Barren Arch
Protected Area
Poor Knights Islands
Why dive here
With 79+ marine species recorded in the area - including blue sharks, dolphins, hammerhead sharks, humpback whales and orcas - Barren Arch offers some of Poor Knights Islands's richest reef diving. Water ranges 16-22°C, warmest January, February, March.
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.
Typical Barren Arch Dive Profile
Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.
Nearest Dive Centres to Barren Arch
Dive shops near Barren Arch
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Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Barren Arch
Barren Arch Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for Barren Arch, sourced from Copernicus Marine satellite data
August Averages
Sea Temperature
15.82°C
60°F
Current Speed
11.4 cm/s
Direction: SE (142.1°)
Chlorophyll-a
0.264 mg/m³
Clear water
Salinity
35.47 PSU
Data sources: Copernicus Marine Service (EU)
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