Poor Knights Islands, New Zealand
    Cape Rodney-Okakari Point

    Hammerhead

    Best months: Jan–Apr

    Protected Area

    Cape Rodney-Okakari Point

    Why dive here

    With 79+ marine species recorded in the area - including blue sharks, dolphins, hammerhead sharks, humpback whales and orcas - Hammerhead offers some of Poor Knights Islands's richest reef diving. Water ranges 15-22°C, warmest January, February, March.

    Best timeJan–Apr
    WetsuitA 5mm wetsuit
    Marine lifeBlue Sharks, Dolphins, Hammerhead Sharks, Humpback Whales and Orcas · 79+ species recorded
    Water15-22°C · warmest January, February, March
    CharacterReef dive
    StandoutRich in charismatic marine life

    Hammerhead. The name alone hints at the elusive prize, and we’re happy to report it often delivers. This site is a series of rocky fingers, reaching from a shallow 10 metres down to 17 metres, maxing out at that depth. It’s a classic Poor Knights setup – rocky faces giving way to thick kelp beds as you head deeper, with shafts of light filtering through the fronds. Our favourite feature has to be the small arch near the end of one of the fingers, a perfect spot to pause and watch schools of demoiselles flicker in and out of the shadows. We’ve had some incredible encounters here, especially during those warmer summer months, December to March. Seeing a smooth hammerhead glide past, silent and powerful, truly earns this spot its name. But even without the big pelagics, there's always plenty to see: butterfish nibbling at the kelp, big snapper eyeing you from the rocks, and those vibrant blue mackerels darting about. Visibility averages around 9 metres, which might not sound like much, but it often adds to the drama, making those swim-throughs feel a bit more adventurous. Hammerhead is a great pick for divers who appreciate the drama of a kelp forest and the chance, however slim, to spot something truly special. It suits those who don’t mind a bit of a hunt and enjoy exploring the nooks and crannies of a complex reef structure.

    Today05:4318:3112h 48m daylightGolden hour 17:57

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    Conditions

    Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Hammerhead

    Hammerhead Ocean Conditions

    Monthly averages for Hammerhead, sourced from Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU) - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (-35.84, 174.61) (14km away)

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    October Averages

    Sea Temperature

    16°C

    60°F · Range: 14.8–17.1°C

    Current Speed

    11.4 cm/s

    Direction: SE (142.1°)

    Chlorophyll-a

    0.388 mg/m³

    Moderate productivity

    Salinity

    35.44 PSU

    Based on 4 years of monitoring data · Data sources: Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU)

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