Sand Garden
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 - Sand Garden offers some of Poor Knights Islands's richest reef diving. Water ranges 15-22°C, warmest January, February, March.
The Sand Garden at Poor Knights offers a different kind of dive. Expect broad stretches of white sand, punctuated by scattered coral bommies and the occasional anemone patch. It's a quieter site, good for macro enthusiasts or those looking to slow down and spot nudibranchs, garden eels, or passing rays. We find it's a solid choice when the main reefs are busy, providing a peaceful contrast.
Nearest Dive Centres to Sand Garden
Dive shops near Sand Garden
Dive! Tutukaka
Moana Futures Ltd
Northland Dive
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Reviews for Sand Garden
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Sand Garden
Sand Garden Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for Sand Garden, 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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