Saint Kilda’s Rocks
Located just a 3-minute boat trip from Jimmy Armers Beach, Saint Kilda's Rock offers divers a magnificent coastal kelp environment teeming with a variety of fish species. This dive site provides a suitable habitat for Blue Moki, Red Moki, Butterfish, Leatherjackets, Blue Cod, Crayfish, Kina, and Octopus to thrive. With a maximum depth of 13m and visibility of 7m, it is ideal for both beginner and advanced divers. Situated in South Bay, Kaikoura, Kaikōura District, Canterbury, 7300, New Zealand, this stunning dive spot is a must-explore destination for divers in New Zealand.
Diving Conditions Score for Saint Kilda’s Rocks
5.8
AverageAverage conditions, be alert.
The score is based on a calculation of the current weather and sea conditions.
Dive Site Overview for Saint Kilda’s Rocks
Depth
13m
Visibility
7m
Experience Level
beginner
advanced
Weather Conditions for Saint Kilda’s Rocks
Wave Height
1.42m
Wind Speed
1.2 m/s
Water Temp
11.7°C
Visibility
56.18km
Cloud Cover
0%
Wave Period
11.8s
Air Temperature
5.1°C
Precipitation
0 mm
Detailed 7-Day Diving Forecast for Saint Kilda’s Rocks
Alpha
Dive Score Chart for Saint Kilda’s Rocks
Best time to dive: 17:00 with score 7.372235939643347/10. Water conditions: Waves 1.46m, Wind 2.4 m/s.Best night dive time: 0:00 with score 7.036887966804978/10.
Chart showing hourly dive conditions including wave height, wind speed, water temperature, and visibility throughout the day.
Sunrise at Saint Kilda’s Rocks: 06:00
Sunset at Saint Kilda’s Rocks: 18:00
Optimal diving conditions at Saint Kilda’s Rocks are affected by daylight hours. Sunrise occurs at 06:00 and sunset at 18:00, which impacts visibility and water temperature for scuba diving and snorkeling.
Best Overall
17:00Score: 7.4/10
Waves: 1.46m (12.15s), Wind: 2.4 m/s
Best Night
0:00Score: 7.0/10
Waves: 1.06m, Wind: 6.9 m/s
Seasonal Analysis for Saint Kilda’s RocksAlpha
Historical patterns and best seasons for diving at Saint Kilda’s Rocks
The dive score combines all factors to rate overall diving conditions throughout the year. Higher scores indicate better diving conditions.
Monthly Dive Score Analysis - Seasonal Diving Conditions
Higher values indicate better diving conditions
Seasonal DiveScore Chart
This chart displays monthly diveScore data throughout the year, showing seasonal patterns. The data is presented as a bar chart with an overlaid line graph.Dive scores range from 1 to 10, with 10 being optimal conditions.
Higher values indicate better diving conditions
Best Season for Saint Kilda’s Rocks
Summer
Avg. Score: 9.8/10
Summer offers the warmest water temperatures and generally favorable conditions for all levels of divers.
Best Months for Saint Kilda’s Rocks
July
Score: 9.9
June
Score: 9.8
August
Score: 9.7
Ideal Conditions for Saint Kilda’s Rocks
Water Temp
24.2°C / 75.6°F
June
Visibility
20.1m / 65.9ft
October
Wave Height
0.2m / 0.7ft
January
Wave Period
8.0s
January
Seasonal Insights for Saint Kilda’s Rocks
Saint Kilda’s Rocks follows southern hemisphere patterns with June being the warmest month (24.2°C) and December the coldest (20.2°C). The calmest conditions typically occur in January with average wave heights of 0.2m and wave periods of 8.0s. The most comfortable wave conditions are in January with a low wave steepness ratio, creating gentler swells. January offers the longest wave periods (8.0s), creating more comfortable and predictable conditions for boat entries and exits. Ocean currents are slowest in January (0.5m/s) and strongest in January (0.5m/s). January is usually the driest month with 0.0mm of precipitation. For beginners, the best time to visit would be during January to March, when ocean conditions are calmer with long-period waves and currents are typically weaker. Experienced divers might enjoy the challenges and potentially better visibility during the shoulder seasons, with moderate currents that can improve marine life encounters.
Last updated: 1 min. ago - Jun 22, 2026
Note: This dive site is not a verified dive site. Please dive with caution. This dive site might have incorrect information by the community.
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