Fees · Destination Guide
Tauranga and Western Bay of Plenty
Kelp reefs, volcanic island diving and wrecks from a Tauranga day-boat base.
Key fee: NZeTA for qualifying visa-waiver visitors
NZD $17 app or NZD $23 website
Fees · Destination Guide
Kelp reefs, volcanic island diving and wrecks from a Tauranga day-boat base.
Key fee: NZeTA for qualifying visa-waiver visitors
NZD $17 app or NZD $23 website
Confirm these fees before you book so your operator plan and day budget match what you will pay onsite.
Budget separately for New Zealand entry requirements, the day boat, rental gear and any club membership. Immigration NZ lists NZeTA fees and an NZD $100 IVL for most visa-waiver arrivals. Dive Zone and MMUC publish materially different service models and rates, which should not be treated as equivalent. The DOC Tuhua page does not list a general scuba marine-reserve tag; it does require prior arrangement for island landings. In the Motiti Protection Area, protection rules apply regardless of whether an operator has charged a fare.
| Fee | Amount | Applies to | Where to pay | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NZeTA for qualifying visa-waiver visitors | NZD $17 app or NZD $23 website Normally valid for 2 years for travellers | topside; scuba; freedive; snorkel | Official Immigration New Zealand website or app | Eligibility and exemptions depend on passport and arrival circumstances. Budget the IVL separately where required and allow processing time. Official requirements; fees. |
| International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy | NZD $100 for most liable visitors Usually charged on visa/NZeTA application | topside; scuba; freedive; snorkel | Immigration New Zealand | Exemptions apply. Do not treat this nationwide levy as a local marine park ticket. Official levy guidance. |
| New Zealand Traveller Declaration | Free Every international arrival | topside; scuba; freedive; snorkel | Official New Zealand Traveller Declaration process | Biosecurity declaration is mandatory, including used wetsuits and water-sport gear when relevant. This is separate from the island quarantine on Tuhua. MPI. |
| Dive Zone Tauranga local day-boat charter | From NZD $295 advertised Per advertised day charter; no future seat is confirmed | scuba | Dive Zone Tauranga booking page | Price visible on operator product page with a November 2026 dated listing, not a validated future departure or final quote. Tanks and weights listed as included. Prepayment and cancellation/transfer rules apply. Older tourism listings show a conflicting lower rate; use the direct operator quote. Bookable product information. |
| Dive Zone full dive gear hire | NZD $50 per day advertised Per day, subject to gear and size availability | scuba | Dive Zone Tauranga | Confirm whether the selected trip includes cylinders and weights and what wetsuit thickness, fins and sizes are available. Operator price statement. |
| MMUC advertised non-member club day trip | NZD $120 advertised Per day, conditional on club approval | scuba; snorkel | Contact Mount Maunganui Underwater Club | Club website publishes a non-member price but guest participation policy, certification, age and availability were not verified. Do not infer walk-up public booking. MMUC. |
| MMUC single full-year membership | NZD $70 advertised Membership year 1 July to 30 June | scuba; snorkel; freedive | MMUC membership form | The club also lists other membership categories and part-year fees. Membership acceptance and trip admission are separate matters. Application details. |
| PADI Freediver course at Dive Zone Tauranga | From NZD $650 advertised Scheduled course dates must be reconfirmed | freedive | Dive Zone Tauranga | Includes pool and open-water phases, subject to instructor, medical and site arrangements. Other indoor introductory/basic products have different prices. Course information. |
| Tuhua island landing permission | Fee not established from reviewed DOC pages Prior arrangement for any visit ashore | topside; scuba; snorkel | Tuhua Trust Board via DOC contact guidance | Permission is required before landing at Opo/South East Bay with caretaker present and quarantine process. No blanket public landing or on-demand access is implied; confirm any fee directly. DOC rules. |
| Tuhua marine reserve and Motiti protection reef access | No separate recreational dive tag identified in reviewed authority pages Follow current zone rules for every visit | scuba; snorkel; freedive | DOC / Bay of Plenty Regional Council | Neither reviewed authority page sets out a separate visitor dive-tag purchase for these zones. This is not a legal assurance that no other operator costs or permits ever apply. No-take rules, anchoring guidance, and private land restrictions still apply. DOC; Regional Council. |
Fee
Normally valid for 2 years for travellers
Eligibility and exemptions depend on passport and arrival circumstances. Budget the IVL separately where required and allow processing time. Official requirements; fees.
Usually charged on visa/NZeTA application
Exemptions apply. Do not treat this nationwide levy as a local marine park ticket. Official levy guidance.
Every international arrival
Biosecurity declaration is mandatory, including used wetsuits and water-sport gear when relevant. This is separate from the island quarantine on Tuhua. MPI.
Per advertised day charter; no future seat is confirmed
Price visible on operator product page with a November 2026 dated listing, not a validated future departure or final quote. Tanks and weights listed as included. Prepayment and cancellation/transfer rules apply. Older tourism listings show a conflicting lower rate; use the direct operator quote. Bookable product information.
Per day, subject to gear and size availability
Confirm whether the selected trip includes cylinders and weights and what wetsuit thickness, fins and sizes are available. Operator price statement.
Per day, conditional on club approval
Club website publishes a non-member price but guest participation policy, certification, age and availability were not verified. Do not infer walk-up public booking. MMUC.
Membership year 1 July to 30 June
The club also lists other membership categories and part-year fees. Membership acceptance and trip admission are separate matters. Application details.
Scheduled course dates must be reconfirmed
Includes pool and open-water phases, subject to instructor, medical and site arrangements. Other indoor introductory/basic products have different prices. Course information.
Prior arrangement for any visit ashore
Permission is required before landing at Opo/South East Bay with caretaker present and quarantine process. No blanket public landing or on-demand access is implied; confirm any fee directly. DOC rules.
Follow current zone rules for every visit
Neither reviewed authority page sets out a separate visitor dive-tag purchase for these zones. This is not a legal assurance that no other operator costs or permits ever apply. No-take rules, anchoring guidance, and private land restrictions still apply. DOC; Regional Council.