Hope Point - Poor Knights Islands

Magazine Reef is where we head when we want a relaxed dive with a good chance of spotting something unusual. It’s a gentle slope, mostly sand at the bottom, dotted with coral heads and an impressive collection of soft corals – we particularly love the sea plumes swaying in the mild surge. That sandy bottom is a treasure trove; keep an eye out for Saddle Stargazers peeking up, and we often find Spotfin Dragonets doing their little dances. With a max depth of 15 metres, it’s a brilliant spot for newer divers to build confidence, but seasoned eyes will still be entertained. We’ve had great luck finding American Crested Pipefish tucked into the gorgonians, and the Red Clingfish are always worth a close look. The Pederson cleaner shrimp and Yellowline arrow crabs are everywhere, busy on their host anemones and sponges. It’s not a drift dive, more of a slow wander, perfect for photography or just soaking it all in. We’d suggest going in the late morning when the sun angle really brings out the colours of the corals and the visibility tends to be at its best.

Location
Poor Knights Islands, New Zealand, Australasia
Coordinates
-35.460800, 174.744900
Type
reef

Marine Protected Area: Poor Knights Islands

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 Hope Point

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 Hope Point

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