Blue MaoMao 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 - Blue MaoMao Arch offers some of Poor Knights Islands's richest drift diving. Water ranges 16-22°C, warmest January, February, March.
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.
Safety Notes
Drift dive - carry a surface marker buoy (SMB) and stay with your group. Brief the current direction before entry.
Nearest Dive Centres to Blue MaoMao Arch
Dive shops near Blue MaoMao Arch
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Moana Futures Ltd
Northland Dive
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Reviews for Blue MaoMao Arch
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Blue MaoMao Arch
Blue MaoMao Arch Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for Blue MaoMao 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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