Hahei The Long Drop

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Dive Site Review by Tyler Gorton
Photos by Andrew Simpson and Jamie-Lee Thorpe

Based inside the Te-Whanganui-a-Hei Marine Reserve of the coast of Hahei is a dive site called The Long Drop. To find The Long Drop you head 200 meters east of the gap between Mahurangi Island and Okoretere Island. Here there is an underwater spire which rises to approx. 1-2m below the high tide mark which can be anchored on.

The site goes to a maximum depth of 29 meters on the east side of the spire and is home to an impressive amount of fish and crayfish as it is based inside the protective area of the marine reserve. This dive site is home to many different breeds of fish such as giant schools of Leather Jackets, Butterfish, Blue Maomao and grandpa sized Snapper as well as occasional Stingrays and Eaglerays.

Here you can find massive Packhorse Lobsters living in huge families within cracks and crevices throughout the dive site with huge numbers thriving due to the Te-Whanganui-a-Hei marine reserve status giving the sea life time to not just replenish but thrive under the conditions.If you search around the south side of the spire you can find a toilet that was sunk there around 20 years ago giving the dive site its name 'The Long Drop' - Or perhaps it is a reference to the depth that can be reached at the bottom of the spire.