it was in the days after christmas and i was bored, alex was away and lee didnt have much to do so we decided to go and explore the remains of a wreck out at the shakespear regional park on the whangaparaoa peninsula.  ‘whangaparaoa’ is maori for bay of whales and orca and dolphins are regularly spotted off the beaches.

the park is 40 minutes north of auckland and whilst the three beaches (Te Haruhi, Army Bay and Okoromai Bay) are pretty barren dive sites, there are the wrecks of some ships at Te Hurahi Bay and at the entrance to Okoromai Bay.
interestingly enough, the information on the internet tells us that the largest wreck, the one we dived on today, is the S.S. Wainui.  however other information online says that this ship ran aground near Otago.  and tom from the dive shop agrees that its not the Wainui as the number of props dont match up.

however dive new zealand says;

Waipu 1874

WAIPU, cutter: The heavy gale which swept Auckland Harbour on the night of February 7, 1874, also accounted for the loss of at least one small vessel outside the harbour. The cutter Waipu was driven ashore during the height of the gale and became a total wreck off Whangaparaoa.

shane, lee and i went for a bit of a walk around the bays and then a 45 min, 5m dive on the wreck.


Discover Scuba Crew Team Tara descends to the HMNZS Waikato / Photograph by Andrew Simpson Gem Nudibranch Blue Mao Mao Arch Nell and the Demoiselles Cadlina Willani Bluebell Turnicates Specialty Instructor Ratings Divers descending Firebrick Starfish

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