HMNZS Canterbury
Bay of Islands · New Zealand
Sunk in 2007 as an artificial reef, the 111-meter Canterbury sits upright at 26 meters in Ngahuia Bay. Penetration-friendly with multiple open decks, the wreck is encrusted with jewel anemones and carpeted in yellow zoanthids. Blue mao mao school through the superstructure and eagle rays circle the stern. One of New Zealand's premier wreck dives.
Conditions
Depth
10 to 26 m
Open water and up
Current
Usually gentle
Can pick up on the edge
Visibility
8 to 15 m
Clearest in the calm season
Water
15 to 22°C
7mm wetsuit
Month by month
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water (°C) | 20 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 19 |
| Vis (m) | 8 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Current | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Still | Still | Still | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle |
Your chances of seeing each animal
Jewel Anemone
Last confirmed Feb 23, 2026 · 19 records
Very likely
Most dives
New Zealand Snapper
Last confirmed May 27, 2026 · 39 records
Very likely
Most dives
Sea Urchin
Last confirmed May 27, 2026 · 15 records
Very likely
Most dives
Crayfish (Spiny Lobster)
Last confirmed Sep 6, 2025 · 6 records
Very likely
Most dives
Banded Wrasse
Last confirmed Mar 18, 2025 · 1 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Yellow Zoanthid
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Blue Mao Mao
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Leatherjacket
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Gear