Wellington has a wide range of marine life, and there are several popular dive sites where you can see various species of sea creatures. It’s worth noting that water visibility in Wellington can be variable due to weather and sea conditions, but on a good day, you can expect to see an abundance of marine life.
Here are some examples of what you might see while diving in Wellington:
Octopus – Wellington is home to several species of octopus, including the common or Maori octopus, which is often found in rocky areas and crevices.
Blue cod – Blue cod is a popular game fish in New Zealand and an even more popular dive buddy as they are very inquisitive and are commonly found around the Wellington coastline.
Kelp forest – The Wellington coastline is home to several species of kelp, which provide habitats for many marine creatures, such as seahorses, anemones, and juvenile fish species. These forests are under threat in some areas due to kina predation (see below).
Sea stars – Wellington’s rocky coastline is home to several species of sea stars, including the Biscuit Star, Ambush Sea Stars and Reef Stars.
Wrasse – Several species of wrasse, including the Banded Wrasse, Scarlet Wrasse and Spotties are common in the waters around Wellington.
Schooling fish – Schools of fish, such as feeding Blue Moki, Terakihi, Mackerel and Mullet can be seen around rocky outcrops and offshore reefs. Juvenile fish schools are often referred to as ‘baitfish’.
Sponge gardens – Sponge gardens are areas where several species of sponges grow, providing habitats for a range of marine creatures and adding colour to our reefs.
Fur seal – With seal colonies in Ngawii, Red Rocks & at Kapiti you may be lucky enough to see fur seals in the water or basking on rocks along the coast.
Sea urchins – You may spot sea urchins, commonly known as ‘kina’ attached to rocks or hiding in crevices. In some areas their numbers are sky rocketing due to lack of predation creating kina barrens.
The Kinaowhanganuiatara Project is monitoring kina and their impacts in Wellington Harbour.
Join Dive Club Wellington, come out for a dive and let us introduce to some of our favourite local species.