April 2010

Snorkelled in Whangateau Harbour for our first go with the Sea & Sea DX2G using a 16mm lens and natural light. A couple of days later dived at Goat Island, even though the vis wasn't great as there was still some swell. Plenty of fish around to have a go at photographing using the 16mm lens and the new strobe. A couple of dives at the Outpost and some good results with the Sea & Sea.
Had two days diving at the Poor Knights Islands with ideal conditions. Dived Blue Maomao Arch, the Cream Garden, The Pinnacles and the Sugarloaf. Must get back soon!

January 2010

The year started with our publication of New Zealand's top ten dive sites in the January issue of Air New Zealand's inflight magazine KiaOra.
Guided snorkellers at Goat Island, giving tuition and showing the highlights of the marine reserve. Discover Goat Island. Numerous guests stayed in our bed and breakfast accommodation with visitors from UK, Australia, US, and NZ. Our guests enjoyed snorkelling at Goat Island and walking along Pakiri Beach. Helped guide snorkellers in Whangateau Harbour and saw flounder, cockles, heart urchins, blennies, yellow-eyed mullet, kahawai, little crabs, barnacles, oysters, spotties, Neptune's necklace and mangrove trees plus lots more. Supervised a group on Little Barrier Island where we had a great day, topped off when a pod of orca passed. Also guided another small group from the classic charter yacht Lady Gay (1935), at Goat Island. www.classicyachtsnz.com

Dive at Goat Island

Where to start with our blog? We dived off the beach at Goat Island. Nice vis, huge numbers of fish all around, water warming up and a few jelly-like things floating around. Saw 6 octopus, schools of kahawai, snapper, bluecod, leatherjackets, blue maomao, sweep, spotties and much more. How lucky we are to have a marine reserve just a few minutes drive away!