Princess Bay

Princess Bay is a beginner-friendly dive site on Wellington's south coast, reaching 18 meters in the waters of this scenic bay between Island Bay and Owhiro Bay. The bay provides more shelter than the fully exposed south coast headlands, creating conditions accessible to beginning divers while still offering the productive marine environment that the Cook Strait's nutrients support. The underwater terrain features a mix of rocky reef and sandy bottom extending from the bay's shoreline. The rocky sections are covered in kelp and the diverse encrusting communities that thrive in the nutrient-rich Cook Strait waters. The 18-meter depth provides enough range for satisfying dive profiles, and the bay's partial shelter reduces the swell and surge that can make nearby south coast sites challenging. Marine life is abundant, reflecting the Cook Strait's exceptional biological productivity. Blue cod, butterfish, and various wrasse species inhabit the reef, while crayfish shelter in the rock's many crevices. The proximity to the Taputeranga Marine Reserve enhances fish populations through conservation spillover, and the overall species diversity is impressive for an accessible urban dive site. Princess Bay offers Wellington divers an accessible taste of south coast diving, where the Cook Strait's marine richness can be experienced in conditions that welcome divers at the beginning of their underwater journey.