We had returned to land and it was time for our last day of diving. The weather was so good and the swell was so low that we were able to make the hour long boat ride to the Rainbow Warrior. It's relatively rare that Northland Dive is able to make the trip out there so we were really fortunate.

Dive boat

Trip to the Rainbow Warrior

Rainbow Warrior was a Greenpeace boat active in supporting a number of anti-whaling, anti-seal hunting, anti-nuclear testing and anti-nuclear waste dumping campaigns during the late 1970s and early 1980s. The ship was bombed in the Port of Auckland in New Zealand by operatives of the French intelligence service (DGSE) on 10 July 1985, sinking the ship and killing photographer Fernando Pereira.

The visibility on the wreck wasn't great but I was just happy to be there. The wreck is in 26 m of water but it's only 40 m long so it's possible to dive the outer hull and deck a number of times.

Stern

Missing Propeller

The holes created by the bombs that sunk the Rainbow Warrior were very apparent on the outer hull. Wish I had got a better shot but there was a bit of a current and lots of back scatter.

Bomb holes

There was a fair amount of wildlife on the wreck too.

Nudibranchs

Crayfish in an Exhaust Pipe

Kingfish

There was a large hole in the deck that we were able to safely enter. Unfortunately were among the last diver in there so a lot of silt had been kicked up.

Interior

Bow

After our ascent and safety stop, it was time to head back. Luckily the good conditions held and we had a smooth ride back.

Rainbow Warrior Site

Rainbow Warrior Site

Location: Northland, New Zealand

Dive Number:   156 Bottom Time: 40m Time In: 10:57 a.m. Tank In: Max Depth: 24.40 ft Table Used:

Mix:   Nitrox Safety Stop: 3m Time Out: 11:37 a.m. Tank Out: Average Depth: 17.00 ft Start Pressure Group:

Surface Interval:   End Pressure Group:

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