Diving in Poor Knights Islands
Why dive here
Poor Knights Islands offers some of New Zealand's richest diving, with 79+ marine species recorded in the area - including blue sharks, dolphins, hammerhead sharks, humpback whales and orcas. Water ranges 16-22°C, warmest January, February, March.
The Poor Knights. We’ve been lucky enough to dive a lot of places, and these islands near Tutukaka really do stand out. It’s not just the dramatic cliffs plunging into the Tasman, or the kelp forests swaying in the surge, it’s the sheer density of it all. You drop into the water and immediately you’re surrounded by schooling blue mao mao and trevally, so thick sometimes you feel like you’re swimming through liquid silver. Our favourite spots are always around the archways and caves. Northern Arch, for example, feels less like a dive site and more like an underwater cathedral, with light shafts piercing through the gloom. It’s a completely different vibe inside than out on the pinnacles, where you might get a quick glance at a bronze whaler cruising by, or a playful seal darting through the kelp. Keep an eye out for nudibranchs tucked away on the walls, and the occasional lemon sole camouflaged on the sandy patches. Water temperatures are best in late summer, January to March, when it’s a bit warmer and visibility often stretches to 20-25 metres. We’d suggest going with a local operator who knows the currents, as they can pick up, particularly around the outer pinnacles. There are 88 named sites, but even on a busy day, you can still find a spot that feels like your own private marine reserve.
Poor Knights Islands Dive Site Map
Dive sites and dive centres in Poor Knights Islands
Poor Knights Islands Dive Sites
97 dive sites in Poor Knights Islands
ABC Bay
ABC Bay, despite its relatively shallow maximum depth of 7m, is one of our favourite spots at Poor Knights. You’re not here for dramatic drop-offs, but for the sheer density of life tucked into every crevice of the kelp-draped rock wall. We particularly love poking around the darker spots, often finding a Spitlure Frogfish camouflaged perfectly, or coming face to face with a grumpy-looking Crested Blenny. The visibility averages 8m, which isn't gin-clear but honestly, it’s perfect for the intimate scale of this dive. The sandy patches are great for spotting Smooth Skates, and sometimes you'll even catch Pacific sardines shimmering past in thick schools. It's a fantastic site for macro enthusiasts and anyone who enjoys a slow, deliberate exploration. If you visit in winter, keep an eye out for playful seals zipping through the kelp. This site is ideal for photographers and divers who appreciate the smaller, often overlooked inhabitants of the reef.
ABC Bay
Castle Rock is one of our go-to False Bay dives when we’re after a guaranteed kelp fix. It’s always a good bet for shelter from a northwest wind too, which makes those blustery days a bit more bearable. The site starts shallow, just a few metres, with light filtering through the kelp fronds in shafts, dancing on the rocky reef below. We love the swim-throughs here, navigating tunnels of rock draped in broad-leafed kelp, always keeping an eye out for shy shy sharks tucked into crevices. As you head deeper, towards the 14-metre mark, the kelp gives way to some impressive rock pinnacles, smothered in jewel anemones and sponges. Visibility averages 8m, which feels decent when you’re wrapped in the green glow of the forest. We often spot snoek zipping past, and if you’re lucky, a curious Cape fur seal might pop in for a quick inspection. It’s a classic Cape Town dive, perfect for photographers wanting to capture that iconic kelp forest feel.
Alice A. Leigh /Rewa ShipWreck
Chac Mool is a good entry point for anyone curious about cenote diving. We’ve always found the main cavern to be quite open, with some decent light filtering through, especially around midday. The real draw here is that halocline – it’s wild to see the fresh and saltwater meet, blurring your vision for a moment before clearing again. Keep an eye out for the small stuff on the rock walls; we’ve spotted tiny serpent brittle stars clinging on. At a shallow 13 meters, it’s a calm, easy dive, perfect for getting comfortable with overhead environments without feeling too enclosed.
Alice A. Leigh /Rewa ShipWreck
The Alice A. Leigh, often called the Rewa, is a charming, shallow wreck off Moturekareka Island. We love it for how accessible it is, perfect for knocking out a couple of dives without a deep deco penalty. The main hull sits at about six meters, easily visible from the surface. It's really just the ribs and parts of the mast now, but enough structure remains to explore a little. You can weave through the broken timbers, watching for the mottled triplefins that zip between the rusty plates. Snapper often hang around the larger sections, and the occasional smooth skate glides past. Visibility averages seven metres, which is decent for a bay site. It’s pretty sheltered from strong currents, making it a relaxed dive, especially good for newer divers or for photographers wanting to take their time.
