Our Dive Shop is located in the centre of the Marine Reserve. The 5 km long reserve is one of the best snorkel & dive spots in Wellington, teeming with crayfish, octopuses, and many species of fish and kelp. Click here for more information on the reserve.
There are three snorkel trails in New Zealand. The most recent trail (Taputeranga) is 7 minutes walk from the shop.
We are on the corner of Reef St & the Parade, Island Bay if you are coming by car/ bike. If you are coming by bus, the shop is 20 metres from the final stop on the #1 route bus.
There are two options for snorkeling:
1. Hire equipment only : Just turn up on the day between 9am to 6pm. We will fit you out in gear from our full range of hire equipment , give you a conditions brief & you’re good to go. Get geared up at our shop, then walk or drive 600 meters to the trail.
Or 2. opt for the Snorkel Tour package : you need to book this one (phone/email) so we can allocate a guide. The tour normally takes about three hours. We provide an orientation & safety briefing beforehand; people spend about 3 hours on the tour. There’s free tea and coffee and an outdoor shower on your return.
We may cancel tours if the conditions are unsuitable (24 hours notice). In this case, we will provide a full refund or ( if you want) reschedule your day . See our Facebook page for daily dive conditions & forecast.
We also run snorkel courses – theory, pool session and sea dive. There are two modules of about three hours each.
Seasonal water temperatures range from 10°C-18°C (50°F-64°F). Our wetsuit are 5 – 7 mm to ensure you are warm during your swim.
While you can not sink in a full wetsuit, you should have an adequate level of water confidence. Our suits are mainly adult and some youth sizes, so the minimum age is 12. A gear deposit of $50 cash or a photo ID are required for hires.
Check the latest marine conditions & visibility over the two days prior to your tour on our home page updated daily. This will give you an update of current conditions at the site.
If you want to see what the snorkel trail looks like underwater, click on the u tube link below. Visibility is average for the location. Video is by Pat Wall.
