Our home water

Bay of Islands

Ipipiri · Paihia, Te Taitokerau — where every course begins
144
Islands
Paihia
Our base
Hole in the Rock
Landmark
Warm & calm
Water

Where Aotearoa’s history began — and where yours under the water does too.

Beneath the surface

A warm, forgiving classroom of reef and kelp.

Sheltered coves just off Paihia give calm, warm water and gentle reefs — snapper, trevally, stingrays and kelp gardens minutes from the boat. The perfect place to learn to relax, equalise and descend, with bottlenose dolphins often passing through the bay.

Snapper & trevally Stingrays Kelp gardens Bottlenose dolphins Sheltered reefs Easy, warm water
Diving it with us

Where you learn to freedive.

This is the classroom for our Taster Days and courses — calm, close, and forgiving. Minutes from Paihia, in water warm enough to fall in love with the sport.

Summer is glassy and warm; year-round there is sheltered water to be found somewhere in 144 islands.

History & culture

The cradle of two peoples meeting.

Ipipiri — the Bay of Islands — is the heart of Ngāpuhi, and one of the first places Māori and Europeans met and traded. 144 islands, sheltered coves, and deep history in every bay.

It was here, at Waitangi in 1840, that Te Tiriti o Waitangi was signed on the shores of this very bay. Offshore stands Motukōkako, the Hole in the Rock — paddled through by warriors seeking a good omen before battle.

This is our home water. Every course, every first breath underwater, begins here.

Your photo — Bay of Islands from above

Start your freediving in the Bay.

No experience needed. A Taster Day in the Bay of Islands is the easiest way in.

Plan a trip → Start with a course
30 Selwyn Road, Paihia · Bay of Islands · Te Taitokerau freedive.co.nz