Black Cormorant

Invertebrate Wall

In the mouths of caves, the kelp vanishes and invertebrates take over. These are along what the dive guides called "The Gut", a narrow channel leading into Long Cave on Aorangi, southern of the two main islands in the Poor Knights.

Purple Sponge

Variable Nudibranch

Variable Nudibranch at Rico Rico Cave in Poor Knights Islands.

Mating Nudibranchs

Tambja verconis (or Verco's nudibranch) mating.  These guys (or girls, or both?) were large and not uncommon. This pair is at Meditation Wall.

Twin Luminous Nudibranchs

Twin luminous nudibranchs (Dendrodoris denisoni) at Meditation Wall. This underwater wall gets its name from how its abundant invertebrate life hypnotizes divers as they hover in front of it.

Jasons Nudibranch

Jason's nudibranch (Jason mirabilis) on hydroids in Rico Rico Cave on the Poor Knight's Islands. These are said to be quite rare.

Hydroids in New Zealand

Hydroids are sprinkled about the invertebrate carpet at the Poor Knights Islands.

Tambja tenuilineata

These green nudibranchs, Tambja tenuilineata, are common at the Poor Knights Islands.  This one was at Meditation Wall.

Kelp and Orange Encrusting Sponge

Orange encrusting sponge and urchins underneath the kelp canopy.

Triplefins with Orange Encrusting Sponge and Anemones

Triplefins float above a substrate of orange encrusting sponge and anemones.