HORN ROCK

SE of Little Barrier Island 
Depth Range: 10-25m
A mix of sand at 15 to 25m between walls of kelp-covered rocky reef. On a calm day the fish schools are obvious at the surface. Descend through blue maomao, sweep, demoiselles, trevally, kahawai and kingfish. Look in the cracks between the rocks for crayfish. Jewel anemones and white bonsai-like hydroids with resident Jason nudibranchs line the walls. In late summer large numbers of goatfish mill around the kelp. If the current increases remember to swim into it or you could end up a long way from your dive boat. A safety sausage is a handy accessory.