Dive! Tutukaka, Poor Knights Islands

The unique environment of the Poor Knights continues below the waves, with a volcanic landscape eroded into dramatic caves and arches, walls and wave-cut shelves thick with kelp and filter-feeders. This diversity of habitats, combined with the mixing of warm and cold currents that meet at the islands, results in a rich assemblage of species and some fabulous diving. Over 125 species of fish share this environment with soft corals, sponges, bright anemones, kelp forests and gorgonian fans, including many species brought south from the Coral Sea.

The nutrient-rich water creates blooms of plankton that supports an entire food chain of life. For divers, the most obvious signs of this richness are the incredible numbers of fish that can be seen around the islands, including huge schools of pink and blue maomao, snapper and kingfish. At one of the islands’ best known sites - Blue Maomao Arch - a large swim-though is often completely filled with huge schools of fish taking shelter under the rock.

Summer diving

During the warm summer months, tropical visitors are carried down to the islands and divers can encounter tropical wrasse and groupers, along with the occasional manta ray and turtle. Stingrays also congregate to mate at this time of year, and can often be seen hovering in large squadrons at sites such as Northern Arch. This is also the best time to spot orca that arrive to feed on the big rays.

Winter diving

In winter, the water cools and visibility increases, and groups of bronze whaler sharks can be observed in the deeper water, whilst scorpionfish and New Zealand eagle rays can be found amongst the kelp. The macro life amongst the reefs is at its richest during the cold winter months and divers can easily be distracted by beautiful blue-eyed triplefins and stunning nudibranchs that shelter amongst the encrusting life.