Magic Wall
Protected Area
Poor Knights Islands
Why dive here
With 79+ marine species recorded in the area - including blue sharks, dolphins, hammerhead sharks, humpback whales and orcas - Magic Wall offers some of Poor Knights Islands's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 15-22°C, warmest January, February, March.
Magic Wall is a site we keep coming back to at the Poor Knights, and for good reason. It’s right across Labrid Channel from Blue Maomao Arch, so you can often tack both onto a single dive if you’re efficient with your air and navigation. The real draw here is the sheer density of colour, particularly the invertebrates. You'll glide past walls covered in bryozoans and other filter feeders, each one a different hue, creating a vibrant, living tapestry. We always find a collection of nudibranchs here, tucked into crevices or crawling across the sponge growth. Look out for the resident moray eels peeking from their hideouts, and the ever-present wrasse darting between the rocks. It’s a relatively shallow dive, topping out around 17 metres, making it perfect for longer bottom times and a more relaxed pace. When the visibility is good, around 15 metres, the light penetration really brings out those intense colours. We’d suggest hitting it in calm conditions, as the channel can get a bit of a push, making it harder to appreciate the smaller details that make this wall so special.
Safety Notes
Wreck site - avoid penetration without wreck diving certification. Watch for sharp metal and entanglement hazards.
Nearest Dive Centres to Magic Wall
Dive shops near Magic Wall
Dive! Tutukaka
Moana Futures Ltd
Northland Dive
DIVE NOW
Reviews for Magic Wall
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Magic Wall
Magic Wall Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for Magic Wall, sourced from Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU) - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (-35.84, 174.61) (14km away)
October Averages
Sea Temperature
16°C
60°F · Range: 14.8–17.1°C
Current Speed
11.4 cm/s
Direction: SE (142.1°)
Chlorophyll-a
0.388 mg/m³
Moderate productivity
Salinity
35.44 PSU
Based on 4 years of monitoring data · Data sources: Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU)
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