Rikoriko Cave
Poor Knights Islands · New Zealand
Largest sea cave in the southern hemisphere by volume. You can enter by boat then drop down for a circular dive around the cave mouth. Walls fluoresce under UV light; the cave roof rings with whale song during humpback migration.
Conditions
Depth
8 to 25 m
Open water and up
Current
Can be moderate
Can pick up on the edge
Visibility
15 to 30 m
Clearest in the calm season
Water
14 to 22°C
Coldwater wetsuit
Month by month
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water (°C) | 19 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 18 |
| Vis (m) | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 |
| Current | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
Your chances of seeing each animal
Clown Doris
Last confirmed Jun 11, 2026 · 84 records
Almost always
Nearly every dive
Buller'S Shearwater
Last confirmed Feb 28, 2026 · 82 records
Almost always
Nearly every dive
Cook'S Scorpionfish
Last confirmed Jun 16, 2026 · 68 records
Almost always
Nearly every dive
New Zealand Demoiselle
Last confirmed Jun 11, 2026 · 45 records
Almost always
Nearly every dive
Stingray
Last confirmed Jan 2, 2026 · 18 records
Very likely
Most dives
Eastern King Wrasse
Last confirmed Mar 8, 2026 · 30 records
Very likely
Most dives
Snapper
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Crayfish
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Gear