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.

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    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. 

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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.

    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 approx.: 300

    Octopus

    Octopus

    101 Sightings
    J
    17
    F
    4
    M
    3
    A
    3
    M
    3
    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 approx.: 600

    Wrasse

    Wrasse

    38 Sightings
    J
    7
    F
    3
    M
    1
    A
    5
    M
    0
    J
    0
    J
    3
    A
    0
    S
    3
    O
    0
    N
    3
    D
    13
    Common Dolphin

    Common Dolphin

    23 Sightings
    J
    3
    F
    2
    M
    3
    A
    7
    M
    0
    J
    0
    J
    0
    A
    0
    S
    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 approx.: 200

    Moray Eel

    Moray Eel

    3 Sightings
    J
    0
    F
    2
    M
    0
    A
    0
    M
    0
    J
    0
    J
    0
    A
    1
    S
    0
    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 approx.: 60

    Spiny Lobster

    Spiny Lobster

    95 Sightings
    J
    16
    F
    10
    M
    9
    A
    9
    M
    5
    J
    1
    J
    0
    A
    0
    S
    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 approx.: 3000

    Nudibranch

    Nudibranch

    67 Sightings
    J
    4
    F
    9
    M
    5
    A
    15
    M
    0
    J
    3
    J
    2
    A
    0
    S
    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 approx.: 9

    Fur Seal

    Fur Seal

    57 Sightings
    J
    7
    F
    7
    M
    5
    A
    6
    M
    1
    J
    0
    J
    0
    A
    0
    S
    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 approx.: 22

    Cod

    Cod

    43 Sightings
    J
    7
    F
    2
    M
    0
    A
    7
    M
    2
    J
    0
    J
    0
    A
    0
    S
    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 approx.: 7000

    Crab

    Crab

    28 Sightings
    J
    5
    F
    1
    M
    0
    A
    3
    M
    3
    J
    0
    J
    0
    A
    0
    S
    3
    O
    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 approx.: 80

    Stingrays

    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 approx.: 55

    Lobster

    Lobster

    7 Sightings
    J
    0
    F
    0
    M
    0
    A
    1
    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 approx.: 250

    Skate Fish

    Skate Fish

    7 Sightings
    J
    0
    F
    0
    M
    2
    A
    0
    M
    0
    J
    0
    J
    0
    A
    0
    S
    1
    O
    0
    N
    0
    D
    4

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

    Total number of species approx.: 250

    Scorpionfish

    Scorpionfish

    5 Sightings
    J
    1
    F
    0
    M
    0
    A
    0
    M
    2
    J
    0
    J
    0
    A
    0
    S
    0
    O
    1
    N
    0
    D
    1
    Common Seahorse

    Common Seahorse

    4 Sightings
    J
    0
    F
    0
    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 approx.: 40

    Triggerfish

    Triggerfish

    4 Sightings
    J
    2
    F
    1
    M
    0
    A
    1
    M
    0
    J
    0
    J
    0
    A
    0
    S
    0
    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 approx.: 90

    Angelfish

    Angelfish

    3 Sightings
    J
    0
    F
    0
    M
    0
    A
    0
    M
    0
    J
    0
    J
    0
    A
    0
    S
    0
    O
    0
    N
    0
    D
    3