Matapaua Bay
Sandy Bay, located in the middle with shallow reefs on either side, is the ideal dive site for beginner divers or those with Open Water 1 and 2 certifications. However, it's important to note that during summer, the bay can experience heavy boat traffic, requiring divers to exercise caution. The worst wind and swell for the bay is from the southeast (SE) direction.
With a rocky reef adorned with standard New Zealand kelp, Sandy Bay offers great opportunities for interacting with various marine species. It is worth noting that visibility can be affected by rainfall, resulting in potentially siltier conditions.
In terms of diving details, the maximum depth at this site reaches 11 meters, and the underwater visibility is usually around 7 meters. As for the location, Sandy Bay is situated at 277 Matapaua Bay Road, in the Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato, New Zealand.
With a rocky reef adorned with standard New Zealand kelp, Sandy Bay offers great opportunities for interacting with various marine species. It is worth noting that visibility can be affected by rainfall, resulting in potentially siltier conditions.
In terms of diving details, the maximum depth at this site reaches 11 meters, and the underwater visibility is usually around 7 meters. As for the location, Sandy Bay is situated at 277 Matapaua Bay Road, in the Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato, New Zealand.
Diving Conditions Score for Matapaua Bay
5.7
AverageAverage conditions, be alert.
The score is based on a calculation of the current weather and sea conditions.
Dive Site Overview for Matapaua Bay
Depth
11m
Visibility
7m
Experience Level
beginner
Weather Conditions for Matapaua Bay
Wave Height
0.44m
Wind Speed
10.7 m/s
Water Temp
16.8°C
Visibility
48.28km
Cloud Cover
20%
Wave Period
10.05s
Air Temperature
11.3°C
Precipitation
0 mm
Detailed 7-Day Diving Forecast for Matapaua Bay
Alpha
Dive Score Chart for Matapaua Bay
Best time to dive: 16:00 with score 8.664969841269842/10. Water conditions: Waves 0.46m, Wind 1.3 m/s.Best night dive time: 22:00 with score 7.372046153846154/10.
Chart showing hourly dive conditions including wave height, wind speed, water temperature, and visibility throughout the day.
Sunrise at Matapaua Bay: 06:00
Sunset at Matapaua Bay: 18:00
Optimal diving conditions at Matapaua 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
16:00Score: 8.7/10
Waves: 0.46m (10.5s), Wind: 1.3 m/s
Best Night
22:00Score: 7.4/10
Waves: 0.54m, Wind: 14.6 m/s
Seasonal Analysis for Matapaua BayAlpha
Historical patterns and best seasons for diving at Matapaua 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 Matapaua Bay
Summer
Avg. Score: 7.9/10
Summer offers the warmest water temperatures and generally favorable conditions for all levels of divers.
Best Months for Matapaua Bay
July
Score: 8.0
June
Score: 7.8
August
Score: 7.8
Ideal Conditions for Matapaua Bay
Water Temp
17.9°C / 64.2°F
February
Visibility
12.3m / 40.4ft
January
Wave Height
1.6m / 5.2ft
January
Wave Period
8.0s
January
Seasonal Insights for Matapaua Bay
Matapaua Bay follows southern hemisphere patterns with February being the warmest month (17.9°C) and September the coldest (11.7°C). The calmest conditions typically occur in January with average wave heights of 1.6m 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 0.1mm 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 18, 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.
41 Dive sites near Matapaua Bay in
GEM STONE BAY
Waitete Bay
West Point
SAIL ROCK - GMI
THE BOOK CASE - GMI
Never Fail Rock - GMI
ROCKY BAY - GMI
HOME BAY - GMI
CORALIE BAY - GMI
BRONZIE BAY - GMI
BLACK JACK REEF
MAMONA BAY
OTAMA REEF
PEACH GROVE - GMI
SOUTH EAST CORNER
GREEN ISLAND
OPITO BAY
PANCAKE ROCKS - MIDDLE ISLAND
KORAPUKI
Matapaua Bay
STANLEY ISLAND
THE TWINS
HUMBUG BAY
Devils Point
THE MAORI LADY
Black Rocks Lagoon
RED MERCS
DOUBLE ISLAND
Little Ohinau
OHINAU ISLAND
MAHURANGI IS/ GOAT IS
Champagne Rock
Rarotonga Bay
BIG BAY
The Golf ball/ Car Park
Aldermens- HoneyComb
Aldermens- Fish Factory
Aldermens- Mooring Bay
Orca Bay
Aldermens- Bishops Hat
Aldermens-Middle Middle
Got feedback?
Help us improve this dive site by giving us feedback.