The Police Dive squad will be in Tauranga today to conduct training exercises at Astrolabe Reef.

Senior Sergeant Bruce Adams says there have been nine dive fatalities across the country since the week before Christmas.

Divers are preparing to descend on Astrolabe Reef since it was opened back up on Monday. Photo: Dale Hobson.

'While the cause of these deaths are undetermined until Coroner Hearings we (Police Dive Squad) felt there was a need to raise safety awareness with the recreational scuba divers and spearo's in New Zealand.

'We have held safety presentations over recent weeks include Wellington, Auckland (Lake Pupuke), and Rotorua last night.” Bruce says they will be presenting the dive safely presentation at the Tauranga Sports Fishing Club on Thursday evening from 6pm.

'Our aim is to highlight common issues we have found in the unfortunate diving fatalities and hopefully all involved in the sport can learn from these to ensure we all get home safe.”

The navigational hazard status around Astrolabe Reef was lifted on Monday.

Two statutory notices relating to the MV Rena were issued when the vessel grounded on the reef in 2011.

Since then, work has been undertaken to remove as much debris as possible from the reef.