scuba dive the Poor Knights Islands New Zealand with
POOR KNIGHTS ISLANDS , TUTUKAKA , NORTHLAND , NEW ZEALAND
Southern Arch
Descending down the anchor line, we hit the floor at 8 metres, a rock covered with eklonia kelp and urchins (kina). To our left there's a wall we drop over to a sandy ledge at 18 metres. It seems to be a popular spot for porae, as there are about a dozen resting on the sand.
We swim south, passing numerous gorgonian fan corals, and some large solanderia hydroid trees. On closer examination, one of these has several jason miribalis nudibranchs, beautiful mauve/pink and white under my torchlight.
Coming to the eastern corner of the arch, we're amazed by the numbers and sheer size of some of the snapper milling around. It seems as if something has just happened, or is about to. We choose to continue, passing large boulders laying on the bottom at 21 metres, pass through a couple of swim throughs where we see banded coral shrimp and emerge into southern arch.
The view is superb, with the ground, strewn in boulders, gradually falling away as far as we can see, about 40 metres. I spot a coppermoki hovering 10 metres above us, a small school of mado cruise by the wall, an eagle ray rests on the bottom and all the snapper are still around, loitering with intent.
Unfortunately we have to leave, so turn around and backtrack the way we came in. We are escorted back to the boat by a large number of wrasse, mostly sandagers, but with a large male green and a small scarlet, and meet up with a few leatherjackets for our safety stop on the anchor chain. Awesome!
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