After the first dive in Rikoriko Cave, we parked the live aboard boat just outside the cave to wait for the sunset. It did not disappoint.

Sunset

We then moved the boat back into the cave and parked it for a night dive and the remainder of the evening.

Getting in the water for the night dive, it was good to know we couldn't go too far astray considering we were diving in the confines of the cave. I was using a combination of my conventional dive light with an narrower, longer LED beam and the dive light attached to my GoPro with a wider, shorter LED beam.

Night dive

Finding this moral eel out and about was pretty interesting.

Moral eel

But by far the craziest thing to happen to me and my buddy the whole trip was getting attacked by this kingfish.

First it bumped into her and she got my attention but I couldn't make out what she was trying to signal to me. Then the kingfish swam by me and bumped me with its tail. I honestly thought it wasn’t intentional but then I turned on my camera in case it came back.

Attacked by a Kingfish

Apparently kingfish are attracted to the light, now we know.

My buddy was understandably spooked by the attack so we aborted the dive immediately after and began our ascent. We surfaced a ways from the boat but still well within the cave. A short surface swim and we were safely aboard.

Location: Poor Knights Islands, Northland, New Zealand

Dive Number:   152 Bottom Time: 34m Time In: 9:06 p.m. Tank In: Max Depth: 19.80 ft Table Used:

Mix:   Nitrox Safety Stop: 3m Time Out: 9:40 p.m. Tank Out: Average Depth: 10.60 ft Start Pressure Group:

Surface Interval:   4h 4m End Pressure Group:

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