cave

Log This Dive

Peter’s Rock (Cone Rock)

Peter’s Rock, or Cone Rock as some call it, is one of those places we always make time for when we’re in Kaikōura. It’s an easy boat hop from the marina, often with dolphins playing in the wake, which is a nice surface interval show before you even get in. Below, it’s a rugged pinnacle, dropping to around 20 metres, absolutely covered in giant kelp. You’ll feel the gentle sway of those fronds, sometimes a bit of a surge, but it just adds to the wild New Zealand vibe. We love Peter’s Rock for its sheer density of life in a relatively small area. Poke around the kelp forest and the rocky crevices, and you’re almost guaranteed to spot a koura, the local rock lobster, peering out. There are always big schools of spotty and rig milling about, and if you’re lucky, a curious Cape shark might cruise by. Visibility averages about 8 metres, which is decent for the region, and honestly, it makes the kelp feel even more immersive. It’s a great spot for divers who appreciate the subtler beauty of temperate waters and don’t mind a bit of a hunt for marine life.