New Zealand · Indo-Pacific
Best time to dive Poor Knights Islands
Diveable year-round. Summer (November–April) brings 20–23 °C water, rays and orcas; winter (May–September) has the best visibility (often 30 m) at a chilly 14–16 °C. Spring plankton and salp blooms reduce visibility.
Peak season: November–April
Overall diving, month by month
Balanced scoring · forecasts include the 2026/27 El Niño outlook
Confidence: Nov high · Dec high · Jan medium · Feb medium · Mar medium · Apr medium · May medium · Jun medium · Jul medium · Aug medium · Sep medium · Oct medium · Nov medium · Dec medium
What's good when
Each attribute scored 0–10 for every month
| Nov2026 | Dec | Jan2027 | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pelagic & big animals | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Macro life | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Coral & reef health | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Visibility | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 |
| Water temperature | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Weather & sea state | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 |
| Operations & access | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
Water temperature & visibility
| Month | Water | Visibility |
|---|---|---|
| November 2026 | 17.0 °C (63 °F) | 15–20 m |
| December 2026 | 19.0 °C (66 °F) | 15–20 m |
| January 2027 | 21.0 °C (70 °F) | 15–25 m |
| February 2027 | 22.0 °C (72 °F) | 15–25 m |
| March 2027 | 21.5 °C (71 °F) | 15–25 m |
| April 2027 | 20.0 °C (68 °F) | 20–25 m |
| May 2027 | 18.5 °C (65 °F) | 20–30 m |
| June 2027 | 17.0 °C (63 °F) | 25–30 m |
| July 2027 | 15.5 °C (60 °F) | 25–35 m |
| August 2027 | 15.0 °C (59 °F) | 25–35 m |
| September 2027 | 15.0 °C (59 °F) | 20–30 m |
| October 2027 | 15.5 °C (60 °F) | 15–25 m |
| November 2027 | 17.0 °C (63 °F) | 15–20 m |
| December 2027 | 19.0 °C (66 °F) | 15–20 m |
Marine life calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| short-tail stingray | Peak | Peak | Peak | ● | ● | ● | Peak | |||||
| orca | Peak | Peak | ● | ● | ||||||||
| nudibranchs | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
| moray eels | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
Peak = best odds · ● = regularly seen · blank = unlikely. Calendar months, every year.
About the diving
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Current strength
- 2 / 5
- Luxury level
- 3 / 5
- Typical depth
- 5–30 m
- Max depth of interest
- 40 m
- Dive styles
- Day boat
- Suggested certification
- Open Water (cold water experience recommended)
- Nearest airport
- WRE
- Snorkelling
- Good
- Known for
- short-tail stingray, orca, nudibranchs, subtropical fish
Famous sites: Northern Arch · Rikoriko Cave · Blue Maomao Arch · Middle Arch
Season notes & sources
- Diveable year-round. Summer (November–April) brings 20–23 °C water, rays and orcas; winter (May–September) has the best visibility (often 30 m) at a chilly 14–16 °C. Spring plankton and salp blooms reduce visibility.
- Temperate reef of kelp, sponges and arches, not coral.
- Morays are resident reef inhabitants, with grey, yellow, mosaic and lowfin morays in the local mix. Middle Arch is a documented site. No eel-specific monthly abundance peak is established; water temperature and weather affect trip comfort.