Dive-site story
Rising off the Poor Knights Islands in Northland, Ngaio Rock features steep basalt drop-offs, kelp-covered ledges, and deep crevices sculpted by ocean currents. Encrusting sponges, vibrant jewel anemones, and dense colonies of bryozoans coat the sheer rock faces where subtropical and temperate currents meet.
Steep rocky walls blanketed in jewel anemones and sponges
Dense aggregations of blue and pink maomao swirling in the current
Frequent encounters with large short-tailed stingrays resting on sandy patches
Location
Use the map to plan with your operator and confirm the exact entry point on the day.
Seasonality
Late summer and autumn bring the warmest water and highest clarity due to the East Auckland Current.
Marine life
| Species | Likelihood | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Short-tailed stingrayBathytoshia brevicaudata | Common | ||||||||||||
| Pink maomaoCaprodon longimanus | Common | ||||||||||||
| Mosaic morayEnchelycore ramosa | Common | ||||||||||||
| Sandager's wrasseCoris sandageri | Common | ||||||||||||
| Lord Howe coralfishAmphichaetodon howensis | Seasonal |
Marine forecast
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