24. CAPE RODNEY/OKAKARI POINT MARINE RESERVE

By road 29km from Wellsford, near the township of Leigh, New Zealands first Marine Reserve, established in 1975, where nothing is takeable but photo's and lifelong memories. Visibility 5-15m. Beach dives.
The most prominent landmark within the reserve is Goat Island, an easy swim and superb dive spot. South side depths to 18m, northside to 9m. Beneath the waves are a variety of habitats, from rocky shores exposed at low tide, to deep reefs, underwater cliffs, canyons and sandflats.
Each habitat harbours its own creatures from seaweed forests in the pulsating light zone, to deeper waters where clinging animals like sea squirts, anemones, sponge and shellfish are found. The crayfish know they are protected, the snapper play in your bubbles and the blue cod act like submarine fizzers. In deeper water please be careful not to break off small fragile animals such as gorgonian fans, lace corals and sponges, some of these are hundreds of years old.