebrate live and is home to Sea Horses, Blennies, Decorator Crabs, Nudibranchs, Leather Jackets and Butterfly Perch. Seals are often seen basking on the rocky shore line close by.
Even though it is shallow, the wreck is a great dive, with great Macro photo opportunities and due to the wrecks location diving on it is never effected by the weather. This is an ideal wreck for the new or learner diver. If you are learning to dive with Go Dive Marlborough look forward to a dive on the Koi.
map>>FISH RESERVE
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This site is just around the corner from the Koi, we often dive here on our second dive on our half day tour. Here you can hand feed the gluttonous blue cod, which will swarm around you with the first sign of food. A nice little dive for the newer divers, with a maximum depth reached of 12 metres.
KUMOTOTO POINT
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A regular feature to this dive site is the New Zealand Fur Seal.
Depending on the time of year young seals haul out on this point
to bask in the sun and regularly enter the water to join our divers.
The reef which runs off the point drops to 16 metres and is home
to a number of pairs of Red Moki. On the very tip of the point
where there is a mild current, colourful invertebrate life feeds
on the plankton which passes by with the current. Go Dive Marlborough
regularly visits Kumototo Point on our half day tours and PADI
Openwater courses.
The above dive sites represent the sites we regularly visit on
our daily dive tours. For the adventurers amongst us, Go Dive Marlborough
run regular extended liveaboard expeditions to the more remote
and more challenging areas. These sites include:
McManaway & Cook Rocks- situated out in Cook
Strait
Stephen’s and D'Urville Islands
The Brothers
The Chetwode Islands
The wreck of the Hippalos
Wreck and Reef dive sites in the New Zealand's Marlborough Sounds with Go Dive Marlborough.
Diving
in New Zealand's Marlborough Sounds is an unforgettable experience.
With over 3000 km’s of diveable coastline to choose from,
finding a good dive site is not hard. Diving in the Marlborough
Sounds is diverse. The Inner Sounds offer very calm water a
number of shipwrecks, scallop diving and reefs.
The Outer Sounds where most of our dives take place have it all,
reefs, wrecks, kelp gardens, schools of temperate water fish,
invertebrate life, sea caves and so on.
Go Dive Marlborough operate 1 day guided dive tours every day of the year and, unlike most other places in New Zealand, the weather will not play a part in whether the tour goes or not. We also run regular over night live-aboard expeditions.
Marlborough Sounds Dive Site Information
We have exciting tours of the following dive sites in the Marlborough Sounds. Click on a link to learn more
Mikhail Lermontov
Lastingham
Rangitoto
Waihi Point
Long Island
Wellington Bay
map>>
MIKHAIL LERMONTOV
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Named after a Russian poet, who was killed in a duel in his mid 20’s, the Lermontov sunk under mysterious circumstances on February the 16th 1986. She was carrying over 400 mainly Australian passengers on a cruise of a lifetime, when for reasons still unknown, the ship was piloted through a shallow channel at the tip of Cape Jackson, New Zealand. The ship struck the reef on her port side which opened up a large gash. Mortally damaged the Lermontov limped into Port Gore in the Marlborough Sounds,where she subsequently sunk, with the loss of only one life, some hours later in 30 odd metres of water. There is speculation that the Mikhail Lermontov was used as a spy vessel and the official government report into her sinking will never be made public.
The
Lermontov now lies on her Starboard side and is fully intact.
Diving on the Lermontov is a fantastic experience, with the propellers,
damage, funnel, bridge and pool area all easily assessable. Penetration
dives are not recommended unless with an experienced guide. Go Dive
Marlborough offer external and penetration dives depending on
your goals and your experience. The wreck has now become an artificial
reef and is encrusted with invertebrate life and home to schools
of local fish. Visibility on the outside of the wreck can get
down to 5 metres, inside the wreck it averages around 12 metres.
Mikhail Lermontov Statistics:
Displacement: 20,027 gross tons
Builders: V.E.B. Matias-Thesen Wertf, Wismar former German Democratic
Republic
Launched: 10 March 1972
Length: 155 metres
Beam: 23.6 metres
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Lermontov Live-a-board Trip
September 14/16
LASTINGHAM
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The
Lastingham, which sunk on September 1st 1884, on the western side
of Cape Jackson, New Zealand was bound from London to Wellington
with a cargo of general goods. 18 lives were lost during her sinking
with the survivors spending 3 uncomfortable days before being
discovered on this exposed headland without food or water and
only in the cloths they were wearing.The Lastingham is now an
historical wreck. Diving on the wreck is a trip back in time as
much of her cargo still remains. The majority of the wreck is
12 metres of water making her a safe and very enjoyable dive.
Much of the wreck is covered in weed and home to some large Crayfish
and Moki. Visibility averages around 10-12 metres. The Lastingham
is only 15 minutes from the Lermontov wreck so both these wrecks
can be dived on the same day.
Lastingham Statistics:
Built 1876 from iron at West Hartlepool by W.Gray
and Company.
Registered Weight: 1,217 tons
Type: Sail
Length: 221.6 ft
Beam: 35.3 ft
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map>>RANGITOTO
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The
Rangitoto struck a reef off Cape Jackson, New Zealand on July
30th 1873, in much the same area as the Lermontov. She was carrying
a large number of passengers from Nelson to Wellington, along
with a cargo of mail and Hennesy’s brandy. The Master managed
to beach the Rangitoto on the eastern side of Cape Jackson and
all passengers managed to make it safely off the ship. The Rangitoto
was a steamer and her boiler, propeller and other remains make
an interesting dive. The wreck lies in only 12 metres of water
and is an easy and enjoyable dive. Visibility is normally around
8 to 10 metres. The wreck of the Rangitoto is within 15 minutes
of the Lastingham and 30 minutes of the Lermontov.
Rangitoto Statistics:
Registered Weight: 574 tons gross
Built at: Whiteinch, Lanarkshire in 1869
Type: Iron Steamer
Length: 209ft
Beam: 25.1 ft
Engines 140hp
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