Half day · Certified
Single Shore Dive
One guided dive straight off the coast.
| Per diver | NZ$230.43 |
|---|
Editorial spotlight · Kaikōura
2026 Southern Cross Awards nomineeBest Shore Dive Shop
Daves' Diving Kaikōura
Kaikōura’s only scuba centre, on a coast where the continental shelf drops away within a few kilometres of the beach. Kelp forests, crayfish in every other crack, blennies and nudibranchs, and water that sits between twelve and eighteen degrees. Small groups, shore entries and boat dives, and a clean-up dive you can join for the price of a coffee.
- Single shore dive
- NZ$230.43
- Double boat dive
- NZ$352.48
- Tripadvisor
- 5.0
- Status
- Only scuba centre in town
Editorial spotlight. Daves' Diving Kaikōura is a nominee in the 2026 Southern Cross Awards. They did not pay for this page and had no say in it. We earn a commission when you book through the links here; your price is the same.
The operation
The only dive shop in town, on a very unusual coast
Kaikōura is known above water for whales and dusky dolphins, and the reason is the same one that makes the diving interesting: the Kaikōura Canyon brings deep water in close to shore, so cold nutrient-rich upwelling meets a rocky coastline a short swim from the car park. The shop is the only scuba centre in Kaikōura.
The diving splits between shore entries along the peninsula and boat dives further out. Crayfish, kōura, are the signature sighting and reviewers describe seeing dozens of them. Visibility is honest rather than tropical, typically around five or six metres on a good day, and the water runs twelve to eighteen degrees, so the shop keeps groups small and sends divers back up with jackets and hot drinks.
“Kaikōura’s only scuba centre.”
- S
Dive master and manager
Sean
- D
Dive guide
Darren
- H
Dive guide
Hailey
Named repeatedly by reviewers. The shop has not yet confirmed which names and roles it wants printed.
The one to book
Single Shore Dive
A guided entry straight off the Kaikōura coastline, no boat required. Kelp, crayfish and the small stuff the macro photographers come for.
Two shore dives run NZ$278.83; boat dives start at NZ$299.87 for one and NZ$352.48 for two. The crayfish dive is a double at NZ$367.21.
| Single shore dive | NZ$230.43 |
|---|---|
| Double shore dive | NZ$278.83 |
Checked against FareHarbor on October 2, 2026.
Check AvailabilityConditions
What the water is actually like
From the shop and from recent reviews. Nothing here is flattered.
Temperature
- Range
- 12 to 18°C
- Provided
- Jackets and hot drinks after
Visibility
- Typical
- 5 to 6 m on a good day
- Why
- Cold nutrient-rich upwelling
What you see
- Signature
- Crayfish, kōura
- Also
- Blennies, nudibranchs, kelp
Book it
Dives and courses
Checked against FareHarbor on October 2, 2026.
Day · Certified
Double Shore Dive
Two shore dives with a surface interval.
| Per diver | NZ$278.83 |
|---|
Day · Certified
Double Boat Dive
Two dives off the boat, further out.
| Per diver | NZ$352.48 |
|---|
Day · Certified
Double Crayfish Dive
The dive the coast is known for.
| Per diver | NZ$367.21 |
|---|
Half day · No certification
Introductory SCUBA, Try Dive
A first dive with an instructor alongside.
| Per diver | NZ$314.60 |
|---|
Course · Entry level
SSI Open Water Program
Full entry-level certification.
| Per participant | NZ$198.86 |
|---|
The shop also runs a Clean-Up SCUBA Dive at NZ$15.78 per diver, pulling rubbish off the sites it works.
Before you go
Know before you go
Where
38 West End, Kaikōura.
Water
Twelve to eighteen degrees. Visibility is typically five or six metres on a good day, which is normal for this coast.
Seals
Kaikōura has plenty, but the shop does not promise an in-water encounter. One reviewer expected one and did not get it.
The clean-up dive
NZ$15.78. If you are certified and have a spare morning, it is the cheapest dive on this page.
Reviews
What guests say
- 5.0Tripadvisor18 reviews as of October 2, 2026
- OnlyScuba centreIn Kaikōura
- 12-18Water °CYear-round range
Reviewers praise the staff by name, the small groups and the care taken over cold-water diving, mentioning jackets and hot chocolate between dives. The honest caveats are the temperature and visibility, both of which the shop states up front. Review volume is low at eighteen, so the rating rests on a small sample.
Questions
Good to know
Where is it?
38 West End, Kaikōura.
What does it cost?
NZ$230.43 for a single guided shore dive. Checked October 2, 2026.
How cold is it?
Twelve to eighteen degrees depending on season, with visibility typically five or six metres.
Can I learn here?
Yes. The SSI Open Water programme is NZ$198.86, and there is a try dive at NZ$314.60 if you just want one go.
The only dive shop in Kaikōura
A guided shore dive from NZ$230.43, or two off the boat for NZ$352.48.
Check Availability