Jan’s Tunnel - Poor Knights Islands

Margally is a delightful change of pace in the Somosomo Strait, a spot we often suggest for a relaxed afternoon dive or for getting back into the swing of things after a travel day. It’s got a few coral heads and pinnacles, nothing too dramatic, but they start shallow, just 2 metres, then gently slope down to a sandy bottom around 18 metres. We love the swim-throughs here, they’re not grand caverns, more like playful shortcuts through the coral, and the undercuts always seem to be hiding something. Conditions are usually pretty mellow, making it ideal for newer divers to really take their time. We’ve had some fantastic encounters with Big-spot Anglers camouflaged among the coral, and the Bandcheek wrasse are always darting about. Keep an eye out for nudibranchs, especially around the Montipora and Honeycomb coral. The visibility averages around 13 metres, which is perfectly good for enjoying the busy activity of Scaly Pullers and Deep Reef Chromis. It's also a surprisingly good spot for confident snorkellers who want to explore beyond the immediate surface.

Location
Poor Knights Islands, New Zealand, Australasia
Coordinates
-35.487500, 174.736000
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 Jan’s Tunnel

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 Jan’s Tunnel

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