Nursery Cove – Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve

Site Overview

Nursery Cove is the macro photography and juvenile fish paradise of the Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve, a sheltered kelp forest cove where the calm, protected conditions create an ideal nursery environment for countless species of juvenile fish, seahorses, pipefish, and colourful nudibranchs. The cove is named for its role as a fish nursery, where young fish of dozens of species find shelter among the dense ecklonia kelp fronds and rocky boulders until they are large enough to venture into the open reef. Big-bellied seahorses, the largest seahorse species in New Zealand, cling to the kelp stipes and are regularly encountered by patient observers who search the kelp systematically. Pipefish, the seahorse's slender relatives, drift among the kelp fronds camouflaged as pieces of seaweed. The kelp forest itself creates a cathedral-like environment with shafts of sunlight filtering through the canopy to illuminate the rocky substrate below. Nudibranchs of multiple species inhabit the kelp stipes and rocky surfaces, their brilliant colours standing out against the green and brown kelp background. Crayfish patrol the rocky bottom, and various juvenile reef fish including baby snapper, morwong, and wrasse hide among the boulders. The extremely shallow depth range of 2 to 12 metres allows exceptionally long dive times, making Nursery Cove perfect for macro photography sessions where patience and time are essential. The sheltered conditions and gentle slopes make this the most accessible and relaxing dive site at the Poor Knights.