THE CATHEDRAL
Protected Area
Rabbit Island
Why dive here
With 72+ marine species recorded in the area - including blue sharks, dolphins, hammerhead sharks, humpback whales and seahorses - THE CATHEDRAL offers some of Goat Island & Hauraki Gulf's richest wall diving. Water ranges 15-21°C, warmest January, February, March.
The Cathedral is one of our picks for a relaxed dive with interesting topography, especially if the wind’s coming from the south. Tucked into the northern side of the Poor Knights, it's pretty sheltered. We love finning along the rocky reef, where the kelp fronds sway in the gentle surge, casting shifting shadows on the sand below. Keep an eye out for a Spotted Stargazer peeking from the sand, or a Lemon Sole camouflaged against the seabed. The real draw, though, is the wall on the outer edges, dropping to 24 meters, with plenty of nooks and crannies for small pipefish and inquisitive Southern reef squid. Visibility averages 17 meters, which is good enough to take in the schools of Pacific sardines shimmering in the light, or the occasional Bronze Whaler cruising by in the blue. It’s a great site for photographers who enjoy macro life and the interplay of light and shadow.
Typical THE CATHEDRAL Dive Profile
Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.
Safety Notes
Always perform a 3-minute safety stop at 5m before surfacing.
Nearest Dive Centres to THE CATHEDRAL
Dive shops near THE CATHEDRAL
Salt Aotearoa
Dive Zone Whitianga
Cathedral Cove Dive Ltd
Reviews for THE CATHEDRAL
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for THE CATHEDRAL
THE CATHEDRAL Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for THE CATHEDRAL, sourced from Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU) - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (-36.93, 175.86) (22km away)
October Averages
Sea Temperature
16°C
60°F · Range: 14.5–16.9°C
Current Speed
1.41 cm/s
Direction: SE (135°)
Chlorophyll-a
0.497 mg/m³
Moderate productivity
Salinity
34.91 PSU
Based on 4 years of monitoring data · Data sources: Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU)
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