Mathesons Bay
Mathesons Bay is an excellent dive site in New Zealand, offering a sheltered bay perfect for diving. Divers can easily access the water either from the beach or by utilizing the rock platform during suitable tides.
Expect to encounter a diverse range of marine life, including John Dory, Snapper, Parore, Stingrays, Eagle Rays, Stargazers, Kingfish, Yellow Tail Mullet, Nudibranch, Octopus, crayfish, and more.
With its sheltered location and gently sloping bottom, Mathesons Bay is an ideal dive spot, particularly for beginners. The inner bay boasts a maximum depth of 5-6m, while a magnificent kelpy reef awaits behind the island, descending to 25m. Additionally, the eastern side of the island marks the beginning of Daniels Reef, which stretches for several kilometers towards Leigh Harbour.
Located in Rodney, Auckland, you can easily find Mathesons Bay at Grand View Road, Leigh, New Zealand (postcode: 0986). The visibility in this area is approximately 6m, with a maximum depth of 7m.
Expect to encounter a diverse range of marine life, including John Dory, Snapper, Parore, Stingrays, Eagle Rays, Stargazers, Kingfish, Yellow Tail Mullet, Nudibranch, Octopus, crayfish, and more.
With its sheltered location and gently sloping bottom, Mathesons Bay is an ideal dive spot, particularly for beginners. The inner bay boasts a maximum depth of 5-6m, while a magnificent kelpy reef awaits behind the island, descending to 25m. Additionally, the eastern side of the island marks the beginning of Daniels Reef, which stretches for several kilometers towards Leigh Harbour.
Located in Rodney, Auckland, you can easily find Mathesons Bay at Grand View Road, Leigh, New Zealand (postcode: 0986). The visibility in this area is approximately 6m, with a maximum depth of 7m.
Diving Conditions Score for Mathesons Bay
5.4
AverageAverage conditions, be alert.
The score is based on a calculation of the current weather and sea conditions.
Dive Site Overview for Mathesons Bay
Depth
7m
Visibility
6m
Experience Level
beginner
Weather Conditions for Mathesons Bay
Wave Height
0.68m
Wind Speed
14.8 m/s
Water Temp
15.8°C
Visibility
48.24km
Cloud Cover
21%
Wave Period
4.6s
Air Temperature
14°C
Precipitation
0 mm
Detailed 7-Day Diving Forecast for Mathesons Bay
Alpha
Dive Score Chart for Mathesons Bay
Best time to dive: 9:00 with score 7.759772463768116/10. Water conditions: Waves 0.24m, Wind 7 m/s.Best night dive time: 5:00 with score 7.410982978723404/10.
Chart showing hourly dive conditions including wave height, wind speed, water temperature, and visibility throughout the day.
Sunrise at Mathesons Bay: 06:00
Sunset at Mathesons Bay: 18:00
Optimal diving conditions at Mathesons 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
9:00Score: 7.8/10
Waves: 0.24m (5.75s), Wind: 7 m/s
Best Night
5:00Score: 7.4/10
Waves: 0.24m, Wind: 6.1 m/s
Seasonal Analysis for Mathesons BayAlpha
Historical patterns and best seasons for diving at Mathesons 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 Mathesons 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 Mathesons Bay
July
Score: 9.9
June
Score: 9.8
August
Score: 9.7
Ideal Conditions for Mathesons Bay
Water Temp
23.6°C / 74.5°F
June
Visibility
20.1m / 65.9ft
October
Wave Height
0.2m / 0.7ft
January
Wave Period
8.0s
January
Seasonal Insights for Mathesons Bay
Mathesons 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.
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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