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.

Courses and Events

Advanced Open Water Diver!

If you cannot decide which specialty programs are the best choice for you, join the SSI Advanced Open Water Diver program! With this program, you can try a variety of specialties before committing to full specialty programs. It is a great way to experience what advanced diver training is all about and how valuable it can be to your diving adventures. During the Advanced Open Water Diver Program, you will try out 5 different specialties. You will complete one open water training dive per specialty after a comprehensive briefing with your SSI Instructor. With this trial program in specialty diving, you will have total freedom to explore. You can complete the full specialty programs any time in the future and credit your Advanced Open Water Diver training towards them.

13 February
EUR 355.40
NZD 699.00

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

Octopus
100 Sightings
J
17
F
4
M
6
A
2
M
0
J
2
J
0
A
0
S
4
O
6
N
31
D
28

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 600

iStock/ultramarinfoto

Wrasse
38 Sightings
J
7
F
3
M
1
A
5
M
0
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0
J
3
A
0
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3
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3
D
13
AdobeStock-wildestanimal

Common Dolphin
22 Sightings
J
3
F
2
M
3
A
6
M
0
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0
J
0
A
0
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1
O
0
N
2
D
5

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
88 Sightings
J
16
F
10
M
9
A
2
M
5
J
1
J
0
A
0
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6
O
2
N
13
D
24

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
61 Sightings
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4
F
9
M
4
A
10
M
0
J
3
J
2
A
0
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3
O
1
N
7
D
18

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 9

AdobeStock-Dmitry Kokh

Fur Seal
54 Sightings
J
7
F
5
M
6
A
4
M
1
J
0
J
0
A
0
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3
O
1
N
12
D
15

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 22

k

Cod
43 Sightings
J
7
F
2
M
0
A
7
M
2
J
0
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0
A
0
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4
O
2
N
3
D
16

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
25 Sightings
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5
F
1
M
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A
0
M
3
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3
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1
N
1
D
11

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
7 Sightings
J
2
F
1
M
0
A
0
M
3
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
1
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 55

k

Lobster
6 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
2
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
3
O
0
N
0
D
1

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
J
1
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
2
J
0
J
0
A
0
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0
O
1
N
0
D
1

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
5 Sightings
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0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
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0
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0
S
1
O
0
N
0
D
4

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.

Dive Centers

Dave’s Diving Kaikoura

38 West End, 7300 Kaikoura, NZL

Dive Sites

Daves’ Diving Kaikoura, 7300 Kaikoura

Barney’s Rock (★4.6)

Barney’s Rock (Panau Island) is located 15min south on SH1 From Daves Diving Kaikoura. This is the gateway to the Hikurangi Marine Reserve and diving around the island you reach depths of 19m.
Daves’ Diving Kaikoura, 7300 Kaikoura

Sharks Tooth Kaikoura (★4.4)

Off the east coast of the peninsula, launch from The South Bay Marina. The point that resembles a Sharks Tooth the bays north from there. Also known as Whalers Bay.
Daves’ Diving Kaikoura, 7300 Kaikoura

South Bay Kaikoura (★3.8)

Great bay to spend the afternoon on the south side of the Kaikoura Peninsula! The entry point in an “v“ shape cut out in the reef by old whalers. That whole sheltered area is a great place to spear fish and explore. Depths extend to 14m in high tide in some areas.
Daves’ Diving Kaikoura, 7300 Kaikoura

Baxter’s Reef (★4.3)

Baxters Reef is an easy beautiful shore dive, great for training and beginner level divers. The inside of the reef is often protected from swell and wind. The outer is more exposed but offers deeper water (8-16m) and more fish life. Straight forward dive with easy navigation and a clear reef to follow.
Daves’ Diving Kaikoura, 7300 Kaikoura

Seal Colony (★4.5)

A rough walk over the rocky peninsular of Kaikoura with a difficult entry. Swim through a kelp forest and rock formations with swim throughs and small caves to explore. With many entry and exit points this dive site can be enjoyed many times. Surge and swell can make this dive tricky especially the entry and exit.
Daves’ Diving Kaikoura, 7300 Kaikoura

Old Wharf (★4.3)

8 minute drive from Daves Diving Kaikoura behind the Fyffe House. Entry/Exit point is located at the old boat ramp that is deused. Note that Boats launch from the beach do take care. The yellow ’No Fishing’ Buoy is a reference for you surface swim.
Daves’ Diving Kaikoura, 7300 Kaikoura

Saint Kilda’s Rocks (★4.3)

Launching from Jimmy Armers Beach, Saint Kildas Rock is only a 3min boat trip. The Rock is located with a Rahui and provides a stunning coastal kelp enivroment full of fish life.
Scubapro, Stephen Frink

Paia Point (★4.2)

Borders the Hikurangi Marine Reserve. Visible from the Paia Point Campground (SH1) are two set of rockys reefs. Note that the shore entry is challenging and the surface swim is can be 20mins.
Mares, Janez Kranjc

The Sisters (★4.9)

Two rocks that breach the surface can be seen NE of Barney’s Rock. On the outside of the Hikurangi Marine Reserve. 15-20 minute boat south journey from South Bay Marina.
Mares, Predrag Vuckovic

Whalers Bay Kaikoura (★4.4)

The first bay over from South Bay on the eastern face of the Kaikoura peninsula. 10 minute boat ride from the South Bay Marina. Depth ranging between 6m and 30m.
Scubapro, Stephen Frink

Peter’s Rock (Cone Rock) (★4.9)

A pinnacle of coastal rocks not far off from Baxter’s Reef no more than a 3 minute boat ride from the marina in South Bay. Depths ranging from 10m - 25m.
Scubapro, Stephen Frink

Rhino Horn (★4.8)

The second bay on the eastern face of the Kaikoura Peninsula when launching from South Bay Marina. A hill on in the bay represents a Rhino Horn Giving the site it’s name. The kelp and rocky sea floor supplements many dens and surfaces to sustain many coastal marine life.
Aqualung

Haylee’s hideout (★4.1)

A submerged pile of rocks on the outskirts of Jimmy Armers Beach on the north-side of the Peninsula, Launching from the beach it’s self the site is no more than 2-3 minutes away.
Mares, Predrag Vuckovic

Nine Pins (★4.4)

A set of Nine Rocks that you can see breaching the surface. Directly out from The Pier Hotel. Launching from the ramp outside of The Pier Hotel at high tide only. These Rocks mark the north side of the local Rahui.