Dale Point
Milford Sound · New Zealand
Rocky point near the mouth of Milford Sound known for friendly octopus encounters and forests of black coral. A permanent tannin stained freshwater layer sits over the salt water, cutting the light so that deep water black coral, Antipathella fiordensis, grows in only 15 to 20 metres. The result is a dark twilight dive with life normally found far deeper.
Conditions
Depth
8 to 21 m
Open water and up
Current
Usually still
Can pick up on the edge
Visibility
5 to 9 m
Clearest in the calm season
Water
11 to 17°C
Drysuit with heavy undergarment
Month by month
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water (°C) | 15 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
| Vis (m) | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 |
| Current | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Still | Still | Still | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle |
Your chances of seeing each animal
Black Coral
Sometimes
About 1 in 3 dives
Octopus
Sometimes
About 1 in 3 dives
Spiny Dogfish
Sometimes
About 1 in 3 dives
New Zealand Rock Lobster
Sometimes
About 1 in 3 dives
Sea Perch
Sometimes
About 1 in 3 dives
Snake Star
Sometimes
About 1 in 3 dives
Gear