Poor Knights Islands, Tui & Waikato
Ten million years ago a series of violent eruptions created a large land mass off New Zealand’s north east coast. Constant erosion by wind and wave action, combined with glacial and interglacial sea level changes have created the stunningly dramatic and beautiful cluster of islands and rock stacks that we know as the Poor Knights. Separated from mainland New Zealand for two million years, these densely forested islands are home to some of the country’s most endangered native wildlife.
The sheer cliffs plunge into a marine environment that is as unique as the islands themselves. Marine life abounds within the protected waters of the marine reserve. Dense kelp forests, sand channels, vertical walls, giant sea caves, archways and underwater caverns create vastly different habitats within a small area, providing a niche for more species of fish and invertebrates than can be found anywhere else in New Zealand coastal waters. Add to this a subtropical current that carries marine life from tropical waters, visibility that ranges from 20 to 40 metres for most of the year and you have all the ingredients for some of the best diving and snorkeling to be found anywhere in the world.
The Wrecks of the Tui and Waikato provide an excellent contrast to the natural beauty of the Poor Knights. These two wrecks were purposefully sunk for divers and make for some exciting and adventurous diving. The HMNZS Tui is 62m long and lies in about 30m of water, while the HMNZS Waikato is a 113m long Leander class frigate and lies in 28m. Both these wrecks are close to Tutukaka marina and can be dived on the same day.