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Simpson Rock

Simpson Rock is one of our favourites at the Poor Knights, a real punchy dive when conditions align. It’s a proper pinnacle, dropping steeply from a tiny patch of rock above the surface down to a platform at about 20 metres. We love to hug the wall, searching for the smaller stuff like Luculentus Wrasse and those tiny Crested Blennies tucked into crevices. Out in the blue, though, is where the drama happens. Schools of New Zealand demoiselle are often so thick they can obscure the light, and when the current is running, you feel every bit of that exposure. It’s the kind of spot where you’re constantly scanning for something bigger, especially in warmer water when Allison's Tuna or even a Blue Shark might cruise by. We’ve seen Red Rock Lobsters here the size of small dogs, too. This site suits divers comfortable with a bit of current and keen to experience the wilder side of the Poor Knights. You'll spend your time circling the rock, either glued to the wall for macro finds or suspended in the blue, watching the constant flow of fish. It’s an exciting dive, best done when the sea isn't too boisterous.