The fantastic Aldermen Islands, named by Captain Cook himself in 1769, are a popular dive site situated near the picturesque town of Tairua. With underwater scenery to rival the Poor Knights and over 30 dive sites to choose from including the indescribable Honeycomb Caves, there is something for every level of diver to wonder at. Nudibranchs, crayfish, stingrays, dolphins, seals, turtles, marlin, and the occasional Orca visit together with a myriad of fish, diving here will provide memories that last a lifetime. 

The Aldermen Islands are a small group of rocky islets to the southeast of Mercury Bay, 20 minutes east of the Tairua River mouth. The group consists of four main islands: Hongiora, Middle, Raumahuanui, and Ruamahuaiti. The Islands are a forested nature reserve and home to the rare Tuatara, access is by permit only. The surrounding waters are part of the Hauraki Gulf Maritime Park.