DIVE NZ D176 March/April 2021

NEW ZEALAND'S DIVE MAGAZINE 

NEW ZEALAND’S ONLY DIVE MAGAZINE 

ISSUE 176 - Online 

March / April 2021 

P A C I F I C 


P A C I F I C 

Marine 

biodiversity 

showcase 

surprises! 

WHAT CAN AN OCTOPUS TELL US? 

A whale of a tale! 

When Covid hit, 

top resort got going 

Nelson’s treasure 

Shark numbers down 

Hunting Boarfish at Great Barrier: Spearos Notebook 

Underwater hockey schedules busy year 

NZUA launches new dive app 

www.dive-pacific.com 1

ASB Showgrounds, Greenlane, Auckland 

13–16 MAY, 2021 

Put these dates in your diary now! 

The latest boats, motors, trailers & accessories. 

Amazing prizes that MUST BE WON! 

Free fishing tips & expert advice. 

NZ’s biggest fishing supermarket. 

Buy your tickets online now (they make great Xmas gifts!) 

and get even more chances to win! 

2 Dive New Zealand | Dive Pacific 

www.boatshow.co.nz

An experience 

without equal 

“Simply put you can’t have a better experience! Everything is about service and maximizing 

your diving and snorkeling. The dives were amazing, and all the staff are first class. At 

Wakatobi they will accommodate any request, but you hardly need to make any since they 

have thought of essentially everything.” ~ Dr. James and Laurie Benjamin 

www.wakatobi.com 


contents 

6 

14 

IN DEPTH 

5 EDITORIAL: The significance of Rahui 

with NZUA President Tristan Reynard 

SOUNDINGS Local and international news & comment 

4 Diver’s death by drowning: Coroners report 

7 NZUA launches new app: Survive the dive 

10 Sharks store sperm for later 

27 

11 Scientists track elusive sperm whales 

Wanted: canditates for Blake Inspire Week 

DAN launches new 2021 webinars 

14 Treasure from Nelson ship up for auction 

Eagle from Graf Spee raised 

15 Shark numbers in decline 

16 Slippery slope for native fish 

17 Why turtles really like plastic 

More bad news for manatees 

UK moves to ban bottom trawling in protected areas 

Coral reefs extinct this century 

16 

27 Why a COVID infection, even without symptoms, 

could end your diving career 

43 New whale identified 

47 ‘Pile of old rope’? 

Chance leads to first look at coral larvae 

SPECIAL FEATURES 

12 Underwater Hockey - Domestic dates scheduled 

18 When Covid hit, Wakatobi got going 

19 Octopus truth about our marine reserves: 

The first in a series of three by Dee Harris 

18 

35 TecFest programme updates 

36 To show case the 5th World Conference on Marine Biodiversity 

Convenor Professor Mark Costello decided a photo competition 

would highlight the extraordinary range of creatures and 

habitats at stake. We feature a fascinating cross section. 

48 A whale of a tale! Roger (Jan) Meecham reminisces about the not 

so-long-ago when whales fought giant squid and more… 

2 Dive New Zealand | Dive Pacific


P A C I F I C 

NEW NEW ZEALAND’S ZEALAND'S ONLY DIVE MAGAZINE 



P A C I F I C 


P A C I F I C 

Marine 

biodiversity 

showcase 

surprises! 










www.dive-pacific.com 1 

Cover photos are from a 

competition held (virtually) 

in conjunction with the 5th 

World Conference on Marine 

Biodiversity late last year 

hosted by the University of 

Auckland. 

For more go to page 36. 

24 

36 

OUR EXPERT COLUMNISTS 

6 Bold measures to address shellfish depletion 

LEGASEA UPDATE 

8 Yesterday’s big dive events: The Oceans conferences 

BACK IN THE DAY with Dave Moran 

24 In pursuit of Boarfish at Great Barrier 

Spearos Notebook with Jackson Shields 

56 If you can’t equalise, abort the dive! 

INCIDENT INSIGHTS with DAN, the Divers Alert Network 

58 Digital SLRS vs Mirrorless cameras: is it time for you to 

update? 

