Horahora Power Station, Lake Karipiro, NZ

[AndyNZ]

I have to share our dive from yesterday - the plan was perfect, to find and explore New Zealand's first hydro-electric power station.

The building of Horahora Power Station started in 1910, and after three years it went into operation.

Over time, more hydro stations were built on the Waikato River. On March 4th 1947 the final blocks were put in place on the Karapiro dam, and the waters rose to create Lake Karapiro that swallowed Horahora forever.

Due to power shortages at the time, Horahora was operational whilst the waters rose, generating electricity even as the generators were swallowed into the depths. One continued to work after it was completely submerged, giving rise to the legend that Horahora wouldn't die.

To our knowledge, no one has dived the power station since it was submerged in 1947. We had high hopes.

Now I've built it up, read the full Tech Dive NZ - Horahora Power Station Trip Report to find out what really happened!

 

[Belmont]

Good report on an unsuccessful expedition, thank you.
Could it be reached by Boat?
You might then enter in deeper water farther away from the silty shallower part??
We have a flooded power station in the St-Lawrence river. It was stripped of all machinery and all that is left is some silt covered empty building. Still an interesting overhead dive.

 

[AndyNZ]

I think a boat would be the way to go - Karapiro is an international water ski venue, and is peppered with boat ramps It would save the walk and the entry for sure.

The biggest challenge will be weather, the lake is fed into by the Waikato River that cuts through one of the largest farming regions in the country. We often do drift dives in the river at it's head, where it leaves Lake Taupo, and viz is generally 15-20m plus. Unfortunately in the 150km or so it travels before Karapiro it goes through several other power stations, lots of farmland and several kidneys. Any rain for a couple of weeks before the dive will just wash all the nitrates and soil into the water and kill any chance of good vis.

Hopefully, later this summer we might get some settled weather and we'll make another attempt - either by boat, or this time take some single tanks for the initial dive to check out dive and if conditions warrant it we'll then schlep the twinsets over.