Tairua

There is great diving 800m offshore around the Slipper and Shoe Islands (5-18m) especially at King Rock and other rocky points on the seaward side of the islands. Visibility is down to 6m in heavy ground swells. Some 12km offshore are the Alderman Islands where scenic pinnacles and walls drop off to 55m and harbour abundant marine life

Big game fish are often seen along the drop-offs. Dogger Reef, 15m below the surface has a variety of pelagic species in summer and is often visited by sharks. Tairua Reef around 22km offshore has stands of black coral and myriad schools of fish in depths ranging from 9-46m.