DIGITAL IMAGING with Hans Weichselbaum 

Photo: Aimee van der Reis 

48 

61 The Butterfly Perch 

SPECIES FOCUS with Paul Caiger 

46 3 ways to improve your Freediving performance 

By Chris Bastad 

GEAR BAG 

52 Retro boats wanted. Big Boat Show prize announced! 

X-Adventurer torches 

Boxfish ROV sets new records, and a competitor? 

68 Classifieds 

33 

Check out our website www.divenewzealand.co.nz 

10 


SOUNDINGS 

LOCAL NEWS 

Coroner finds diver death by drowning 

Coroner Debra Bell has found 

Te Hei Kahurangi Rodgers 

of Kaikohe, known as Thomas, 

died near Black Rocks off Motoroa 

Island in the Bay of Islands two 

years ago from drowning. He was 

44. 

On January 4th in 2019 Mr Rodgers 

went by boat to Black Rocks with 

his daughter and cousins Haare 

Simon-Anderson and Vincent 

Joyce to dive for kai moana. He got 

into trouble and called out to Mr 

Simon-Anderson who jumped in 

fully clothed to assist. But a large 

wave swept Mr Rodgers away. His 

body was later located by a local 

diver and recovered by the Police 

National Dive Squad. 

The coroner found Mr Rodgers had 

no ongoing health concerns and 

not taking any regular medication. 

Mr Joyce described Mr Rodgers 

as a fit and confident person. On 

January 4th he took a catch bag 

with a float along with the typical 

scuba gear. He tied his catch bag to 

his float line. Others in the group 

then saw the float line move from 

outside the island to a large rock 

pool inside it where he surfaced 

and called for help. 

Mr Simon-Anderson went to him 

fully clothed, and after unhooking 

his BCD, the cylinder and regulator 

fell away. But another wave surged 

in and Mr Simon-Anderson was 

unable to keep hold of Mr Rodgers 

who sank below the surface. The 

group searched but was unable to 

find him. 

Emergency services were 

contacted, and police and other 


boats responded to a call via 

marine radio, including two 

commercial divers and their 

skipper. They began a search but 

quickly assessed the conditions in 

the area where Mr Rodgers went 

missing as too dangerous and 

ceased the search. 

The Police National Dive Squad 

(PNDS) was then called in. An 

attending police officer said the 

water was relatively calm but a 

metre high swell came through 

every four minutes or so, and 

occasionally these swells were two 

metres high. 

Another diver arrived, Nathaniel 

Davy, who knew the area very well, 

and he had dived with Mr Rodgers 

before. He located Mr Rodgers 

underwater and tied a black rope 

marker to him. He noticed Mr 

Rodgers tank was underneath him. 

He returned to the police boat to 

advise of Mr Rodgers whereabouts. 

The Police National Dive Squad 

(PNDS) arrived that evening and 

recovered Mr Rodgers’ body from 

8.3 metres of water under a large 

boulder at the end of series of short 

caves and crevices. His weight belt 

was still attached to his body. 

Dive Squad report 

In its report the PNDS said the dive 

cylinder or its functionality did not 

contribute to the death, and Mr 

Rodgers had not run out of air. An 

examination of the first stage air 

regulator found its intermediate 

pressure was higher than recommended, 

and this can cause free 

flowing air when the cylinder is 

full. The cracking pressure of the 

second stage regulator was slightly 

lower than recommended which 

can also make it more susceptible 

to free flowing air. Free flowing 

regulators can be a cause for panic. 

An examination of Mr Rodgers 

15 litre dive tank found it to 

be assembled incorrectly - the 

cylinder valve was facing away 

from the diver as opposed to 

facing him. A test by a PNDS diver 

found they could not turn their 

head to the left without pulling 

the regulator from their mouth, a 

basic diver error. PNDS concluded 

Mr Rodgers was either rushed, or 

had not checked his equipment 

properly, and this was a factor in 

his death. 

The depth gauge also proved to 

be inaccurate, and air hoses were 

found defective but ruled out as 

contributing to Mr Rodgers death. 

The weight on his weight belt 

was considered appropriate but 

his failure to release the belt was 

considered a contributing factor in 

his death. 

A PNSD member dived in the 

area the same night to find the 

strong wave surges required a lot 

of exertion to move through the 

tunnels there. While conditions 

were fine for diving outside the 

island, conditions inside the rock 

pool were dangerous. 

