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Horn Rock is usually described as being in the middle of nowhere and that is pretty accurate when you consider its location being southeast of Little Barrier Island and east of Great Barrier Island. Due to Horn Rocks location and exposure to the weather from all directions it doesn't get dived that often, as conditions need to be near on perfect.
Horn Rock is a large dive site ranging in depth from 10-25m, and can have very strong currents so you need to take this into account. The day we were there though, the current was minimal, the sea's calm, and the visibility spectacular. At this spot you can enjoy the magic above as well as below the surface as the marine life is extensive. Thanks to Brian and Outer Gulf Charters for suggesting the stop on the way to Broken Islands at Great Barrier.
He told me that you can expect to get buzzed by small reef sharks and Hammerheads around 1.5m in length, no such luck for this diver on this day, however in December 2007 a diver named Rob Wills from Australia did have an encounter with a Great White around 4.5m in length, videoing it. See video here Diver NZ Great White
 On descent I watch short tailed sting rays cruising above the kelp, and was surrounded by a school of Trevally, as I neared the bottom I found nice channels of sand along ridges of rock to follow beneath the kelp. I chased a couple of Octopus who were being camera shy, and found some beautiful swim-throughs. Looking up I watched the Kingfish working up the school of Trevally, whilst two very large Red Moki hung out in the sponges near by. There is plenty to see here with marine life in such abundance.
Crayfish hunting out at Horn Rock can be awesome as well. On our trip most of us got at least one to take home for the pot. The crays aren't just sitting around though; there are cray pots abound so you do have to hunt. I was almost at the end of my dive when I finally came across a cray (well actually a lot of crays). I have to say, being a female diver; it was nice to get one up on the boys from a hunting perspective, even if I did drop my noose when surfacing.
If you find a nest like the one pictured I would strongly advise to divers to only take enough for a feed and not plunder the stocks just because they are there. The picture here is just a corner of the nest after I had taken what I needed.
As a novice under-water photographer, and hunter I had an absolute ball – just wish I had an under-water GPS to get me back to the same spot. | 
