Aldermen Islands (The Aldies!) Dive Sites

The HoneyComb, Alderman Islands
Depth: 5 – 25 metres
Level: Experienced Open Water and above
Type: Would suit Cave, Photography, hunting and scenic diving.
Exposure: Any north or west prevailing swell or wind.
Description: The boat will anchor in about 10 metres from here there are a number of dive options.
Overall the dive consists of a rocky bolder bottom that varies in depth. Covered with a variety of plant and fish life. The caves are a series of tunnels that have many different entry and exit points which makes them user friendly. Although we do advise that only qualified divers enter the caves, or if you wish we can have a qualified guide lead the dive. We do insist that a touch is a must.

The Sieve, Alderman Islands
Depth: 5 – 20 metres
Level: Experienced Open Water and above
Type: Would suit Photography, and scenic diving.
Exposure: Any west or north prevailing swell or wind
Description: On this site the depths vary due to its unusual bottom contour. It has a number of finger like reefs that create a maze of valleys that you can swim around. These reefs have deep cracks and crevasse that crayfish make their homes. The reefs are covered in ecklonia weed and a number of different brazones and anenome. Dominant fish life being wrasse, demoiselle, moki and moray eels. Pack horse crayfish are known to this area

Vagina Bay, Alderman Islands
Depth: 2 - 20 metres
Level: New Open Water and above
Type: Would suit hunting, and scenic diving.
Exposure: Any west or north prevailing swell or wind
Description: Very similar bottom contour to the sieve with finger like reefs running along a white bottom. Working your way up into the shallows the reefs merge into a bolder type bottom, this is where most of the hunting is done. There are a number of different weeds in this area ranging from colourful reds and greens to the standard brown ecklonia that is predominant around these islands. There are plenty wrasse, angelfish, demoiselle and blue maomao that will come and check you out.

Bell bird Bay, Alderman Islands
Depth: 5 – 15 metres
Level: New Open Water and above
Type: Would suit photography, hunting and scenic diving.
Exposure: Any north or west prevailing swell or wind
Description: This is a great dive for the new diver as it has no deep drop offs; there is a gradual decline into the deeper water. The boat anchors in around 8 metres of water were you will be amazed by the number of different weeds, corallines, and macro critters that produce vibrant colours. There are lots of nooks and crannies around this area that the crayfish like to hit in which makes for a very interesting dive. These nooks and crannies can also be occupied by yellow morays so keep an eye out. The whole dive you are being watched by two spotted demoiselle, wrasse, and angel fish. You will also come across a number of big eye and red moki in the over hangs.

The Gardens, Alderman Islands
Depth: 5 – 15 metres
Level: New Open Water and above
Type: Would suit photography, hunting and scenic diving.
Exposure: Any north or west prevailing swell or wind
Description: This dive is very similar in character to bell bird bay. It can be a very productive dive for crayfish but at the same time be an awesome dive for photography. In the deeper water you will move from the colourful weeds to the brown ecklonia forest that you can work your way though. Under these big fan like leaves you will find a number of little critters including nudibranch hiding in the under growth.

Brenda's Reef, Alderman Islands
Depth: 5 – 25 metres
Level: New Open Water and above
Type: Would suit photography, hunting and scenic diving.
Exposure: Any south and east prevailing swell or wind
Description: Open water divers can choose to stay nearer the island wall and be impressed with the number of small caves, overhangs and swim-through that make up this dive. All of these being covered with a variety of vibrant coloured weeds and crustaceans including reds greens and oranges. More advanced divers can opt to go deeper. Down here the huge rocks less abundant, but the constant changing of terrain makes for a very interesting dive. For the most part of the dive you are followed by schools of Damsel, and continually bumping into wrasses and red moki hanging out in the caves and kelp. This area seems to be teeming with a variety of fish life, and encounters with moray’s and stingrays along with smaller crustaceans living on the rocks, will keep you looking, and pointing things out to your buddy. And always keep your eyes peeled for the odd crayfish as there are plenty of spots along the way that could prove productive.

Gorillas head, Alderman Islands
Depth: 5 – 15 metres
Level: New Open Water and above
Type: Would suit photography, hunting and scenic diving.
Exposure: Any east prevailing swell or wind
Description: This is a great second dive. It is very pictureress so is perfect for the photographers and naturalist among us. The bottom type varies from a bolder bottom with sandy patches towards the middle of the bay, to rocky over hangs and swim through towards the islands, were there is the potential to find the odd cray fish hiding. You are never alone on this dive always being followed or watched by the very inquisitive fish that are in abundance in this area. This dive allows you to see a wide variety of life from nudibranch to eagle rays and morays just to name a few. The seaweeds corallines and crustaceans are for ever changing and the array of colours provides for a very interesting dive.

Southern gardens, Alderman Islands
Depth: 5 – 15 metres
Level: New Open Water and above
Type: Would suit photography, hunting and scenic diving.
Exposure: Any north or east prevailing swell or wind
Description: This dive again is a great second dive as the depth slowly drops away to 15 metres. It is a very bolder bottom with the distinctive green and red weeds that make the dive very pictureress. Out in the deeper water the brown ecklonia weed becomes more dominant, throughout this dive there are lots of holes were crayfish are hiding. Amongst the boulders there is the odd sand patch were you may find eagle ray or sting ray hanging out. All in all it is a very pleasant and relaxing dive. If your lucky you may even get a seal come and check you out.

