Motunau - plateau
Protected Area
Pacific Ocean Foreshore Gum Tree Gully
Why dive here
With 35+ marine species recorded in the area - including humpback whales, seahorses and sperm whales - Motunau - plateau offers some of Kaikōura's richest diving. Water ranges 10-17°C, warmest January, February, March.
Motunau's plateau offers a different kind of dive in Kaikōura. It's a shallower, flatter area, often a good alternative when conditions are rougher further out. We usually see schooling fish here, sometimes even a playful fur seal zipping past. It's a good spot for newer divers or those looking for a more relaxed exploration.
Safety Notes
Cold water this month (avg 12°C). Drysuit or thick wetsuit (7mm+) recommended.
Reviews for Motunau - plateau
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Motunau - plateau
Motunau - plateau Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for Motunau - plateau, sourced from Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU) - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (-42.41, 173.71) (50km away)
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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