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Cave Bay

Located on the eastward side of the Poor Knights Islands in Northland, New Zealand, this dive site offers a diverse range of depths suitable for divers of all skill levels. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced tech diver, there's something here for you to explore.

The site features an array of captivating underwater landscapes, including large boulders and vibrant kelp forests. Keep an eye out for fascinating marine life such as kelp, stingrays, crayfish, scorpionfish, firebrick starfish, butterfish, black angelfish, and eels. Don't forget to look up, as you'll often spot schools of Koheru and hunting Kingfish.

For novice divers, the kelp and boulders near the entrance of the site provide a manageable depth range. However, as you venture eastward, be cautious of the deeper channels between the boulders. Along the bay's edge, the walls offer a spectacular sight, and the channel beneath them is an ideal location to observe rays. As you exit the bay, the depths descend into the technical range, presenting a thrilling challenge for experienced divers.

Heading southward, you'll be greeted by magnificent walls adorned with vibrant fans. Finally, upon returning to the bay for your safety stop, take a moment to explore the top few meters of water for interesting critters amidst the floating debris.

With excellent visibility of around 13 meters and a maximum depth of 20 meters, this dive site guarantees an unforgettable underwater adventure. Whether you're a beginner, advanced diver, or an expert, this versatile location is sure to exceed your expectations.

Diving Conditions Score for Cave Bay

5.4
Average

Average conditions, be alert.
The score is based on a calculation of the current weather and sea conditions.

Dive Site Overview for Cave Bay

Depth

20m

Visibility

13m

Experience Level

beginner
advanced
expert

Weather Conditions for Cave Bay

Wave Height

0.66m

Wind Speed

19.8 m/s

Water Temp

18°C

Visibility

38.68km

Cloud Cover

97%

Wave Period

7.65s

Air Temperature

15°C

Precipitation

0 mm

Detailed 7-Day Diving Forecast for Cave Bay
Alpha

Dive Score Chart for Cave Bay

Best time to dive: 17:00 with score 7.613828455284552/10. Water conditions: Waves 0.6m, Wind 20.5 m/s.Best night dive time: 18:00 with score 7.116235787321064/10.

Chart showing hourly dive conditions including wave height, wind speed, water temperature, and visibility throughout the day.

Sunrise at Cave Bay: 06:00
Sunset at Cave Bay: 18:00

Optimal diving conditions at Cave Bay are affected by daylight hours. Sunrise occurs at 06:00 and sunset at 18:00, which impacts visibility and water temperature for scuba diving and snorkeling.

🌞
Best Overall
17:00

Score: 7.6/10
Waves: 0.6m (8.2s), Wind: 20.5 m/s

🌙
Best Night
18:00

Score: 7.1/10
Waves: 0.6m, Wind: 22.4 m/s

Seasonal Analysis for Cave Bay
Alpha

Historical patterns and best seasons for diving at Cave Bay

The dive score combines all factors to rate overall diving conditions throughout the year. Higher scores indicate better diving conditions.

Monthly Dive Score Analysis - Seasonal Diving Conditions

Higher values indicate better diving conditions

Seasonal DiveScore Chart

This chart displays monthly diveScore data throughout the year, showing seasonal patterns. The data is presented as a bar chart with an overlaid line graph.Dive scores range from 1 to 10, with 10 being optimal conditions.

Higher values indicate better diving conditions

Best Season for Cave Bay

Summer

Avg. Score: 7.9/10

Summer offers the warmest water temperatures and generally favorable conditions for all levels of divers.

Best Months for Cave Bay

July
Score: 8.0
June
Score: 7.8
August
Score: 7.8

Ideal Conditions for Cave Bay

Water Temp

Thermometer Emoji

17.9°C / 64.2°F

March

Visibility

Telescope Emoji

12.0m / 39.4ft

May

Wave Height

Wave Emoji

1.8m / 5.9ft

December

Wave Period

Wave Emoji

8.0s

January

Seasonal Insights for Cave Bay

Cave Bay follows southern hemisphere patterns with March being the warmest month (17.9°C) and October the coldest (12.0°C). The calmest conditions typically occur in December with average wave heights of 1.8m and wave periods of 8.0s. The most comfortable wave conditions are in December with a low wave steepness ratio, creating gentler swells. January offers the longest wave periods (8.0s), creating more comfortable and predictable conditions for boat entries and exits. Ocean currents are slowest in January (0.5m/s) and strongest in January (0.5m/s). May is usually the driest month with 0.0mm of precipitation. For beginners, the best time to visit would be during December to February, when ocean conditions are calmer with long-period waves and currents are typically weaker. Experienced divers might enjoy the challenges and potentially better visibility during the shoulder seasons, with moderate currents that can improve marine life encounters.

Scoring Legend:
9-10 (Excellent)
7-8 (Good)
5-6 (Average)
3-4 (Poor)
1-2 (Dangerous)

Last updated: 1 min. ago - Jun 21, 2026

Note: This dive site is not a verified dive site. Please dive with caution. This dive site might have incorrect information by the community.

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