Goat Island in October

[Dermochelys]

My trip to New Zealand is coming together. I already have 2 days of diving out to the Poor Knight Islands with Dive! Tutukaka booked. Looking at where I'll be when, it looks like I might have a chance to squeeze in a shore dive at Goat Island when I drive between Matakana and Tutukaka.

Quick questions.....
1) It looks like the day I could do a dive at Goat Island (Oct 12) would be the first day of the season for a guided shore dive with Goat Island Dive and Snorkel. Is there a good chance of bad conditions in October there? The website says the shore dives are shallow, so I'm assuming the chance of bad conditions scrapping a dive would be higher because of that.

2) It looks like the guided shore dive is at 1:00 PM. If I'm driving between Matakana and Tutukaka on the same day, would fitting in a dive be a good idea? I figured with gear set-up and take down, maybe leave Goat Island at around 4:00 PM, putting me in to Tutukaka by 7:00? Does that sound about right?

3) How is Goat Island for diving? I prefer shallow dives where I can spend the most time looking at fishes and other critters, so it seems like a good fit for me, but I'm wondering if entry / exits are difficult or if viz is usually bad, that sort of thing.

Thanks in advance for any pointers!

 

[Tom_Ivan]

Unless your incredibly unlucky with the direction of the swell, you'll be diving in shallow water protected by the island so don't worry too much about weather.

It's a very easy dive site! Just a few stairs down to the beach. Usually no waves at all.

Visibility is hit and miss. Just cross your fingers for a good day.

I'd call goat island an average dive site but worth doing if your draving past anyway.

 

[MB NZ]

I have seen it rough at Goat Island. In fact, the one time I turned up there with dive gear! Sea conditions are unpredictable in every season, so hard to know what it will be like, but most likely OK or better. I assume you have researched water temperatures? It won't be warm.