Secret Lake John Doe's

DESCRIPTION

Dive Site Review by Tom Crisp
Photos by Tom Crisp

John Doe’s Secret lake – due to the sensitive nature of this site, names have been changed to protect the innocent.

This dive site sees more fresh water diving in New Zealand coming into the limelight.

To give away this treasures exact location would be somewhat reckless on my behalf. This is due to the major problem of didymo being spread in New Zealand’s fresh water. Careful cleaning procedures were adhered to before we jumped into this gem to avoid the spread of the pest. One careless diver could ruin this spring for generations to come.

The spring itself is a constant 11 degrees and has crystal clear visibility. Koura can be seen in sandy patches and hiding amongst fauna along with the occasional rainbow and brown trout. Ferns line the edge of the pool, feeding on nutrients from the ground pulled to the surface by the water. The clarity gives an illusion of darkness as the water absorbs light. This site is a truly magical dive, but not for everyone due to the hike and temperature. For some, this is well worth the effort.