Northern Arch
Perhaps the signature dive of the Poor Knights: an arch floored at 37 m beside one of the finest vertical wall descents at the islands.
- Experienced
- Rock formations
- Stingrays
Advanced≤30 mHidden gem
Rikoriko Cave
Dive site in Poor Knights Islands, New Zealand
Dive inside the largest sea cave by volume in the southern hemisphere, where schools of blue and pink maomao gather in the shade.
- Max depth
- 26 m
- Level
- Advanced
- Best months
- Dec–Apr
Photo: Pseudopanax at English Wikipedia, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The story
Rikoriko Cave is described as the largest sea cave by volume in the southern hemisphere, at 221,494 cubic metres. It measures 130 by 80 metres with a 35 m ceiling, and its opening is large enough for small tour boats.
Source: en.wikipedia.org
The dive
A cavern dive. Known for stingrays and blue maomao.
Who it's for
Advanced≤30 mSource: globaldive.net
Recommended minimum: Advanced (PADI Advanced Open Water, N2).
- OverheadPart of the dive is under a ceiling, without a direct way up.
Conditions
- Dive type
- Cavern
- Environment
- Cavern (daylight visible)
- Water
- Sea water
What you might see
- Stingrays
- Blue maomao
Why divers come
- Sea cave
- Geology
Season in Poor Knights Islands
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
- Best
- Good
- Possible
- Closed
- Not documented yet
Best months: Dec–Apr.
Source: diving.co.nzWhere is the Poor Knights Islands?
The point shows the Poor Knights Islands area, not the exact dive site.
More dives in Poor Knights Islands
Rock formations
down to 25 m
Tie Dye Arch
A cathedral-like cavern at 25 m beneath The Pinnacles, wallpapered in colourful sponges and choked with fish and rays.
- Advanced
- Seals
down to 68 m
Barren Arch
A seaward arch sloping from 10 m to 35 m, busy with blue and pink maomao, demoiselles and koheru.
- Experienced
- Stingrays
Rock formations
down to 18 m
Blue Maomao Arch
- Open Water
- Stingrays
down to 70 m
Middle Arch
- Open Water
- Stingrays
Wall
down to 60 m
Landing Bay Pinnacle
- Experienced
About this page
Values marked “Estimated” come from our original catalogue and are being checked against published sources one by one. Sourced values link to where they come from. Conditions change with the season, the weather and the tide: confirm with a local dive centre before you dive.
Photo credits
- Diver at the Northern Arch, Poor Knights Islands, Anna Barnett, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
