Goat Island - Poor Knights Islands

La Tortuga is one of our favourites on the Caribbean side, especially if you’re into wrecks with a bit of history. It's not a huge wreck, but the concrete mooring block shaped like a turtle is a nice touch and a good landmark. We love that you can follow a few different routes around the wreck, weaving through the hull sections that are now home to so many creatures. When the water cools down, typically during the dry season, you often spot white tip reef sharks cruising near the deeper parts of the wreck. Keep an eye out for stingrays nestled in the sand. Closer to the mooring, we’ve found plenty of boxfish methodically picking at the reef and crocodile fish perfectly camouflaged on the bottom. The wreck itself is a magnet for smaller stuff, like the Pink Cardinalfish darting in and out of the shadows, and we've had some great encounters with the chameleon clinid, practically disappearing before our eyes. It’s a comfortable dive, maxing out at 18m, making it suitable for newer wreck enthusiasts who still want a proper exploration. Visibility averages around 10m, which is decent enough to appreciate the wreck's structure and the life around it.

Location
Poor Knights Islands, New Zealand, Australasia
Coordinates
-36.269900, 174.795700
Type
wreck

Marine Protected Area: Cape Rodney-Okakari Point

Best Time to Dive in Poor Knights Islands

The warmest water temperatures in Poor Knights Islands occur in February, averaging 21.9°C. The coolest conditions are in August at 15.8°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 21.4°C
  • February: 21.9°C
  • March: 21.7°C
  • April: 20.6°C
  • May: 19.1°C
  • June: 17.6°C
  • July: 16.5°C
  • August: 15.8°C
  • September: 15.9°C
  • October: 16.6°C
  • November: 18.2°C
  • December: 19.8°C

Nearby Dive Sites in Poor Knights Islands

Nearest Dive Centres to Goat Island

Marine Life in Poor Knights Islands

Home to 84 recorded species including 53 reef fish, 11 sharks & rays, 4 whales & dolphins, 4 other, 3 crabs & lobsters, 2 sea urchins.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for Goat Island

Based on average water temperature of 18.8°C, currents 12 cm/s.

  • Wetsuit (3-5mm) - comfortable for 19°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