POOR KNIGHTS ISLANDS
AT NIGHT
Beneath the Stars – Night Diving at the Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve
Discover the Poor Knights Islands after dark with our exclusive night dive trips.
In summer (October–March), you’ll enjoy one late afternoon dive as the sun sets, followed by a magical night dive once the stars come out. Through winter (April–September), with shorter days the adventure deepens with two full night dives.
Watch the reef transform as the daytime fish settle in and nocturnal life takes over, with eels, crayfish, and bioluminescent plankton lighting up the underwater world. It’s a completely different side of the Poor Knights — mysterious, exhilarating, and unforgettable.
The Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve is located 12 Nautical Miles off the coast of New Zealand, that’s approximately 1 hour from Tutukaka Mariner on our charter boat. They are renowned for their stunning above and below water topography and the marine life is colourful and dynamic.
You’ll get to experience two dive sites in winter, or an afternoon dive followed by a night dive in summer — each offering a completely different atmosphere beneath the surface.
A night trip to the Poor Knights Islands is an unforgettable way to see the marine reserve in a whole new light. As the sun sets, the daytime reef life winds down, and the nocturnal creatures emerge — from crayfish and eels on the hunt to the magical sparkle of bioluminescent plankton. We head out whenever conditions allow, exploring the Poor Knights after dark for a truly unique scuba adventure.
Feel free to check out photos from some of our previous trips and follow us on Facebook or Instagram and we even have some amazing videos on YouTube
More photos are available on our Google account.
Other Poor Knights trip options;
During the day we offer a 2 dive Poor Knights Islands Trip. Click here to check it out.
Want more time in the water? Our 3 dive day at the Poor Knights gives you just that. Click here to check out our 3 dive day trip.
So join us, sit back, relax and enjoy a day out on the water with friends, family or even just on your own.
Our passionate crew will look after you no matter what level of diver you are, we just need to know a little bit about your diving experience. We provide rental gear for those who need it, wetsuits and hot showers so that you can stay warm during and after your dives.
Experience one of the top diving destinations in the world with a night trip to the Poor Knights Islands! We are the only operator offering Night Diving at the islands and spaces are limited to just 12 passengers, so reserve your spot today!
Use the booking form to help you book your trip, it’s a live system that shows the available spaces. If you want to dive on a day that isn’t listed then just get in touch with us and we will try and arrange it for you.
If you wanted to buy your own diving or snorkeling gear for the trip, then just jump onto our online shop or pop in store before the trip.
No experience with Night Dives?
No problem at all. For those who have not done any night diving or would like to gain more experience then join us on the SSI Limited Visibility and Night Diver course. You’ll join one of our instructors who will run you through the basics of Night Diving while still having time to enjoy the dive sites. Plus you’ll gain a dive certification as well. This is just an additional $50 which you can select at the time of booking.
Trip Schedule
- You’ll meet at the boat at the Tutukaka Marina at 4pm (11 Marina Drive, Tutukaka). You’ll meet at the shop to check-in and for those needing gear we’ll get that sorted to.
- Once the boat is loaded the Skipper will give us a safety briefing and we’ll start making our way out to the Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve. The trip over to the Poor Knights Islands takes just over an hour.
- When we get there the Skipper will choose the first site to anchor the boat. If you have a particular site that you would love to visit then please mention this to either the Skipper or Crew and we’ll see if the conditions will allow this.
- Once anchored, those heading into the water for a snorkel can jump in whenever they want. The Divers will then start gearing up and hop in for their first dive.
- Night Dive times are limited to a maximum of 60 minutes.
- The Snorkelers can hop in and out as they please when we are at anchor. There is a hot shower on the back deck if anyone needs to rinse off.
- After everyone is back on board, with a hot soup or cuppa, the crew will fill you in on the history of the Islands and, weather permitting, take you into the largest sea cave in the southern hemisphere (by sea volume) while you enjoy the stars.
- During this time you can sit back, relax and have a bite to eat.
- The second site will then be chosen where you’ll be able to jump back in for another dive or snorkel.
- Once the second activity is done everyone will come back on board and the Skipper will start making their way back to shore. You’ll arrive back at the Marina around 10pm. And don’t worry, we’ll take care of washing down the boat 🙂
Trip Requirements
- Respect our Marine Reserve, no touching, so be in control of your buoyancy and watch where your fins go, no feeding of fish and no landing on the islands.
- If you haven’t been in the water for over 24 months then you need to complete a refresher before coming diving. You can book onto a refresher with us in our pool before the trip. Note we do not offer in-water refreshers as part of your trip.
- Bring along a copy of your dive certification (if you can’t find yours then let us know beforehand and we can look it up prior to your dive trip)
- Please Note: We supply hot drinks, hot soups, biscuits and a few lollies, but dinner is not included, so please be sure to bring along refreshments to keep yourself hydrated and your energy levels up.
Transportation is not provided by Dive Now. If you need help with transport we can arrange this for you on the daily shuttle to Whangarei town and back, so just get in touch.
Are you a regular traveler to the Poor Knights with Dive Now?
Pay to come out diving with us 9 times and get your 10th trip for free.
Our Rates
$259 Diver using their own gear
$269 Snorkeler -Mask, fins, snorkel and wetsuits are included.
$389 Diver using our gear (incl. 2 torches)
Optional extras
$15 Torch hire (minimum of 2 torches per diver)
$50 SSI Night and Limited Visibility course add on
PLEASE NOTE
If you cancel your spot on a trip within 24 hours or less of departure you will incur a 100% cancellation fee – unless we can fill your spot. We often have a waiting list so please just keep us informed if you don’t think you are going to be able to make it.
If a trip is cancelled by us due to weather or for safety reasons, a full refund or store credit will be given.