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Army Bay access note referencing Wellington Reef and tide-sensitive shoreline movement.
Dive Spot Guide•
Wellington Reef
Wellington Reef is a shallow Whangaparaoa reef for easy dives.
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Temperate Hauraki Gulf reef with a shallow southern end, a deeper northern edge, and calm-day planning that rewards reef-fish hunting.
About Wellington Reef
Wellington Reef is a shallow Hauraki Gulf reef off Whangaparaoa with a gentle slope from the south into deeper water to the north. It is an easy, often underrated temperate reef dive, best on a calm day when visibility holds, with snapper, kingfish, octopus, nudibranchs, crayfish, rays, goatfish and wrasse on the reef and sand edges.
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Research Estimate At Wellington Reef
Conservative baseline from public research. No community dives logged yet.
VisibilityVisibility: 5m
AccessChallenging entry effort
CoralHeavily damaged
Aquatic LifeAverage variety
FacilitiesLimited facilities
Crowd / PopularityFew visitors
CurrentLight current
Where Is Wellington Reef?
This spotNearby spots
Community sourced coordinates.
Wellington Reef Planning Details
Depth range, seasonality, and planning context.
Reported Depth
5m - 25m
Depth Note
The southern end starts around 5 m and the reef slopes to 25 m+ toward the north.
Best Season
Year-round, with settled summer and autumn windows usually giving the clearest water.
Typical Conditions
Temperate rocky reef, shallow to the south and deeper to the north, with variable visibility and tide-sensitive access.
Safety & Access At Wellington Reef
Hazards, restrictions, and access requirements.
Key Hazards
Low visibilityWaves
Safety Notes
Keep an eye on tide and surf, and turn back early if the reef loses definition.
Access Restrictions
Avoid rough days; the entry is much less forgiving when the tide and swell are up.
Legal Notes
The wider Whangaparaoa and Tiri waters have appeared in marine-reserve proposal history that included Wellington Reef and Army Bay, so check current access rules before a shore entry.
Local Intel For Wellington Reef
Community notes to help plan your visit.
Scuba Diving
Depth ranges from about 5 m at the southern end down to 25 m+ toward the north.
Freediving
The shallow southern end can work for freediving in calm water, but the reef is more useful as a relaxed reef dive.
Snorkeling
Snorkel is only practical on the shallow southern end in very calm water.
Wildlife at Wellington Reef
Species commonly reported at this site, with direct links into their wildlife guides.
Recent Logged Visits At Wellington Reef
Community dive logs and visit reports for this site.
Dive Spot Log Averages At Wellington Reef
Average conditions based on logged dives & visits.
Conditions
Avg. Visibility5m
Activity
No dive activity logged yet.
