Poor Knights Islands
New Zealand · Northland
The Poor Knights Islands off New Zealand's east coast are a marine reserve Jacques Cousteau called one of the world's top ten dive sites — volcanic arches, caves, big schools, and subtropical species at higher latitude than they should be.
How this reef is doing
ⓘ How we measure thisReef state
Sub tropical warm current rocky reef. Stingrays, mating schools. Not coral but biodiverse.
Coral cover
Fish life
Heat
No unusual heat right now.
Fishing
Protected on paper, but boats are still busy nearby.
Sources · MERMAID and partner coral surveys · NOAA Coral Reef Watch · Global Fishing Watch and reef gravity
What you will see
17 species across the dive sites here
Cook'S Scorpionfish
Seen 25 days ago
at Rikoriko Cave
Least concern
Short-tail stingray
Seen 28 days ago
at Northern Arch
Least concern
Clown Doris
Seen 1 month ago
at Rikoriko Cave
New Zealand Demoiselle
Seen 1 month ago
at Rikoriko Cave
Jewel anemone
Seen 1 month ago
at Rainbow Warrior
Stingray
Seen 2 months ago
at Rikoriko Cave
Eastern King Wrasse
Seen 4 months ago
at Rikoriko Cave
Least concern
Blue maomao
Seen 4 months ago
at Rainbow Warrior
Buller'S Shearwater
Seen 4 months ago
at Rikoriko Cave
Vulnerable
Kingfish
Seen 4 months ago
at Northern Arch
Least concern
Pink maomao
Seen 4 months ago
at Northern Arch
Least concern
Spiny rock lobster
Seen 5 months ago
at Rainbow Warrior
Least concern
John dory
Seen 8 months ago
at Rainbow Warrior
Snapper
Seen Feb 2025
at Rainbow Warrior
Bronze whaler shark
Seen Feb 2025
at Northern Arch
Vulnerable
Crayfish
Seen year round
at Rikoriko Cave
Yellowtail kingfish
Seasonal visitor
at Rainbow Warrior
Least concern
Dive sites
What divers say
Subtropical fish that shouldn't be at this latitude, in water that shouldn't be this clear. Poor Knights breaks the rules.
Good to know
Cold water
7mm year round; many divers use semi dry or drysuit in winter.