Currently New Zealand has 18 marine reserves where you can experience diverse aquatic wildlife at first hand. Chief among these "national parks of the sea" is the Poor Knights Islands reserve. A dive site that French oceanographer, Jacques Cousteau considered one of the top 10 in the world.

Separated from the mainland, the Poor Knights marine reserve extends for 800 metres offshore around the islands. Beneath the waves an ocean of diving has been compressed into a relatively small area. Among the diverse and multiple environments formed by the islandís volcanic origins tropical and subtropical life an extraordinary variety of seaweeds, invertebrates and tropical and subtropical fish live side by side.

A warm current swirls around the islands on its way down from the Coral Sea north of Australia raising water temperatures to a warm 20-23 degrees celcius in the summer. Water clarity is also significantly greater than in nearby coastal waters with at least 20 metres visibility. Ideal conditions for the underwater photographer.

A marine reserve since 1981 this subtropical reef system offers a stunning diversity of wildlife. Many of the subtropical fishes living in the marine reserve are found nowhere else in New Zealand, having found their way to Poor Knights on the subtropical East Auckland current. Some of the fish include subtropical species such as spotted black groper, mosaic moray and Lord Howe coralfish. Sponge gardens and gorgonian fields are also inhabited by a myriad of fish, shellfish, urchins and anemones, with black coral found in deeper waters.

The steep cliffs, which fringe the islands, plunge 100 metres below sea level in places before reaching a sandy seafloor. Red moki and black angel fish are common and juvenile snapper can normally be found near to the wall. Mado and porae can often be seen deeper and sightings of some of the less common species like long finned boar fish and splendid perch are not uncommon.

From turbulent sunlit waters and kelp forests on the upper reaches of the tumbling "giant staircase," to the dark waters of the islands' many caves, the Poor Knights offer an extraordinary variety of underwater experiences. The mixture of tropical and sub-tropical sea life, the density of the sea life, and the clarity of the water make it an environment unique on Earth

Getting to the Poor Knights Islands is a 23km (15 miles) open ocean trip from Tutukaka Harbour, 30km from Whangarei. A number of charter boats operate from Tutukaka.

Check out the Department of Conservation website Dept. of Conservation for the Rules and Regulations relating to the Islands.

Previous Page | Email Page to a Friend.