The constant westerly winds have meant a great deal of diving over on the Eastern side of The Poor Knights. Plenty of visits to Cream Gardens, but sadly no shark encounters, just the view of the fantastic wall with some good visibility. Further down the Islands Barren Arch provided some more exciting diving, with loads of HUGE crayfish to be seen and also the return of the Jason's Mirabilis at the base of the arch!

Cave Bay Wall still has the cold current coming up from the deep, but it makes the vis on the wall sooooo much better! Plenty of schooling fish in the bay and more crays in the back. Bennett's Bommie had its resident Blue Moki hanging out in the bi-furcating crack as well as Gem Nudibranchs all over the walls. Nearer the top there are schools of Demoiselle and Blue Maomao hanging just off the kelpy rock. Matt's Crack was an eerie sight with salp stuffed all along the light zone and then clear once the shadows took over. Outside the crack a large Longtail Stingray flew by. Along the way at Mineshaft Cave a flight of Squid hung out near the surface(photo by Kent Ericksen).

We haven't managed Blue Maomao Arch too often, but it was as pretty as ever when we did. An afternoon dive at Red Baron Caves was the highlight of one trip, with the sunlight streaming down into the cracks and the Pink Maomao rushing out from the intruding divers. The Passage provided a great sandy dive on a couple of occasions, with both plenty of big crays present both times. The walls too were full of life with Gems, Tambjas and Clowns busy in their spring activities!!

The Canyons had some fantastic visibility, the whole of the main canyon visible from just below the surface - as usual load of Morays were lying on the rocks and Snappers on the wall. Landing Bay Pinnacle had Boarfish in the deep, Mottled Morays in the middle and Tambja Verconis on top - same old, same old! The darker spots around Taravana were covered in Blue Bell Tunicates providing a vibrant splash of colour.

Northern Arch has been the usual action zone - plenty of Snapper, Trevally and Pink Maomao. Even the Golden Snapper have been seen a few times and some more huge Crays along the wall. Tie-Dye Arch at The Pinnacles has been a bit dark with the salpy water, but when the current picked up it was full of schooling Maomao (Pink and Blue), big hump-nosed Trevally, really old Snapper and some 2m Kingfish cruising around. Morays, Spanish Lobsters and Lord Howe Coral fish hung around the rocks and even the Bastard Cod came out for a peek.

What about the Nudis? Well, as always Rikoriko night dives have dug up a few interesting species(photo by Kent) as well as some mating Janolus Mokohinau. In Maroro Bay there was a rock covered in Elysians and next to them a species of Janolus previously unseen. Don't forget about the Jason's for the next month or two, the mating clowns, Tambja and Gems - Cadlinas, Cromodoris and Flabalinas are out there too, just stop and look!

The water is still 14C-16C and the vis is good once you get used to the salp!

btw - They are coming........