Letterbox Point - Rotoma

Letterbox Point at Lake Rotoma is an advanced freshwater dive site in the Bay of Plenty region of New Zealand's North Island. Lake Rotoma is one of the volcanic crater lakes of the Rotorua lakes district, and Letterbox Point provides access to the lake's clear volcanic waters where the unique underwater landscape of a geothermally active region creates diving experiences found nowhere else in the country. The advanced rating at Letterbox Point likely reflects the depth potential of this volcanic lake and possibly the thermal influences that characterize the Rotorua lakes district. The region's geothermal activity can create localized temperature variations on the lake floor, and in some lakes, underwater hot springs produce visible thermal plumes that add both visual drama and the need for awareness of temperature changes. Lake Rotoma is known for its exceptional water clarity, which can rival the famous Blue Lake (Rotomairewhenua) in the nearby Nelson Lakes region. This clarity, produced by the volcanic substrate and the lake's particular chemistry, creates underwater visibility that allows genuine appreciation of the lake's geologically fascinating bottom terrain. Volcanic features including pumice deposits, submerged lava formations, and the evidence of past geothermal activity create an underwater landscape of scientific interest. The freshwater ecology of Lake Rotoma includes introduced trout species and native freshwater fish that provide wildlife encounters unique to New Zealand's volcanic lake environments. The volcanic substrate supports specialized communities adapted to the lake's particular water chemistry, and the clarity makes observation and photography unusually rewarding. Letterbox Point offers experienced divers access to one of the Rotorua district's most interesting volcanic lake environments, where geothermal influence, exceptional water clarity, and unique geology combine to create a freshwater diving experience of genuine distinction.