Butterfly Wall
Butterfly Wall is a popular dive site located in a sheltered cove with a gentle slope from sandy to rocky reefs. This intriguing underwater world offers a unique dive experience with its stunning steep walls on both sides. The site is abundant with vibrant kelp forests, teeming schools of butterfly perch, and various wrasses. Divers may also encounter some black coral adorning the wall. With excellent visibility of 8m and a maximum depth of 19m, Butterfly Wall is suitable for divers of all levels, from beginners to advanced. Situated in Southland, New Zealand, this captivating dive site promises a memorable underwater adventure.
Diving Conditions Score for Butterfly Wall
4.8
Below AverageChallenging conditions, for experienced divers only.
The score is based on a calculation of the current weather and sea conditions.
Dive Site Overview for Butterfly Wall
Depth
19m
Visibility
8m
Experience Level
beginner
advanced
Weather Conditions for Butterfly Wall
Wave Height
2.08m
Wind Speed
5.8 m/s
Water Temp
13.8°C
Visibility
56.48km
Cloud Cover
12%
Wave Period
10.3s
Air Temperature
3.7°C
Precipitation
0 mm
Detailed 7-Day Diving Forecast for Butterfly Wall
Alpha
Dive Score Chart for Butterfly Wall
Best time to dive: 6:00 with score 5.934433333333334/10. Water conditions: Waves 2.28m, Wind 4.2 m/s.Best night dive time: 23:00 with score 5.582533333333333/10.
Chart showing hourly dive conditions including wave height, wind speed, water temperature, and visibility throughout the day.
Sunrise at Butterfly Wall: 06:00
Sunset at Butterfly Wall: 18:00
Optimal diving conditions at Butterfly Wall are affected by daylight hours. Sunrise occurs at 06:00 and sunset at 18:00, which impacts visibility and water temperature for scuba diving and snorkeling.
Best Overall
6:00Score: 5.9/10
Waves: 2.28m (8.95s), Wind: 4.2 m/s
Best Night
23:00Score: 5.6/10
Waves: 2.1m, Wind: 2.8 m/s
Seasonal Analysis for Butterfly WallAlpha
Historical patterns and best seasons for diving at Butterfly Wall
The dive score combines all factors to rate overall diving conditions throughout the year. Higher scores indicate better diving conditions.
Monthly Dive Score Analysis - Seasonal Diving Conditions
Higher values indicate better diving conditions
Seasonal DiveScore Chart
This chart displays monthly diveScore data throughout the year, showing seasonal patterns. The data is presented as a bar chart with an overlaid line graph.Dive scores range from 1 to 10, with 10 being optimal conditions.
Higher values indicate better diving conditions
Best Season for Butterfly Wall
Summer
Avg. Score: 7.9/10
Summer offers the warmest water temperatures and generally favorable conditions for all levels of divers.
Best Months for Butterfly Wall
July
Score: 8.1
August
Score: 7.8
June
Score: 7.7
Ideal Conditions for Butterfly Wall
Water Temp
14.9°C / 58.8°F
March
Visibility
17.4m / 57.1ft
January
Wave Height
0.2m / 0.7ft
January
Wave Period
8.0s
January
Seasonal Insights for Butterfly Wall
Butterfly Wall follows southern hemisphere patterns with March being the warmest month (14.9°C) and July the coldest (6.6°C). The calmest conditions typically occur in January with average wave heights of 0.2m and wave periods of 8.0s. The most comfortable wave conditions are in January with a low wave steepness ratio, creating gentler swells. January offers the longest wave periods (8.0s), creating more comfortable and predictable conditions for boat entries and exits. Ocean currents are slowest in January (0.5m/s) and strongest in January (0.5m/s). February is usually the driest month with 1.0mm of precipitation. For beginners, the best time to visit would be during January to March, when ocean conditions are calmer with long-period waves and currents are typically weaker. Experienced divers might enjoy the challenges and potentially better visibility during the shoulder seasons, with moderate currents that can improve marine life encounters.
Last updated: 1 min. ago - Jun 21, 2026
Note: This dive site is not a verified dive site. Please dive with caution. This dive site might have incorrect information by the community.
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