Poor Knights Islands, New Zealand
    Poor Knights Islands

    The Gardens

    Best months: Jan–Apr

    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 - The Gardens offers some of Poor Knights Islands's richest reef diving. Water ranges 15-22°C, warmest January, February, March.

    Best timeJan–Apr
    WetsuitA 5mm wetsuit
    Marine lifeBlue Sharks, Dolphins, Hammerhead Sharks, Humpback Whales and Orcas · 79+ species recorded
    Water15-22°C · warmest January, February, March
    CharacterReef dive
    StandoutRich in charismatic marine life

    The Gardens is a standout for us at the Poor Knights, and often one of our first stops. We love the easy entry into this shallow bay, especially when there's a bit of a swell running elsewhere. The back wall is riddled with cracks and archways, perfect for poking around, and you’ll find plenty of inquisitive snapper hovering in the shadows. We usually spend a good chunk of time around Shark Fin Cave – the light entering from the top creates an ethereal glow, illuminating the fan corals and sponges clinging to the walls. Out in the bay, the sandy patches often host foraging rays, and if you’re patient, you might spot a school of kingfish cruising by. This site is consistently shallow, maxing out at 17m, making it ideal for longer bottom times and less experienced divers looking to get comfortable. The average 15m visibility here means you can often see the boat from the seafloor, which is always a bonus. For those looking for a relaxed, sun-drenched dive with plenty of nooks and crannies to explore, The Gardens truly delivers.

    Today05:4518:3212h 47m daylightGolden hour 17:58

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    Conditions

    Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for The Gardens

    The Gardens Ocean Conditions

    Monthly averages for The Gardens, sourced from Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU) - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (-35.84, 174.61) (14km away)

    ExcellentGreatGoodFairPoor★Best monthsThis month

    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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