Te Rawhiti Wall
Bay of Islands · New Zealand
A dramatic drop-off on the outer eastern side of the Bay of Islands, Te Rawhiti Wall plunges from 5 meters to beyond 30 meters. The wall face is coated in yellow and orange sponge, jewel anemones, and enormous colonies of encrusting bryozoans. Common dolphins often appear on the surface transit, and orca have been sighted in winter months. Nudibranchs are prolific year-round, making this a macro photographer's wall.
Conditions
Depth
5 to 35 m
Advanced depths
Current
Can be moderate
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) | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Current | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Still | Still | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle |
Your chances of seeing each animal
Snapper
Last confirmed May 27, 2026 · 40 records
Almost always
Nearly every dive
Jewel Anemone
Last confirmed Feb 23, 2026 · 20 records
Very likely
Most dives
Nudibranch (mixed species)
Last confirmed Feb 10, 2026 · 27 records
Very likely
Most dives
Banded Wrasse
Last confirmed Mar 18, 2025 · 1 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Common Dolphin
Last confirmed Feb 21, 2026 · 7 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
Encrusting Bryozoan
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Gear