This species normally occurs over inshore waters but can also be found over offshore waters. Its diet comprises mainly of planktonic crustaceans, which are caught under water in pursuit-diving either from the surface or after plunging. Its breeding season is variable according to locality, forming colonies with up to 1,500 individuals in burrows on steep slopes and also on flat ground of oceanic islands. Colonies are normally coastal, but may occur well inland (del Hoyo et al. 1992).

The Common Diving-petrel has discrete ranges surrounding oceanic islands in the south Atlantic at South Georgia (Georgias del Sur), the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), Tristan da Cunha and Gough Island (St Helena to UK), in the south Indian Ocean, south and east of New Zealand (e.g. Antipodes Islands), and also on New Zealand's north island and Tasmania (Australia). Very little is known of their range when not breeding, but they are thought to be fairy sedentary, remaining in coastal waters adjacant to colonies (del Hoyo et al. 1992).