Abyss Dive - Kaikōura
The team at Abyss Dive are exactly what you want when you’re diving Kaikōura: locals who know every rock and every fur seal by name. They’re PADI pros, specialising in boat dives, which is really the only way to get to the good spots here. We love that they keep it small and personal; it feels less like a dive shop and more like a mate taking you out on their boat. If you’re looking for a low-key, genuinely friendly operation focused on showing you the best of Kaikōura’s slightly wilder side, Abyss Dive is a solid pick. Diving Kaikōura is all about the seals, and Abyss Dive puts you right in their playful world. We’ve had dives where curious pups nibbled at our fins, darting around with incredible speed, their whiskers tickling our masks as they zipped past. The water here is cool, often a crisp 12-16°C, so a good drysuit or a thick wetsuit is essential, but the visibility can be surprisingly clear, sometimes stretching to 15-20 metres on a good day. They know the sweet spots where the kelp forests are thick and green, sunlight dappling through the fronds, and where the seals are most likely to show off. Our favourite dives with them are always the ones where the seals are in a particularly boisterous mood, barrel rolling and spiralling up from the depths to check us out. It's a proper wild animal encounter, not a zoo.
- Location
- Kaikōura, New Zealand, Australasia
- Coordinates
- -41.307495, 173.229300
- Phone
- +64 210 241 9854
- [email protected]
- Website
- http://www.abyssdive.co.nz
- Certification Agencies
- ["PADI"]
- Courses
- PADI Dive Boat [padi:29785]
- Address
- 38 Devon Street, Stoke, Nelson 7011, New Zealand
Dive Sites Near Abyss Dive
Abyss Dive provides access to 15 dive sites in Kaikōura.
- Allports Island (cenote)
- Allports Island
- Barney’s Rock (reef)
- Barney’s Rock
- Barneys Rock
- Barrett Reef (reef)
- Baxter’s Reef - 5-15m (reef)
- Baxter’s Reef (reef)
- Blue Cod Point (wreck)
- Blue Cod Point (wall)
- Bushett Shoals
- Double Cove Marine Reserve (reef)
- F69 (wreck)
- Flea Bay (reef)
- Go Dive Pacific
Other Dive Centres in Kaikōura
Best Time to Dive in Kaikōura
The warmest water temperatures in Kaikōura occur in February, averaging 18.4°C. The coolest conditions are in September at 13.3°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 18.1°C
- February: 18.4°C
- March: 18.1°C
- April: 17.0°C
- May: 15.8°C
- June: 14.6°C
- July: 13.9°C
- August: 13.5°C
- September: 13.3°C
- October: 13.7°C
- November: 15.1°C
- December: 16.9°C
Marine Life in Kaikōura
Home to 37 recorded species including 16 reef fish, 8 sharks & rays, 4 other, 2 sea urchins, 2 hard corals, 2 whales & dolphins.
Notable Marine Life
- Red Rock Lobster (Jasus edwardsii) - Crabs & Lobsters
- Sandperch (Parapercis colias) - Reef Fish
- Snapper (Pagrus auratus) - Reef Fish
- Cape Shark (Squalus acanthias) - Sharks & Rays
- Rig (Galeorhinus galeus) - Sharks & Rays
- dory (Zeus faber) - Reef Fish
- Bluefin Gurnard (Chelidonichthys kumu) - Reef Fish
- Light-bulb sea squirt (Clavelina lepadiformis)
- Ribbonfish (Lepidopus caudatus) - Reef Fish
- Sea potato (Echinocardium cordatum) - Sea Urchins
Recommended Packing List for Kaikōura
Based on average water temperature of 15.7°C, currents 18 cm/s.
- Wetsuit (5-7mm) - recommended for 16°C water
- Hood & Gloves (3-5mm) - helps retain warmth
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories