Explore Kaikoura
Found on the east coast of New Zealand’s South Island, is Kaikoura. Midway between Christchurch and Wellington, one of the most famous things about Kaikoura is its outstanding natural beauty. Looking out at the stunning South Pacific, it is a popular place for whale and dolphin watching.
Diving centres and diving resorts are thin on the ground in Kaikoura, though you won’t struggle to find someone to take you out for a dive. Diving courses are possible here but it is more common to undertake specialties such as drysuit diving, rather than introduction dives.
Highlights of diving in Kaikoura include the chance to dive with the curious and rambunctious fur seals, as well as exploring the undulating kelp forests.
Dive Activity
Diving in Kaikoura
Kaikoura coastline is varied and stunning, creating many different dive sites to explore. One of the most famous landscapes is the impressive and eerie kelp forests, with their swaying green fronds, reaching up towards the light. Limestone reefs form the base for many sites which are home to various other corals, sponges and anemones.
Most diving around Kaikoura is shore diving, though there are some options to go out on the boat too. It is possible to undertake beginner diving courses here but it is more frequently dived by experienced divers. One of the most popular courses, perhaps unsurprisingly, is the drysuit specialty which makes diving in these frigid waters a little more comfortable.
Top Wildlife Sightings in Kaikoura
The most famous inhabitants of Kaikoura are the friendly fur seals. It is possible to swim with them on the surface and they are very playful with humans. Unsurprisingly, they are nicknamed the puppies of the sea due to their playful natures.
Meanwhile, on the rocky reefs, there are plenty of temperate species to keep divers happy. Cephalopods like octopus and cuttlefish camouflage into nooks while enormous crayfish peek out fearlessly at passing divers. Kelp forests hide a multitude of fish and other creatures, occasionally including sea dragons. Big schools of fish like blue cod and kingfish can be seen further out in the blue and the area is popular with spearfishing.
Bigger sea mammals are frequent sights in Kaikoura, an area popular for dolphin and whale watching. Sperm whales and large pods of dolphins are seen often, though not usually by scuba divers.
Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 300
Alamy/Reinhard Dirscherl
97 Sightings
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The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 600
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Wrasse
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AdobeStock-wildestanimal
Common Dolphin
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The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 60
iStock-Global_Pics
Spiny Lobster
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The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 3000
SSI-Peter-Schinck
Nudibranch
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Total number of species: 9
AdobeStock-Dmitry Kokh
Fur Seal
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The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 22
Shutterstock-andrzej_67
Cod
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The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 7000
iStock-Michael Zeigler
Crab
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The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 80
iStock/Extreme-Photographer
Stingrays
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The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 250
Alamy-Nature Photographers Ltd
Skate Fish
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The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 55
Shutterstock-RLS Photo
Lobster
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The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 250
iStock-Miguel-Angelo-Silva.
Scorpionfish
5 Sightings
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The best Months to Dive in Kaikoura
Diving in Kaikoura is possible year round. Though the waters are cold, they are cold all year round so the only difference winter makes is the temperature of the air when you surface. Air temperatures peak at around 19°C/66°F in December and January and plummet to about 6°C/43°F in August. The water temperatures vary between 10°C–16°C/50°F–61°F yearly, so diving with a thick wetsuit or drysuit is essential at all times. Rain is frequent in Kaikoura but it doesn’t affect the diving. The summer months when the air temperatures are at their warmest are the most pleasant times to dive.