The PNDS also learned Mr Rodgers 

had no formal training for scuba 

diving, and he was diving without 

a dive buddy which is unsafe, 

though he did use float on the 

surface to allow his whanau on the 

boat to know where he was. 

The PNDS concluded that while 

these individual factors may not be 

fatal, their combination had fatal 

consequences. 

P A C I F I C 

established 1990 


P A C I F I C 

March / April 2021 Issue 176 


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Australia : +61-8-8212 9242 

Publisher 

NZUA Publishing Ltd 

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40 Mt Eden Rd. Auckland 1024 

+64 9 623 3252 

Editor 

Gilbert Peterson 

divenz@divenewzealand.co.nz 

+64 27 494 9629 

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Colin Gestro +64 272 568 014 

colin@affinityads.com 

Art Director 

Mark Grogan +64 9 262 0303 

bytemarx@orcon.net.nz 

All rights reserved. Reprinting in whole 

or part is expressly forbidden except 

by written permission of the publisher. 

Opinions expressed in the publication are 

those of the authors and not necessarily 

the publishers. All material is accepted in 

good faith and the publisher accepts no 

responsibility whatsoever. 

www.DiveNewZealand.co.nz 


Registered Publication 

Dive Pacific ISSN 2624-134X (print) 

ISSN 2324-3236 (online) 


Protecting the marine environment 

One of the NZUA’s key 

missions is the protection 

of the marine environment, and 

you do not need to be a marine 

biologist to realise that humans 

are having a huge impact on 

seas and the life forms living 

beneath the water surfaces of 

this planet. 

New Zealand Underwater works 

hard to represent all divers 

and supporters of the marine 

environment. We work alongside 

Fisheries New Zealand (MPI) 

and Maritime New Zealand on 

this. It is also pleasing to see 

the government’s recognition 

of NZUA efforts to collaborate 

on both marine environment 

issues, active recreation and the 

sporting sectors. 

As an organisation we also 

have NZUA Board Member 

Andrew Stewart as a recreational 

representative on the 

Ministry of Fisheries National 

Rock Lobster Management 

Group. To assist our work in 

protecting the marine environment, 

NZUA has a Memorandum 

of Understanding with LegaSea 

to collaborate on various issues, 

as well as working with Spear 

Fishing New Zealand. We also 

make submissions on most 

marine issues and at times we 

make combined submissions for 

NZUA/ SFNZ and the NZ Sport 

Fishing Council (Legasea) to 

ensure your voice is heard. 

Nevertheless some of our 

fisheries have been hammered 

to the point where drastic steps 

need to be implemented to allow 

the remaining stock a chance to 

rebuild. And you may well ask: 

How was it allowed to reach this 

point? 

Closures, rāhui or a reduction 

of the allowable take by recreational 

and commercial fishers 

have positively affected the 

viability of scallops, paua, blue 

cod and snapper. 

Rāhui 

Most New Zealanders will be 

aware of the term rāhui, and 

recently, for example, Auckland 

iwi Ngāti Pāoa placed a two-year 

rāhui around Waiheke Island to 

protect declining kaimoana. 

There will be those who may 

see this is as a direct attack on 

access; however, the benefits to 

restoring the stocks of shellfish 

species such as tipa (scallops), 

kutai(mussels), koura (crayfish) 

and paua(abalone), all covered 

by the rāhui, are immense. 

A rāhui is not simply a ‘fishing 

ban’. A rāhui is the tikanga 

(customary practice) that 

prohibits access to an area 

(either on land or water). But a 

rāhui holds no legal standing 

unless an application for temporary 

closure, with support from 

tangata whenua, is sought from 

the Minister of Oceans and 

Fisheries to approve. 

I urge all members of the diving 

community to support the 

various rāhui’s that Iwi put in 

place as a short-term measure 

towards a sustainable future for 

us all. 

Let’s together make the protection 

of the marine environment 

a top of mind activity for 

everyone. 

Dive safe 

Tristan Reynard 

- Tristan Reynard 

President, NZUA 

Tristan@nzua.org.nz 

Further tests showed no alcohol 

or other drugs were detected. Mr 

Rodgers’ death was attributed 

solely to drowning. 

