Three Kings - Great Island NW
Also known as: Manawa Tawhi
Best time to dive
January to December; June
Certification & difficulty
Technical - advanced conditions (currents/depth); dive within your training.
Snorkelling
Not a snorkel site - Not typically offered given exposure and current, though possible on rare calm days
Safety notes
Extreme, unpredictable currents; no safe anchorage or landing on the rocky islands; long open-ocean transit and rapidly changing weather
Permits & fees
DOC permit required to go ashore (Manawatawhi/Three Kings is a nature reserve of major cultural significance to Maori, particularly Ngati Kuri); no separate permit needed for diving in the surrounding water
Permits and operators change - confirm before booking.
Location
Nearest hub: Cape Reinga (remote)
This profile is desk research, compiled from public sources - not a first-hand dive report. Coordinates are approximate.