The Gut Dive Site, New Zealand

Diving Overview for The Gut

The Gut has a maximum diving depth of around 40 m / 131.2 ft and is suitable for advanced divers. The average visibility is 10-20 metres and access to the dive site is by boat.

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The Gut at Te Awaatu Channel forms New Zealand's smallest marine reserve (at just 92 hectares) established in 1993.

The reef here descends in terraces towards a sandy bottom at 30-40m. Along this sandy bottom you'll find The Gut's main attraction... sea pens! These strange filter-feeders look like quill pens and stand about 30cm tall feeding on the passing current. At the base of the wall a few small caves where you'll find sea perch, red and black corals, hydroids covered with pink and white nudibranchs and yellow zoanthids carpeting the rocks. Swimming through the channel are large blue cod, you'll also notice muscle beds along the rocks and tube anemones.

Best dived at slack tide, currents can be strong, maximum depth is 40m.

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