info updated Photos.
Apr 18, 2026Rainbow Warrior
Historic wreck dive in the Cavalli Islands, New Zealand.
Scuba DivingBoatAdvanced18m - 27m
Artificial reefWreck
Short-boat wreck dive on sand with a mature artificial-reef profile. Best for certified divers who are comfortable with a deeper wreck and a memorial site.
About Rainbow Warrior
Rainbow Warrior is a boat-access wreck dive in the Cavalli Islands, resting on sand as a mature artificial reef. It is a serious but rewarding certified dive: the wreck is thick with corals and anemones, small fish use the structure for shelter, and the short boat ride pays off when the water and current are settled for certified divers.
Safety & Access
Site Conditions
Boat trafficEntanglement riskRestricted access
Safety Notes
Treat it as a certified wreck dive: plan gas and bottom time, respect the memorial, and keep an eye on the wreck structure and boat schedule.
Access Restrictions
Boat access only from Paihia or Matauri Bay, and the deeper wreck option requires appropriate certification and recent diving experience.
Legal Notes
The wreck is a memorial and artificial reef; follow operator rules and do not disturb or remove anything.
Where Is Rainbow Warrior?
Featured Operators
Loading local operators…
Local Intel For Rainbow Warrior
Community notes to help plan your visit.
Scuba Diving
A certified wreck dive on a sand-bottomed artificial reef, best treated as an advanced open-water profile.
Freediving
Not a practical freedive objective; the wreck is too deep for ordinary freedive planning.
Snorkeling
Snorkeling is limited to the surface support area and is not the useful way to see the wreck.
Wildlife at Rainbow Warrior
Species commonly reported at this site, with direct links into their wildlife guides.
Research Estimate At Rainbow Warrior
Access · 3/5Moderate entry effort
Research estimate
Coral · 4/5Healthy coral
Research estimate
Aquatic Life · 4/5Great variety
Research estimate
Facilities · 4/5Good facilities
Research estimate
Crowd / Popularity · 3/5Moderate
Research estimate
Current · 2/5Light current
Research estimate
- VisibilityResearch estimate
- 15m
