PANCAKE ROCKS - MIDDLE ISLAND - Goat Island & Hauraki Gulf

Saint Kilda's Rocks is a cracker of a dive, even if the five-metre average visibility sometimes feels more like a suggestion than a rule. You're barely offshore from Jimmy Armers Beach, a quick three-minute boat ride, and immediately, you're into this dense, swaying kelp forest. It’s a good 5-12 metre dive, perfect for soaking in the details rather than chasing depth. What we really love here is the sheer density of life hiding in that kelp. We've often found ourselves eye-to-eye with a Cape Shark tucked into the fronds, their speckled skin blending right in. Spotty and Razorback fish dart through the stalks, and if you look closely, you might even spot an Olive Anemone clinging to the rock. Our favourite trick is to find a quiet eddy and just hover, letting the kelp sway around us, watching the Pug-nosed Eels peek out from rocky crevices. It’s a calmer dive, usually without strong current, and well-suited to divers who appreciate the intricate beauty of a temperate reef and aren't put off by the greener, sometimes gloomier light that comes with thick kelp.

Location
Goat Island & Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand, Australasia
Coordinates
-36.639100, 175.861300

Marine Protected Area: Rabbit Island

Best Time to Dive in Goat Island & Hauraki Gulf

The warmest water temperatures in Goat Island & Hauraki Gulf occur in February, averaging 22.4°C. The coolest conditions are in August at 14.1°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 21.4°C
  • February: 22.4°C
  • March: 21.8°C
  • April: 19.8°C
  • May: 17.4°C
  • June: 15.3°C
  • July: 14.1°C
  • August: 14.1°C
  • September: 14.7°C
  • October: 16.3°C
  • November: 18.5°C
  • December: 20.3°C

Nearby Dive Sites in Goat Island & Hauraki Gulf

Nearest Dive Centres to PANCAKE ROCKS - MIDDLE ISLAND

Marine Life in Goat Island & Hauraki Gulf

Home to 77 recorded species including 43 reef fish, 11 sharks & rays, 3 whales & dolphins, 3 crabs & lobsters, 3 other, 3 sea snails & nudibranchs.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for PANCAKE ROCKS - MIDDLE ISLAND

Based on average water temperature of 18.0°C, currents 2 cm/s.

  • Wetsuit (3-5mm) - comfortable for 18°C water
  • Mask - essential for every dive
  • Fins
  • BCD - buoyancy compensator
  • Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
  • Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
  • Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
  • Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
  • Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories