Eastern Arch
Eastern Arch is a familiar site to those who visit the Labrid channel as it is at the very eastern end and dominates the horizon. The archway is one of a handful that can be carefully navigated through by larger vessels. At the Labrid channel side, the entrance to the archway is actually quite shallow around 10m, on the eastern seaward side the archway drops to over 50m.
Divel Level – Open Water on the Labrid Channel Side. Advanced Open Water and above if entering the Archway. Divers should be comfortable with low light conditions if entering the archway.
Depth 10m to 50m+
The Labrid channel side is very kelpy and and gently sloping. If you go too deep too soon along the slope, you can easily miss the entrance. On multiple visits, we have encountered Mola Mola cruising past the Labrid channel side. As you enter the archway you look into an almost eerie darkness as the archway is quite long and as the channel deepens little light penetrating through.
The walls are very steep on one side of the arch way and more slopey and rocky on the other. As with many of the sites at the Knights, the encrusting life is fantastic through the archway. At the eastern end of the arch you may find a nest or two of crayfish. People expect to see more crayfish here as it is a marine reserve and they are here, but they just haven’t flourished here yet.
Be mindful of depths, current and boat traffic when in the archway.
Tutukaka Coastguard VHF Channel 62
Distress & Emergency VHF channel 16 or phone 111
Diver Emergency Service (DES) 0800 4 337 111
The Diver Emergency Service (DES) is a 24 hour, 7 days a week hotline for advice and treatment of all diving related incidents, accidents or injuries, including the emergency management of decompression illness.
