Serpent Rock - Poor Knights Islands

The Slide at Terrigal is one of our favourite shore dives on the Central Coast, especially when the conditions are just right. It's a relatively shallow site, dropping to a maximum of 13 metres, which means you get some decent bottom time if you're good on air. We love the way the reef starts as a gentle slope of boulders and rocks, then around 13 metres, it really drops off into these incredible sponge gardens. That's where you'll find the nudibranchs, and we mean a lot of them. Seriously, keep your eyes peeled; some days you can spot dozens of different species on a single dive. Visibility averages around 7 metres, so it's not always crystal clear, but that just adds to the hunt for macro life. Look for the Australian Spiny Pipehorse tucked into the sponges, and we’ve often seen schools of Australian Salmon or Kingfish cruising by in the blue. For a shore dive, it offers a surprising amount of invertebrate life and larger pelagics too. It’s perfect for keen photographers or anyone who enjoys a slower, more deliberate dive, scanning every crevice.

Location
Poor Knights Islands, New Zealand, Australasia
Coordinates
-35.473000, 174.730400
Type
reef

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 Serpent Rock

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 Serpent Rock

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