Kaikōura, New Zealand

Kapiti

Kapiti Island

Best months: Jun–Oct

Protected Area

Kapiti

Why dive here

With 35+ marine species recorded in the area - including humpback whales, seahorses and sperm whales - Kapiti Island offers some of Kaikōura's richest diving. Water ranges 10-17°C, warmest January, February, March.

Best timeJun–Oct

WetsuitA drysuit

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

Water10-17°C · warmest January, February, March

Kapiti Island, near Kaikōura, offers a distinct temperate diving experience. We find the kelp forests here are particularly lush, often sheltering good numbers of blue cod and wrasse. It’s a site that appeals to divers who appreciate cooler water diving and a chance to spot species unique to New Zealand’s coastal waters. We’d suggest this spot for experienced divers comfortable with variable conditions.

Safety Notes

Cold water this month (avg 12°C). Drysuit or thick wetsuit (7mm+) recommended.

Today05:4018:3612h 56m daylightGolden hour 18:00

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Conditions

Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Kapiti Island

Kapiti Island Ocean Conditions

Monthly averages for Kapiti Island, sourced from Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU) - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (-42.41, 173.71) (50km away)

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October Averages

Sea Temperature

12°C

54°F · Range: 10.8–14.6°C

Current Speed

14.42 cm/s

Direction: SW (213.7°)

Chlorophyll-a

0.413 mg/m³

Moderate productivity

Salinity

35.08 PSU

Based on 4 years of monitoring data · Data sources: Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU)

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