Ann's Rock / Astrid's Wall
Ann's Rock and Astrid's Wall is one of those sites that just feels right, a classic Poor Knights drift that can really deliver. We usually drop on the outside of Ann's Rock, letting the current carry us along the vibrant wall itself. The sheer density of schooling fish here is what we love – think thousands of demoiselles and swarms of snapper, often so thick you have to fin through them. Keep an eye out for the big pelagics too. We’ve seen striped marlin cruise by in the blue, and bronze whalers are a fairly regular sight. The wall itself is a tapestry of colourful sponges and anemones, with plenty of nooks and crannies to peer into for green wrasse and the occasional crayfish. Our favourite part has to be the feeling of that gentle push of current, gliding effortlessly past the scenery, with the knowledge that anything could swim out of the blue. This site is perfect for divers who appreciate a good drift and want to experience the sheer abundance of Poor Knights marine life.
Barren Arch
Corridors has that classic BVI feel, a gentle slope of coral fingers reaching out towards the sand. We usually drop in around the ten-foot mark, letting the soft corals and sea fans just sway us down. It’s not a deep dive, maxing out around 16m, which means plenty of bottom time to really look for things. Our favourite part has to be the sandy patches where we often find stingrays just chilling, sometimes even an eagle ray gliding past in the blue. Keep an eye out for lobsters tucked away under coral heads and the sheer volume of staghorn coral on the way back towards the boat. It’s some of the healthiest we’ve seen in the area. Visibility averages around 11m, which is decent enough to appreciate the intricate coral structures and the schools of small reef fish flitting about. This site is brilliant for newer divers or those who just want a relaxing dive without strong currents. It’s a great spot to practice buoyancy and really enjoy the smaller stuff.
Bartle Bay
The Corveta Camaquã is the wreck dive in Fernando de Noronha that always pulls us back. It’s a purposeful dive, dropping down to 52 metres, so you need to be comfortable with depth and maybe think about nitrox to stretch out bottom time. The ship lies on its starboard side, largely intact, which means you get that real sense of a vessel resting on the seabed. We love swimming along the deck, past the cannons and scattered ammunition, imagining the rough seas that brought her down. Visibility here often hits 25 metres, and with the light filtering through the water, the scale of the wreck really hits you. Schools of snapper and jacks are constant companions, swirling around the superstructure. Keep an eye out for green turtles, often found munching on algae growing on the hull, seemingly unbothered by divers. We’ve also had some incredible encounters with eagle rays gliding gracefully past the bow. It’s a dive for those who appreciate history and the way the ocean reclaims human artefacts, creating new homes for marine life.
Bartle Bay
Bartle Bay isn't always the easiest dive at the Poor Knights, and that's precisely why we love it. Tucked into the channel between the two main islands, it catches a lot of surge, which means you need to pick your day. But when conditions are right, the reward is a truly wild experience. Imagine slipping into that current-swept kelp forest, the light dappled and green, as schools of demoiselles and blue mao mao swirl so thickly they almost obscure the big snapper and kingfish hunting through them. We've seen brown dogfish tucked into crevices here, and on one memorable dive, a massive short-tail stingray glided right past us, seemingly unfazed by the commotion. It’s a site for those who enjoy a bit of dynamism, who appreciate the raw power of the ocean and the sheer volume of fish it delivers. If you're looking for something a bit more active than a calm reef cruise, and you’re comfortable with some water movement, Bartle Bay is our pick for a proper Poor Knights rush.
Blue MaoMao Arch
Dzinani is our go-to when we want a proper drift. It’s got that classic Diani mix of deep coral ridges and stretches of open sand, but here the current often picks up just enough to give you a real ride. We’ve found the best approach is to let yourself go, gliding over the corals, then dipping into those sandy channels where white-tip reef sharks sometimes just rest, unbothered. You'll often see schools of barracuda shimmering in the blue, or giant trevallies tearing through smaller fish. Visibility here can sometimes be a bit variable, averaging 13m, but when it’s good, the light plays beautifully through the water, making the corals glow. We’d suggest this one for divers comfortable with a bit of pace, it’s not for faffing about.
