Snorkelling in New Zealand for Beginners: Gear, Conditions and Safety

Snorkelling in New Zealand is different

If you've snorkelled in the tropics, expect cooler water, kelp forests instead of coral, and conditions that change with the wind and swell. The rewards are big, though. In New Zealand's marine reserves, fish are abundant and often curious.

What to wear and bring

• Wetsuit: The most important piece of kit. New Zealand water is cool even in summer. At the subtropical Poor Knights, the warmest water is about 20–23 °C (December–March), according to Dive! Tutukaka. A wetsuit also adds buoyancy.
• Mask and snorkel: A mask that seals well matters more than an expensive snorkel. Try it on before you hire or buy.
• Fins: These make swimming easier and safer, especially if there's a current.
• Extra flotation: The Friends of Te Whanganui-o-Hei suggest "extra floaty things" for less confident swimmers.
• Sun protection: Your back gets sunburnt quickly when you're face-down in the water.

Gear hire is available near some popular spots. Goat Island has a seasonal hire and tour operator.

Read the conditions

Calm water makes snorkelling easier and safer. Visibility is usually better too. Use DOC's advice for Goat Island as a guide: it recommends not snorkelling in east or north-east winds over 20 knots or swells over a metre. It can still be unsafe in calmer conditions.

Before you go in:

• Check the marine forecast for wind and swell.
• Watch the water for a few minutes. Look for waves breaking on rocks, currents and boats.
• Plan your exit before you get in.
• If in doubt, stay out.

Safety basics

• Snorkel with a buddy, and stay close together.
• Stay within your ability. Swim along the shore rather than straight out.
• Rest on buoys where they're provided, like on the Gemstone Bay trail.
• Watch for boats and stay close to shore.
• Get out before you're cold or tired.
• In an emergency, call 111.

The easiest places to start

1. Gemstone Bay: A marked trail in water up to about 10 m deep, with buoys to hold.
2. Goat Island: Shore entry and plenty of fish, but only on calm days.
3. Poor Knights Islands: For your next step. You snorkel from a guided boat in open water.

Be a good visitor

• Look, don't touch. Everything in a marine reserve is protected.
• Don't feed the fish.
• Don't stand on reefs or seaweed beds.
• Rinse your gear between sites to stop marine pests spreading.

Read the marine reserve rules before your first trip.