cathedralcove.co.nz · Tourism
Reserve-level fish life, calm-day visibility, and Hahei boat-support context.
Dive Spot Guide•
The Long Drop
Boat pinnacle with a shallow crown and rich reserve life.
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Local operator required
Best handled with a Hahei skipper who knows the reserve, the anchor options, and the day's conditions.
Short Hahei boat dive on a protected pinnacle with a shallow crown, steep boulder faces, and strong fish life; best on a calm, settled day.
About The Long Drop
The Long Drop is a reserve pinnacle on the seaward side of Okorotere Island, with a shallow crown, boulder terrain, and steep drop-offs that make the dive feel compact but dramatic. Jewel anemones cover the walls and the protected reserve supports strong fish life, so it suits boat divers who want a short Hahei run, tidy buoyancy, and a settled day rather than rough-water handling.
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Research Estimate At The Long Drop
Conservative baseline from public research. No community dives logged yet.
AccessModerate entry effort
Aquatic LifeExceptional variety
FacilitiesGood facilities
Where Is The Long Drop?
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Community sourced coordinates.
The Long Drop Planning Details
Depth range, seasonality, and planning context.
Reported Depth
7m - 29m
Depth Note
The crown sits around 7 m, and the east side drops to roughly 29 m.
Best Season
Summer and early autumn, when calmer water and clearer conditions are most likely.
Typical Conditions
Shallow crown, boulder fields, steep drop-offs, jewel anemones, and strong reserve fish life.
Safety & Access At The Long Drop
Hazards, restrictions, and access requirements.
Key Hazards
Restricted access
Safety Notes
Keep buoyancy tight over the shallow crown, stay aware of the deeper face, and plan the dive with a local skipper who can judge the day's sea state.
Access Restrictions
Boat access only from Hahei, and the marine reserve rules on fishing, collecting, and seafloor disturbance must be followed.
Legal Notes
Te Whanganui-o-Hei Marine Reserve is no-take: no fishing, no taking marine life or seabed material, and no feeding fish.
Local Intel For The Long Drop
Community notes to help plan your visit.
Scuba Diving
This is best as a short boat dive for certified divers who are comfortable moving from a shallow crown onto deeper reef faces and managing buoyancy around exposed structure.
Freediving
Only the crown is shallow enough to tempt a freediver, but The Long Drop is really a scuba site once you want the walls and deeper face.
Snorkeling
Snorkeling is only realistic over the shallow crown in very calm water; The Long Drop is mainly a scuba dive because the best terrain drops away quickly.
Wildlife at The Long Drop
Species commonly reported at this site, with direct links into their wildlife guides.
Recent Logged Visits At The Long Drop
Community dive logs and visit reports for this site.
Dive Spot Log Averages At The Long Drop
Average conditions based on logged dives & visits.
No community dive data has been logged here yet. Be the first to record a dive and seed the averages.
