Poor Knights Islands Scuba Diving
Diving the Poor Knights Islands is a unique experience. Not only do you enter the three dimensional world of the undersea, but through the many archways, tunnels and caves, you are entering the very islands themselves. This exploration is not just restricted to experienced scuba divers. Most of the archways and many of the caves are open to the surface providing safe access for all levels of experience.
Outside these geological features the diving can be divided into three main types: vertical walls, kelp forests and sand gardens. Often a combination of some or all of these underwater environments can be experienced on a single dive. In places like South Harbour a swim of 50m will take you from the exquisite beauty of the ‘Magic Wall’, across a forest of gently swaying Ecklonia kelp, through the sand patches of Labrid Channel and into the inner world of Blue Maomao Arch.
The depth of dive sites ranges from vertical walls that plunge 90m to the bottom to shallow bays no deeper than 15m. At many dive sites it is seldom necessary to dive deeper than 25m, however there are some sites where planned deep dives can be very rewarding. The vertical cliffs of the Sugarloaf are festooned with giant sponges and delicate gorgonians below 30m. Some fish species like the long-finned boarfish, splendid perch and tarakihi also prefer deeper water.
To experience all the different facets of the Poor Knights we believe that a scuba diving liveaboard charter is the best option. Not only will you get the choice of sites in the morning before others arrive, but you will be able to experience the Poor Knights Islands at night. Let us take the strain of cooking for a day or two, leaving you to relax and think of the next dive - or maybe share some photos with the other divers. This is the perfect way to adjust to the Northland pace of life!