Scared of sharks? Fear no more, Meet Wellingtons friendly carpet sharks!
The Draughtsboard Shark (Cephaloscyllium isabellum), affectionately dubbed the Carpet Shark, is a distinctive species native to New Zealand’s coastal waters. Recognizable by its unique checkerboard pattern of dark blotches, this bottom-dwelling catshark thrives camouflaged in rocky reefs and sandy flats, often cruising around at depths ranging from 0 to 400 meters. However some have been observed up to 673 meters deep! Carpet Sharks have an incredible ability to adapt to various marine environments.
They love hanging out around New Zealand’s coastline, including hotspots like the Chatham Islands, the Snares, and Stewart Island. In Wellington, they’re frequent guests along the West Coast, and you can often spot their corkscrew egg casings washed up on beaches from the West to the South Coast. Dive HQ Wellington offers opportunities to explore these habitats, where sightings of the Draughtsboard Shark are a memorable highlight for divers.
During our latest open water course, divers were treated to an extraordinary surprise—an up-close encounter with not one, but two elusive draughts board sharks on the South Coast! This unforgettable moment added a thrilling twist to their training experience. A pair of these unique sharks were spotted at Island Bay Snorkel Trail, making it a dive to remember.