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Little Cave Bay

Located on the Southwestern point of Fanal Island in New Zealand, this dive site offers easy diving conditions for divers of all levels. The bay features a shallow area at the top of the reef, gradually sloping down to a sandy bottom at around 30 meters. Although the site derives its name from a small cave in the corner of the bay, it is not particularly noteworthy for diving purposes.

The site is characterized by a typical rocky kelp reef, teeming with schools of small fish. There is a possibility of encountering stingrays during your dive. While the marine life here is abundant, it consists mainly of smaller species, with larger fish species being less common.

With a visibility of 13 meters and a maximum depth of 20 meters, this dive site is suitable for divers of all experience levels, from beginners to advanced and expert divers, provided that the weather and diving conditions permit. The close proximity of Aotea Great Barrier and Auckland makes this location easily accessible for diving enthusiasts.

Optimize your diving experience with a visit to this picturesque bay on Fanal Island, New Zealand. Immerse yourself in the vibrant marine life and explore the rocky kelp reef, perfect for divers seeking a memorable underwater adventure.

Diving Conditions Score for Little Cave Bay

5
Average

Average conditions, be alert.
The score is based on a calculation of the current weather and sea conditions.

Dive Site Overview for Little Cave Bay

Depth

20m

Visibility

13m

Experience Level

beginner
advanced
expert

Weather Conditions for Little Cave Bay

Wave Height

0.8m

Wind Speed

18.3 m/s

Water Temp

17.5°C

Visibility

47.16km

Cloud Cover

12%

Wave Period

5.5s

Air Temperature

16.6°C

Precipitation

0 mm

Detailed 7-Day Diving Forecast for Little Cave Bay
Alpha

Dive Score Chart for Little Cave Bay

Best time to dive: 6:00 with score 7.354433333333334/10. Water conditions: Waves 0.42m, Wind 15.7 m/s.Best night dive time: 5:00 with score 6.761155555555555/10.

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

Sunrise at Little Cave Bay: 06:00
Sunset at Little Cave Bay: 18:00

Optimal diving conditions at Little Cave Bay 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: 7.4/10
Waves: 0.42m (7s), Wind: 15.7 m/s

🌙
Best Night
5:00

Score: 6.8/10
Waves: 0.46m, Wind: 14.7 m/s

Seasonal Analysis for Little Cave Bay
Alpha

Historical patterns and best seasons for diving at Little Cave Bay

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 Little Cave Bay

Summer

Avg. Score: 9.8/10

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

Best Months for Little Cave Bay

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

Ideal Conditions for Little Cave Bay

Water Temp

Thermometer Emoji

23.6°C / 74.5°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 Little Cave Bay

Little Cave Bay follows southern hemisphere patterns with June being the warmest month (23.6°C) and December the coldest (19.6°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). 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: 1 min. ago - Jun 22, 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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