The Xmas season began with the 3 day trip leading up to Xmas Eve. As usual it included a mid-summer night dive (getting in the water at 9pm is never easy - especially with cold beer in the fridge!) and again Blue Maomao Arch was the dive site. This is the mecca for nocturnal nudibranchs - Janolus Ignis is an easy spot here. On this dive there were also Mokohinau, Eximus and Plocamopherus imperialis - not to mention a whole host of others that were chasing each other along the wall. On the plateaux outside the arch was the biggest crayfish (and his mate) that ever walk the face of the earth, well maybe!!??

During December there has been a regular aggregation of stingrays at Tie-Dye Arch. This year was no exception and the biggest of the last 5 years. From the middle to the end of December there were no fewer than a dozen and on one dive at least 50 stingrays cruising in and out of the arch. The ceiling of the arch was also full of Demoiselles and Blue Maomao - in the current Kingfish patrolled the midwater. We managed 3 dives over that period and they were all awesome!

December had seen a huge amount of Salps in the water and then latter on at the surface - the vis had remained good, but full of 'stuff'. Early January saw an odd patch of green water descend upon the Knights - the temperature went up, but the vis went down. Strange currents sprung up around the islands and it was all a bit weird! However, the things going on continued to impress - there were Hammerheads, Manta Rays near Tutukaka and Orca in Middle Arch. Sunfish were seen closer to the islands and schools of Kingfish hung in the shade of the boat at Oculina Point.

Throughout this period there were Pink Maomao in Northern Arch and HUGE Gem Nudibranchs on walls all over the Poor Knights Islands. The Pohutakawa came into bloom and summer came - Blue Whales have been spotted close to home and we are only at the beginning of January! There is more amazing diving to be done at New Zealand's Poor Knights Islands this summer and we'd be happy to show you some of the sights.