reef

Log This Dive

Middle Arch

Middle Arch is a site we always make time for at the Poor Knights, and it’s a good one to hit early in the day before other boats crowd the space. Drop in at the northern side, and you’re instantly in the twilight, the arch opening up below you. We love the feeling of being funnelled through, the rock walls rising on either side, often draped with orange jewel anemones. Look up sometimes, and you’ll see the sunlight filtering through the kelp at the shallower parts. You’ll usually find big schools of snapper and kingfish hanging in the current, and we’ve often seen short-tail stingrays cruising the sandy bottom at about 18 meters. The really cool part is the small cave near the southwestern exit. It’s a tight squeeze in, but once you’re inside, there’s an air pocket, and you can surface and hear the shearwaters calling from outside. It’s an ethereal, almost ancient sound, really making you feel connected to this wild place. This site suits divers who appreciate a bit of overhead environment, comfortable navigating through a well-lit arch. Expect to be surrounded by schools of fish, and keep an eye out for those impressive stingrays.