Hammerhead
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.
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.
Nearest Dive Centres to Hammerhead
Dive shops near Hammerhead
GOAT ISLAND DIVE and SNORKEL
NEW ZEALAND DIVING
Reviews for Hammerhead
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)
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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