Astrolabe Reef

Not to be confused with Great Astrolabe Reef.

Map of New Zealand with marker in bay of northern island
Map of New Zealand with marker in bay of northern island
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Location of Astrolabe Reef.

37°33′37″S 176°23′47″E / 37.56039°S 176.396466°E / -37.56039; 176.396466

Astrolabe Reef is near Mōtītī Island, 20 kilometres NE of Tauranga, off the Bay of Plenty coast in New Zealand. The reef, which breaks the water surface at low tide, is a renowned scuba diving spot that drops off to 37 metres (121 ft) in different parts.[1] The reef was named by Jules Dumont d'Urville after his ship Astrolabe, when it nearly ran aground there on 16 February 1827.[2]

  1. ^ New Zealand Guide to Select Scuba Diving and Snorkelling Locations:Bay of Plenty Archived 31 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine. NewZealandNZ.co.nz.
  2. ^ The Discovery of New Zealand: Chapter 4: Cook To D'Urville. Victoria University of Wellington.