The Undersea Canyon

Lying hidden just offshore, the 2km deep Kaikoura Canyon is one of the world's great undersea wonders. Two strong sea currents converge in this enormous trench and draw vast quantities of plant and animal nutrients to the surface in a great upwelling.

This is the catalyst for a population explosion of small fish and crustaceans that in turn attract an astounding food chain of larger marine life, the most famous being the Giant Sperm Whale. Experience the breathtaking scale of the Kaikoura Canyon while viewing our unique animation sequences aboard any Whale Watch tour.

Did you know?

The Kaikoura Canyon is part of a much larger series of canyons and trenches that run east to the Chatham Islands and north to Tonga.