Poor Knights Diving

Accessible from Tutukaka Harbour, a couple of hours north of Auckland, the Poor Knights Islands were named by Jacques Cousteau as one of the top 10 dive sites in the world.

The area was established as a marine reserve in 1981, and extends for 800 meters offshore, being influenced by a warm water current that originates in the Coral Sea, north of Australia. The water temperature is higher, and visibility significantly greater, than in nearby coastal waters.

Beneath the waves, an ocean of diving has been compressed into a relatively small area. The steep cliffs, which fringe the islands, plunge 100 meters below sea level in places before reaching a sandy seafloor, and the caves, arches, and tunnels provide a huge variety of habitats to explore. Sponge gardens and gorgonian fields are inhabited by an abundance of fish, shellfish, urchins and anemones, with black coral found in deeper waters. Squadrons of stingrays can also be found cruising the waters of the archways during warmer months.

Mid January to late April presents excellent all round diving. The water is warm 20-23 Celsius and the water is clear, averaging 20m visibility. From May to early September the visibility is excellent while the temperature falls to a winter low of 15-16 Celsius. Often calm periods of weather occur over this time and visibility in excess of 30m can be encountered.

Check out some of our other Scuba Diving sites.