Landing Bay Poor Knights - Poor Knights Islands

Namualevu Wall, a short hop from Kuata Island, is an easygoing wall dive with a few interesting turns. The wall itself drops to around 19 metres, providing a nice depth for extended bottom time without pushing your limits. We found it a decent spot for spotting smaller residents like the Banded Toby and plenty of Red-faced Squirrelfish tucked into the crevices. If you time it right with a high tide, there are a couple of swim-throughs that often hold shimmering clouds of glassfish, which is always a treat. It’s a comfortable dive, good for shaking off the travel rust or for a relaxed afternoon spent cruising along the reef.

Location
Poor Knights Islands, New Zealand, Australasia
Coordinates
-35.464400, 174.736000
Type
wall

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 Landing Bay Poor Knights

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 Landing Bay Poor Knights

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the typical depths for diving at Landing Bay Poor Knights?
Landing Bay Poor Knights is a steep sloping dive site that quickly descends to 30 metres, but continues to over 45 metres and beyond. For typical recreational diving at Landing Bay Poor Knights, the maximum recommended depth is 17 metres.
What kind of marine life and underwater features can divers expect to see at Landing Bay Poor Knights?
Divers at Landing Bay Poor Knights can expect to encounter shoaling fish such as snapper, blue and pink maomao, demoiselles, and kingfish. Occasionally, sharks and rays cruise past, offering exciting close encounters. The site itself is characterized by a steep sloping wall that quickly drops to 30 metres and beyond.
How difficult is diving at Landing Bay Poor Knights, and what skill level is recommended?
Diving at Landing Bay Poor Knights is rated as intermediate difficulty. This suggests that divers should have some experience beyond entry-level certification to comfortably navigate the site's conditions and depths.
What is the best time of year, or even time of day, to dive at Landing Bay Poor Knights?
The optimal time to dive Landing Bay Poor Knights is in the afternoon. This is when the sun reaches over the cliffs, enhancing visibility and illuminating the dive site beautifully. For more general information on dive seasons, you can visit our When to Dive guide.
What dive certifications are required or recommended for diving Landing Bay Poor Knights?
While specific certifications are not explicitly stated, the intermediate difficulty rating for Landing Bay Poor Knights suggests that divers should possess experience beyond basic open water certification. Advanced training in deep diving or wall diving would be highly recommended to safely explore the site's steep slopes and depths.
What are the typical current and visibility conditions at Landing Bay Poor Knights?
Divers at Landing Bay Poor Knights can typically expect excellent visibility, averaging around 22 metres. Information regarding typical current conditions for this specific site is not currently available in our database.