New Zealand Dive Sites

Rikoriko Cave has been surveyed as the largest natural sea cave in the world.
Using 3D lasers and traditional hydrographic surveying, the cave has been measured at 35m high above the water, 26m deep below the water, 80m wide and 139m long.

entrance to Rikoriko Cave

It is a blister cave – formed by a gas bubble in an volcanic eruption 10,000 years ago when the islands were created.

In the Maori language, Rikoriko means waning moon or twilight.

Often the skippers will explain how many bands have played in the cave as the acoustics are known to be some of the best in the world – apparently equal to the Sydney Opera House with an echo that is only one to two seconds shorter than that of the Taj Mahal.

It is an often repeated story that the Spice Girls did a short acapella in this cave on their trip to New Zealand. New Zealand group Pitch Black also performed for the Minister of Conservation in 2003 during sea week – with over 10 boats rafted together.

inside Rikoriko Cave

Diving Rikoriko Cave is an extraordinary experience and so is just entering the cave.
It is a good spot to anchor up and spend the night as well as a fabulous spot for a night dive.

It is very easy to navigate your dive in Rikoriko Cave.
The walls at the entrance to the cave exist in the light zone and are covered in anemones, nudibranchs and starfish – as you would find in most locations at the Poor Knights Islands.

The rear of the cave is affectionately known as a moon scape.

Whilst the bottom is 8m at the rear of the cave down to 15m at the beginning of the light zone, marine life that is known to exist at 200m is found here.
The lack of light brings a whole different perspective.

Quite often we find the noctural Nudibranch, Janolus Ignis, at the back of the cave.

Looking in to the light, a vast window out to the blue shows visibility normally 10m better than any where else.

And at the front of the cave, in front of the pinnacle at approximately 27m, are the remains of a sperm whale head bone.

Location : Maroro Bay, Aorangi Island
( approximately 35°28’35.61″S / 174°44’11.46″E )

Depth : 8m to 30m

Marine Life : Noctural Nudibranchs, Carpet Sharks, Firebrick Starfish