Northern Arch

Northern Arch is the Poor Knights at their most vertiginous: a slot cut clean through the headland, walls sheer on both sides, the floor far enough down that clear water plays tricks on the depth gauge. In late summer short-tail stingrays assemble here, stacking in the arch in loose formations that can number dozens, with kingfish spiraling above them. Orca occasionally arrive to hunt the same rays, which empties the arch faster than any dive computer alarm. Even without the megafauna, drifting the walls among sponge and jewel-anemone color is a top-shelf dive; with them it becomes the story of the trip.

Het moment waar je voor komt: Stingray squadrons in summer, sheer walls through the headland, occasional hunting orca

Topografie: A deep vertical slot through the headland, walls dropping to about 40 m

Stroming: Flow funnels through the arch; crossing it can mean ducking into the lee of the walls.

Gevaren: Depth deception in clear water and funneled current; plan the dive shallower than the arch invites.

Behoud: No-take reserve rules apply; give aggregating rays space and never block the arch ends.

Nitrox: Hier de moeite waard: profielen liggen in het bereik waar nitrox de no-stop-tijd zinvol verlengt (met de juiste training om het te gebruiken).