Camel, Alderman Islands
Depth: 5 – 30 metres
Level: Experienced Open Water and above
Type: Would suit hunting and scenic diving.
Exposure: Any north, west or east prevailing swell or wind
Description: This site lies just off the side of George island, the boat anchors in about 5 - 10 metres this is the top of the pinnacle. As the name suggest the pinnacle has to humps like a camel it is covered in ecklonia weed and is productive with a number of back horse crayfish being found in this area. There are a number of big cracks that a full with lots of life from big eyes to blue moki. If you keep an eye out you may even see a marble fish hiding in the ecklonia weed. If you stop and take the time to look out into the big blue you may even catch some big king fish cruzing passed.

Stingray rock
Depth: 6 – 30 metres
Level: Experienced Open Water and above
Type: Would suit photography and scenic diving, hunting diving depending on season.
Exposure: Any south, west or east prevailing swell or wind
Description: Stingray rock is situated off the southern point of Alderman island were the boat will anchor on the top of the pin in about 6 metres. This rock is shaped like a boot and is very easy to navigate around. As you descend on this dive you will be surrounded by fish of all kinds. Making your way around the rock there is a huge big crack were there are amazing amounts of blue and pink maomao also seen on this dive are golden snapper as well as mackerel, trevally, kahawai and king fish. As the dive comes to an end the top of the pin makes a perfect safety stop. There are so many little critters hiding in cracks and holes from kina to nudibranch, little triple fins with their beady little eyes checking you out. This has to be one of my favourite dives.

Slipper Island Dive Sites

Southern Boulder Bank
Depth: 5 – 15 metres
Level: New Open Water and above
Type: Would suit hunting and scenic diving.
Exposure: Any north or west prevailing swell or wind
Description: This is a great dive for the new open water divers wanting to gain some confidence. The boat anchors just off the reef on a sand bottom no deeper than 15 metres. On the odd occasion there can be a slit current running along the boulder bank. The bolder bank itself is gradually sloping making it very easy to navigate around. The boulders vary in size which makes it a great habitat for crayfish. The bolder bank is well known for being a crayfish nursery, but in saying that, were there are babies there are adults. Good judgement is needed for the hunters among us. The boulders are covered with ecklonia weed in the deeper water giving way to mix weed and then the smaller but colourful weeds as you work your way up into the shallows. In the shallows you will also find kina barren habitats. There is a variety of fish life ranging from kingfish, snapper and blue maomao on the reefs edge to red moki, leather jackets and angel fish amongst the reef and in the shallows just to name a few.

Northern Boulder Bank
Depth: 5 – 12 metres
Level: New Open Water and above
Type: Would suit hunting and scenic diving.
Exposure: Any north or west prevailing swell or wind
Description: This is a great dive for the new open water divers wanting to gain some confidence. The boat anchors just off the main reef on a sand bottom no deeper than 12 metres. In this area the sand bottom is scattered with clusters of boulders that are covered with life, the main reef itself is a gradually sloping bolder bank that is easy to navigate around. The boulders vary in size which makes it a great habitat for crayfish. The bolder bank is well known for being a crayfish nursery, but in saying that, were there are babies there are adults. Good judgement is needed for the hunters among us. The boulders are covered with ecklonia weed in the deeper water giving way to mix weed and then the smaller but colourful weeds as you work your way up into the shallows. There is a variety of fish life ranging from kingfish, snapper and blue maomao on the reefs edge to red moki, leather jackets and angel fish amongst the reef and in the shallows just to name a few.

Abe’s Point
Depth: 5 – 12 metres
Level: New Open Water and above
Type: Would suit photography, hunting and scenic diving.
Exposure: Any west prevailing swell or wind
Description: The boat drops anchor on a sand bottom at a depth no greater than 12 metres. This is a great site for new divers that want to gain experience and not feel out of their comfort zone. It is very easy to navigate if you are still perfecting this skill. The reef is made up of big angled boulder rock slabs that produce big overhangs, cracks and crevasses which potentially are a great habitat for crayfish. It is a really interesting dive as you are unsure of what you are going to find in amongst the forever changing rock faces. Good judgement is needed for the hunters among us as this is an area were a lot of juvenile crayfish are found. There is an abundance of ecklonia in the deeper water giving way to the mixed weeds and smaller colourful weeds the shallower you get. There is so much life amongst the rocks it is a great place to hang out and take photos. There is a never ending array of macro shots calling out your name. The reef edge is a great place if you are keen to spot the bigger pelagic fish such as kahawai and kingfish, also on the sand bottom you will find octopus holes and a lot of other interesting life.


Crater Bay
Depth: 5 – 20 metres
Level: New Open Water and above
Type: Would suit photography, hunting and scenic diving.
Exposure: Any east prevailing swell or wind
Description: As you approach this bay the huge big colourful cliff faces jump out at you. Anchoring in about 8 metres of water there are many option to this dive. For the more advanced diver the option of heading to deeper water is available were the more inexperienced diver can stay in the shallow bay area. There are a number of habitats in this dive site ranging from mix weed to kina barren to big ecklonia forest so the variety is endless. In the shallows the bottom consists of small boulders which gradually move into larger more angulated boulders. Around 10 metres an uneven rock bottom emerges through the boulders, from here there is a gradual decline to about 15 metres. At this depth the decline becomes a lot steeper and gets to a depth of about 25 metres. There is an amazing variety of fish life ranging from eagle rays and yellow morays to red moki and two spotted demoiselle. There has also been the occasional seal encounter at this site.