Missing Link

Best months: Jan–Dec

Protected Area

Soufriere/Scott's Head

Why dive here

With 266+ marine species recorded in the area - including barracuda, dolphins, dwarf minke whales, humpback whales and nurse sharks - Missing Link offers some of Soufriere-Scotts Head Marine Reserve's richest reef diving. Water sits around 27°C.

Marine lifeBarracuda, Dolphins, Dwarf Minke Whales, Humpback Whales and Nurse Sharks · 266+ species recorded

Water27°C · warmest January, February, March

CharacterReef dive · max 10-30m

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

Poor Knights Island itself might not be the flashiest site in the wider reserve, but we still really enjoy a dive here. It’s a solid entry point, particularly if you’re getting your sea legs or if the weather isn’t playing ball for the more exposed spots. The max depth of 19m keeps things comfortable, and we often find good visibility, around 15m, which lets you really take in the kelp forests swaying in the gentle surge. You'll spend most of your time poking around the golden fronds of kelp, looking for the smaller stuff. We’ve spotted plenty of common triplefins zipping between the stalks, and the drummers are always out in force. Keep an eye out for a cowfish, their odd shape always brings a smile. It's a calmer dive, a good one for photographers focusing on macro, or just to soak in that distinctive New Zealand underwater feel. We often suggest it as a second or third dive, a nice contrast to the drama of some of the deeper caverns elsewhere.