Blue MaoMao Arch
Blue Maomao Arch might just be our favourite Poor Knights spot, and that’s saying something. Drop in, and you’re immediately enveloped by thousands of blue maomao, a shimmering curtain that pulses with the light. We love hitting this site in the late afternoon; the sun angles just right, spearing through the water and turning the blue maomao into living stained glass as they swirl through the archway. It’s an easy dive, maxing out around 15 metres, so you can really take your time drifting through the arch. Look for the massive schools of demoiselles too, they add another layer of movement to the already busy scene. Keep an eye out for inquisitive snapper poking their heads from crevices and the occasional kingfish cruising by. It’s not about finding rare critters here, it’s about that sheer, overwhelming volume of life and the play of light. This site is pure magic for photographers and anyone who just wants to lose themselves in a massive fish aggregation.
Boarfish Reef Poor Knights
Eagle Ray Rock. The name gives a lot away, doesn't it? And often, it delivers. We've had some cracking dives here, especially when the spotted eagle rays glide by, completely unbothered. It's a proper wall dive, starting around 12 metres and dropping down to about 25. You’ll find some massive coral heads near the mooring, making for some cool swim-throughs if you poke around. We like to drift along the wall, keeping an eye out into the blue for those rays. It's a great spot for just cruising, letting the current do some of the work. You’ll see plenty of bluestriped grunts hanging out, and if you get down close to the sand, look for the sand stargazers – they're masters of camouflage. We’ve also spotted some surprisingly colourful parrotfish munching on the coral and the occasional green razorfish darting about. Visibility here is usually excellent, often 20 metres or more, making it easy to appreciate the scale of the wall. It’s a good choice for newer wall divers, as the current isn't usually too wild, but also rewarding for experienced eyes looking for those bigger pelagics.
Boarfish Reef Poor Knights
Boarfish Reef is one of those spots at the Poor Knights we always recommend. We love that it manages to feel both exposed and sheltered at the same time, a proper dive even with the 15-meter max depth. Drop down onto the reef and you’re immediately into a mix of kelp fronds swaying in the surge and colourful sponges clinging to the walls. We’ve had some cracking encounters here, particularly with snapper and schools of demoiselles weaving through the kelp. The real magic happens when you pay attention to the walls. We always find ourselves lingering, spotting nimble crimson cleaner fish zipping around and some truly impressive grey massive sponges. Visibility here averages around 7 metres, so it’s not about seeing for miles. Instead, it’s about getting close, exploring the nooks, and appreciating the sheer density of life in a smaller area. It suits divers who appreciate a slow, deliberate dive, those who love poking around rather than just flying past.
Poor Knights Islands Dive Centres
9 dive shops and operators in Poor Knights Islands
Auckland Scuba - Silverdale
DIVE NOW
Dive! Tutukaka
Dive Zone
GOAT ISLAND DIVE and SNORKEL
Moana Futures Ltd
NEW ZEALAND DIVING
Northland Dive
Ocean Wildlife in Poor Knights Islands
79 species recorded in Poor Knights Islands
Poor Knights Islands Daylight & Sunrise/Sunset
Sunrise and sunset times for Poor Knights Islands, calculated from coordinates
Today - Monday 24 August
Sunrise
06:54
Sunset
17:56
Daylight
11h 2m
Golden Hour
17:20
First light (dawn) at 06:28 · Last light (dusk) at 18:22
Monthly Averages
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 05:21 | 19:40 | 14h 19m |
| Feb | 05:54 | 19:18 | 13h 25m |
| Mar | 06:20 | 18:42 | 12h 22m |
| Apr | 06:45 | 17:58 | 11h 13m |
| May | 07:10 | 17:26 | 10h 16m |
| JunShortest | 07:30 | 17:15 | 9h 45m |
| Jul | 07:29 | 17:26 | 9h 56m |
| AugNow | 07:04 | 17:49 | 10h 44m |
| Sep | 06:23 | 18:12 | 11h 49m |
| Oct | 05:39 | 18:36 | 12h 57m |
| Nov | 05:07 | 19:06 | 13h 59m |
| DecLongest | 05:00 | 19:33 | 14h 34m |
Times are approximate local times based on longitude. Actual times may vary slightly depending on the exact timezone observed in Poor Knights Islands.
Where to Stay near Poor Knights Islands
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Marine Protected Areas near Poor Knights Islands
54 protected areas near Poor Knights Islands - please respect local regulations when diving
2B2 b
Whangarei Harbour Wildlife Refuge
Poor Knights Islands
Long Bay-Okura
Whanganui A Hei
Te Matuku
Cape Rodney-Okakari Point
Tawharanui
Motu Manawa-Pollen Island
Whangarei Harbour
Mokohinau Islands
Waipu River Mouth Wildlife Refuge
Showing 12 largest of 54
Getting to Poor Knights Islands
Whangarei
Auckland
Kerikeri
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