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Koi Wreck

The Koi, a 32-meter vessel from Scotland, built in 1912 and sunk in 1940, is a remarkable dive site in New Zealand's Marlborough Sounds. Originally a passenger ship operating between Motueka and Nelson, it later became a coal ship. Now resting at a depth of 12 meters, the Koi offers exceptional opportunities for macro photography.

Discover a vibrant underwater world teeming with Nudibranchs, Decorator crabs, Leather jackets, Blue cod, Spotties, Goatfish, Blue Mao Mao, and an array of fascinating invertebrate life. This dive promises an abundance of captivating critters to observe and capture through your lens.

Located just a short 15-minute boat ride across the bay from Picton, the Koi wreck is a popular second dive on the Go Dives Marlborough Sounds tour. The vessel rests upright on its keel, with the deepest portion of the dive reaching 12 to 14 meters and the bow as close as 5 meters from the surface. Protected from most wind and sea conditions, the wreck offers a serene and relaxing diving experience, free from any strong currents.

With visibility reaching approximately 6 meters and a maximum depth of 13 meters, divers of all levels, from beginners to advanced, can explore the Koi wreck. If you have a penchant for sea horses, there is even a family of up to 6 residing near the wreck—perfect subjects for underwater photography.

Plan your diving adventure today and immerse yourself in the rich marine heritage of the Koi wreck in Waikawa, Marlborough, New Zealand.

Diving Conditions Score for Koi Wreck

6.7
Above Average

Decent conditions, proceed with caution.
The score is based on a calculation of the current weather and sea conditions.

Dive Site Overview for Koi Wreck

Depth

13m

Visibility

6m

Experience Level

beginner
advanced

Weather Conditions for Koi Wreck

Wave Height

0.12m

Wind Speed

3.4 m/s

Water Temp

11.5°C

Visibility

56.7km

Cloud Cover

51%

Wave Period

8.55s

Air Temperature

4.1°C

Precipitation

0 mm

Detailed 7-Day Diving Forecast for Koi Wreck
Alpha

Dive Score Chart for Koi Wreck

Best time to dive: 6:00 with score 8.768099580712787/10. Water conditions: Waves 0.14m, Wind 1.9 m/s.Best night dive time: 5:00 with score 8.26314188034188/10.

Chart showing hourly dive conditions including wave height, wind speed, water temperature, and visibility throughout the day.

Sunrise at Koi Wreck: 06:00
Sunset at Koi Wreck: 18:00

Optimal diving conditions at Koi Wreck 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
6:00

Score: 8.8/10
Waves: 0.14m (7.95s), Wind: 1.9 m/s

🌙
Best Night
5:00

Score: 8.3/10
Waves: 0.14m, Wind: 3.3 m/s

Seasonal Analysis for Koi Wreck
Alpha

Historical patterns and best seasons for diving at Koi Wreck

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 Koi Wreck

Summer

Avg. Score: 9.8/10

Summer offers the warmest water temperatures and generally favorable conditions for all levels of divers.

Best Months for Koi Wreck

July
Score: 9.9
June
Score: 9.8
August
Score: 9.7

Ideal Conditions for Koi Wreck

Water Temp

Thermometer Emoji

24.1°C / 75.4°F

June

Visibility

Telescope Emoji

20.1m / 65.9ft

October

Wave Height

Wave Emoji

0.2m / 0.7ft

January

Wave Period

Wave Emoji

8.0s

January

Seasonal Insights for Koi Wreck

Koi Wreck follows southern hemisphere patterns with June being the warmest month (24.1°C) and December the coldest (20.1°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). January is usually the driest month with 0.0mm 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.

Scoring Legend:
9-10 (Excellent)
7-8 (Good)
5-6 (Average)
3-4 (Poor)
1-2 (Dangerous)

Last updated: 2 hr. ago - Jun 30, 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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