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Dive Spot Guide•
Butterfly Wall
Sheltered-cove start leading into a fish-rich Fiordland wall.
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Usually best for scuba or strong freedive plans that begin gently in the cove before moving onto steeper wall structure in typical Fiordland conditions.
About Butterfly Wall
Butterfly Wall starts quietly in a sheltered cove before the bottom tightens into a proper Fiordland wall on both sides of the site. Divers come here for kelp-covered reef, large schools of butterfly perch, wrasses, and the darker wall sections where small black coral appears, making it a good scenic progression from a gentle beginning into a more dramatic wall profile. It works best as a deliberately paced dive that uses the cove as the easy start and then reads the wall carefully as the terrain steepens.
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Where Is Butterfly Wall?
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Community sourced coordinates.
Butterfly Wall Planning Details
Depth range, seasonality, and planning context.
Reported Depth
2m - 25m
Depth Note
Public references describe a shallow cove and reef start that develops into a steeper wall profile reaching beyond typical shallow training depths.
Best Season
Year-round in workable Fiordland weather, with the best experience on settled days.
Typical Conditions
Cold fiord conditions with sheltered water in the cove, darker wall sections beyond, and visibility that can change with runoff and weather.
Safety & Access At Butterfly Wall
Hazards, restrictions, and access requirements.
Key Hazards
Low visibility
Safety Notes
Use the sheltered cove to settle the dive before moving onto the wall, and keep a conservative eye on depth, visibility, and buddy spacing as the terrain steepens.
Access Restrictions
Most visits are arranged by local boat operator as part of a Fiordland wall-diving itinerary.
Legal Notes
Fiordland marine habitats, including black coral communities, should be treated as protected and left undisturbed.
Local Intel For Butterfly Wall
Community notes to help plan your visit.
Scuba Diving
Starts as a gentle slope in a sheltered cove before developing into a steep wall dive on both sides.
Freediving
Experienced freedivers can use the gentler cove and upper wall, but the site's main wall character still calls for conservative depth choices.
Snorkeling
Snorkel use is most realistic in the sheltered cove rather than along the steeper wall sections that define the site.
Recent Logged Visits At Butterfly Wall
Community dive logs and visit reports for this site.
Dive Spot Log Averages At Butterfly Wall
Average conditions based on logged dives & visits.
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