Scuba Diving South Island

New Zealand's biggest diveable shipwreck,The Mikhail Lermontov in The Marlborough Sounds.

Can anyone vouch for diving in Kaikoura?

I'm not a diver but check out diving at Stewart Island - fantastic visibility. There's also a lot of divers who go to Milford & Doubtful Sounds 'cos of the unique diving conditions & coral there.

Hey Melrayne
I haven't dived this myself however you may want to look into Milford Sound. There is a fresh water inflow to the sound which sits atop the warmer seawater and reduces light levels. Coupled with other factors, this allow deep water life, like black coral (and orange roughy maybe?) to live much nearer the surface so apparently you get to see sea life which would normally live at depths unachievable to a mere human. I cannot vouch whether it is touristy or not, I believe it has changed/grown a heck of a lot since I was last there so hopefully someone else out there can help, I would be interested if anyone has dived Kaikoura as I'll be down there this Christmas. Maybe a specialised dive blog might help. All the best!

I was in NZ earlier this year and dived both Milford Sound and The Mikhail Lermontov - both excellent and challenging dives (I'd never been diving in cold water before). Would highly recommend either of them.