Dive HMNZS Waikato

Dive HMNZS Waikato - Tutukaka Coast

About HMNZS Waikato

The H.M.N.Z.S. Waikato is a Leander class frigate, complete with guns and helicopter hanger. She measures 113 metres long and was sunk on the 25th Nov 2000. She is lying 2 miles south of Tutukaka entrance in Ngunguru Bay and easily spotted by the are 4 mooring ropes attached to the hull making her location.

 

Dive HMNZS Waikato

She is sitting at a depth of 28 metres upright on sand with a slight list to port with her bow facing to the east. The shallowest part of the vessel is 8 metres from the surface. Descending down the line it is very common to come across schools of kingfish and sweep that blanket the outlining of this once a time ship of destruction.

 

The bow section has now broken off the ship after encountering raging storms in her new resting place. But new signs of life are forming like the jewel anemones that you will find among encrusted formations on the bow and rails.

 

Exploring across the deck section in limited visibility the guns that were once used for destruction come into view. Here they are taking on a new purpose blanketed with encrusted life with crustaceans patrolling her housing.

 

Rightfully qualified divers can penetrate the wreck through purpose cut access and exit points to explore control rooms, bridges, crew living quarters and engine rooms via established routes. A good torch is highly recommended even on dives during the day.

 

Proceeding up to the crow's nest the rails are covered in white anemones with a much large array of marine life. The phytoplankton here is abundant and is the draw card for the multiple species that you will encounter.

 

Summary of Dive

Great wreck dive location

Photographic opportunities suited best for strobe use

Penetration is good but tricky at times

Visibility is usually limited 10 metres, plus on better days

Depth 8 to 15 metres

Abundant marine life, resident large octopus within wreck

 

 

HMNZS Waikato Specifications

Displacement: 3182 tonnes

Length: 113metres

Width: 12 metres

Engines: Twin steam turbines driving twin shafts producing

30,000 hp

 

 

HMNZS Waikato Armament

Twin 115mm guns,

Wasp helicopter armed with homing torpedos

Two triple barrelled torpedos' and

One Phalanx close in weapons system

 

Dive HMNZS Waikato

Divers love to explore this former vessel that played a part as a protector of New Zealand. Now the HMNZS Waikato is taking on another role attracting divers from across the globe.

 

 

 

Jamie Obern steals the limelight while diving the Waikato on the Tutukaka Coastline.

 

 

 

Rails of the Waikato too a hamering in the last big storm in 2007. Growth is now relacing the damage that has been done.

 

 


Dive SS Elingamite Wreck - Dive Rainbow Warrior wreck - Dive HMNZS Canterbury wreck

Dive HMNZS Tui wreck - Dive HMNZS Waikato wreck - Dive SS Wairarapa wreck

Dive TSS Wiltshire wreck - Dive Tug Taioma wreck - Dive F69 HMNZS Wellington wreck

Dive Mikhail Lermontov wreck - Dive Lastingham wreck - Dive Rangitoto wreck


Home

About Dive planet
Social link
Blogs
Contact Us
Terms Conditions
Dive News
NZ News

Cuisine Recipe

Cleaning fish

Spearfishing

Spearfishing Travel
Spearo Magazine
Spearfishing video
Spearfishing gear

Diving NZ

Canterbury
Charter operators
Dive videos
Scuba Dive NZ
Learn to dive
Shark diving NZ
Dive Clubs
Dive Gear section
Wetsuits
Drysuits

Dive Sites

Wreck Dive Sites
Spearo Dive Sites
Dive Trail
Shark dive sites

Photography Top 50

Camera Rental

Marine Conservation NZ

Marine Planet
Whale Planet
Children conservation
Children Explorers
NZ Fur seals page
Dolphin Planet
Fish ID
Nudibranchs NZ