Poor Knights Cave Bay

DESCRIPTION

Dive site review by Anna Clague
Photos by Andrew Simpson

This is a great site with depth ranges to suit all ability of diver, from beginner to tech and all the levels in between. This site is on the seaward side of the Poor Knights Islands.

Cave bay tumbles down over boulders from a nice shallow 5 meters at the back to 60-70ish out the front. The bay narrows in towards the back with a side gut on the left as you face towards the island. From the surface you can see a finger of rock extending down into the water, this continues underwater for about 10 meters which creates the gut. The gut is fairly narrow – about 5 meters across at the front and narrowing in towards the back. The bottom is covered in rocks and is a great pooling area for schools of Demoiselles and Blue Maomao.

lThe rest of the bay is made up of big boulders and rocks covered in Ecklonia Kelp and in season Sea Lettuce. This is great territory to go exploring for Stingrays, Crayfish, Scorpionfish, Firebrick starfish, Butterfish, Black Angelfish, Eels, and look up as there are usually schools of Koheru and hunting Kingfish. Throughout the bay you will be accompanied by Snapper, Wrasses, and Porae.

With the open ocean behind you and facing into the bay, on your right is a sheer rock wall with a sandy strip running along the base where stingrays nestle in for a rest. Putting the island behind you, and keeping the wall of the bay on your right shoulder, you will head out of the bay towards where the wall drops off underwater. This creates a stunning wall dive where you can find Gorgonian corals and encrusting sponges crawling with Triplefins, Blennies, Nudibranchs and all sorts of other macro life. If you look out into the blue you will see schools of Pink Maomao and if you look hard enough you may be rewarded with a rare glimpse of something big.

I have been lucky enough to dive this site with bronzies, a sunfish and a seal – not in the same dive though!