Leigh Reef - Poor Knights Islands

Norman Reef’s Caves site, often just called "The Caves" by the liveaboard crews, has always been one of our favourites for a relaxed second dive. It’s got this great mix of shallow, sun-drenched coral gardens for newer divers and some genuinely fun swim-throughs for those who like a bit more exploration. We’ve probably logged more bottom time here just drifting through the dappled light of the larger caverns than anywhere else on Norman. What really gets us about The Caves is the sheer number of those Filament-finned Parrotfish – they’re everywhere, munching away, leaving little puffs of sand. Keep an eye out for green turtles too; they’re regular visitors, often just chilling near the cave mouths. The coral here is fairly resilient, mostly hard corals, with plenty of little nooks for clownfish and their anemones. Visibility usually hovers around 15 metres, which is perfectly good for navigating the twists and turns inside. For the deeper sections, maxing out at 16 metres, you can often spot a white-tip reef shark cruising past. Our best tip? Go early in the morning for the quietest experience and the best light filtering into the swim-throughs.

Location
Poor Knights Islands, New Zealand, Australasia
Coordinates
-36.292600, 174.824500
Type
cave

Marine Protected Area: Cape Rodney-Okakari Point

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 Leigh Reef

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 Leigh Reef

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