What makes Kaikoura such an excellent place for sea life? First, remember that New Zealand is positioned at the eastern edge of the Indo-Australian continental shelf. Just out to sea from Kaikoura, the continental shelf slopes gradually to a depth of 100 meters, then plunges to a depth of almost 1,000 meters. Warm and cold currents converge here and a southerly current is constantly striking the continental shelf. These conditions cause nutrients to rise up from the seafloor. When these nutrients reach a depth where light can penetrate, they become useful for plant life that live in the sea. The plants feed small marine animals, who, in turn, are food for large marine mammals.

As a biologist, Colin is interested in the diversity of sea life. But he's also interested in undersea creatures because they do not evolve and change as much as land animals. You see, the environment on land can be a hostile place, with harsh sunlight, floods, fire, and extreme temperatures. The environment beneath the sea doesn't undergo nearly as many changes, so conditions in the sea remain constant for long periods of time.

Ask the Expert
During his trek, Colin talked to Dr. Scott Baker, a biologist studying marine mammals around New Zealand. For this interview, Colin selected questions from students. You'll find a transcript of this interview along with his field journal.

Want to learn more about marine mammals like whales and seals? Explore these Web sites for facts, photos, and more!

Seal and whale photos: ©Doug O'Callahan, Kodak Express, West End, Kaikoura, New Zealand