Blue Cod Point

Best months: Jan–Dec

Protected Area

Titi Island

Why dive here

With 35+ marine species recorded in the area - including humpback whales, seahorses and sperm whales - Blue Cod Point offers some of Kaikōura's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 13-18°C, warmest January, February, March.

Marine lifeHumpback Whales, Seahorses and Sperm Whales · 35+ species recorded

Water13-18°C · warmest January, February, March

CharacterWreck dive · max 5-12m

Dredger Rock sits just a short hop from Beau Vallon, a quick ten-minute boat ride that often feels even shorter when the sun’s out. We moor directly onto the wreck, which means no faffing about with drift lines or navigating currents before you're ready. The ship rests on a sandy bottom, flat on its side at a maximum of 24 metres, though we usually find the best bits are around 19m. What makes Dredger Rock a standout for us isn't its size, but how utterly colonised it is. The wreck structure itself is quite broken, but that provides endless nooks for life to hide. Expect to see big schools of yellow snapper moving like a single organism, and we’ve often spotted stonefish blending perfectly into the metalwork. Our favourite find here has to be the pipefish, sometimes in pairs, swaying gently with the surge. Visibility averages 13 metres, which is often plenty to appreciate the scale. Keep an eye out just off the wreck into the sand; we've seen white-tip reef sharks cruising past, and once, a guitarfish glided by, a real treat. It’s a site that rewards slow exploration, peering into every shadowy corner, perfect for photographers or anyone who likes to linger.