pinnacle

Log This Dive

Landing Bay Pinnacle

Landing Bay Pinnacle really stands out for us at the Poor Knights. It’s got that signature Poor Knights feel – a big, rocky structure rising from the deep, often swathed in golden kelp near the surface. What we love about this site, though, is how much it changes as you descend. Down deep, we’ve found violet roughy hiding in the darker crevices, and sometimes, a big oceanic manta ray will just glide past in the blue. Closer to the pinnacle itself, the rock walls are plastered with sponges and anemones, providing perfect hiding spots for those tiny mimic blennies and crested blennies. You’ll see schools of New Zealand demoiselles flickering like silver confetti, and the eastern king wrasse are always putting on a show, flashing their colours. The sheer number of species here – over 230 – means every dive reveals something new. Our favourite moments have been watching marbled parrotfish crunching on the reef, or spotting a shortfin mako shark cruising by in the distance. We’d suggest heading here on a calm day, when the sun can really penetrate the water and light up all those colours. It’s a site that rewards multiple visits.