Coroner’s recommendations 

The coroner endorsed the recommendations 

of the PNDS which are: 

• Ensure dive equipment operates 

correctly and is regularly 

serviced, at least once a year 

• Divers should abandon their 

weights when in difficulty 

• Ensure persons are medically 

fit to dive. Dive medicals must 

be done on a regular basis and 

re-done if there are any changes 

in health 

• Proper dive training must be 

completed 

• Dive with a buddy for the 

duration of the dive 

• Monitor the conditions and 

abandon the dive when unsafe or 

outside you experience 

• Divers must wear a watch or 

dive computer or timing piece to 

monitor their time underwater. 

(The coroner directed these findings 

be made available to Dive New 

Zealand for publication) 


LegaSea Update 

Bold measures to address 

shellfish depletion 

At the break of dawn on 

a cool January morning 

around 180 people gathered on 

Oneroa Beach to support Ngāti 

Pāoa in placing a rāhui around 

Waiheke Island in the Hauraki 

Gulf. 

The rāhui means no take of 

scallops, crayfish, mussels and 

pāua out to one nautical mile 

from the shoreline. This applies 

for at least the next two years. 

The objective is to allow these 

important species to replenish 

to more abundant levels. 

LegaSea, the New Zealand 

Sport Fishing Council, Outboard 

Boating Club of Auckland, 

New Zealand Underwater 

Association and other communities 

support the initiative. 

“Giving the waters a rest 

around Waiheke Island is a 

good move because clearly 

there are species that are 

becoming depleted,” says New 

Zealand Sport Fishing Council 

president Bob Gutsell. “The 

Council has been supportive of 

customary fisheries management 

measures in other areas 

around the country and we 

fully endorse the local Waiheke 

community working with iwi to 

take control of their fisheries,” 

he said. 

LegaSea is concerned the depletion 

of these important shellfish 

species is symptomatic of 

the failure of fisheries management 

in the Hauraki Gulf and 

around the whole country. 

“It’s a real worry when mana 

whenua and local communities 

have to intervene to prevent 

fisheries collapsing under the 

quota management system,” 

says LegaSea spokesperson 

Trish Rea. “We’re encouraging 

our supporters to get behind 

this initiative as it’s a real live 

example of ahu moana, an 

iwi-led approach to managing 

our coastal waters. This initiative 

is positive for the whole 

Hauraki Gulf.” 

Waiheke is a popular destination 

for members of the 

Outboard Boating Club (OBC) of 

Auckland. Over the past decade 

club members have worked on a 

range of projects to protect and 

enhance fish stocks and the 

marine environment. 

“Our members are excited to be 

supporting the rāhui because 

it’s been obvious for a long time 

that more effective action was 

required to protect these species 

that used to be prolific around 

the islands of the Gulf,” says 

OBC secretary Bill McGarry. 

The New Zealand Underwater 

Association is also supporting 

the rāhui and will be working 

with other dive interests 

and the recreational fishing 

community to encourage 

compliance with the voluntary 

measure until the official 

process is completed. 

“Mismanagement of our 

scallops, mussels, crayfish 

and pāua is not unique to the 

Hauraki Gulf; it’s happening 

around the country,” Legasea’s 

Trish Rea said. 

“The Hauraki Gulf is unique in 

that there is specific legislation 

requiring the marine resources 

to be sustained and enhanced 

to meet the social, cultural, 

spiritual and recreational needs 

of the people. 

“We are far from achieving 

those outcomes so it’s great that 

Ngāti Pāoa is showing the way.” 

Want to help? 

If you want to help this 

ongoing effort, please support 

us. 

https://legasea.co.nz/support-us 

The community show their support for shellfish preservation 


SOUNDINGS 

LOCAL NEWS 

NZUA launches new online training and 

certificate platform: 

NZUA is delighted to announce the 

launch of its SURVIVE THE DIVE 

online training and certificate 

platform. 

Sponsored by Water Safety NZ and 

Maritime NZ, the ground-breaking 

web application allows divers to 

refresh and test their diving and 

boating safety knowledge 

with a gamified 

quiz, then apply for 

an NZUA-endorsed 

certificate. 

In this way the new 

Survive the Dive app 

aims to present 

NZUA’s extensive 

diving and boating 

knowledge to all divers 

in a fun, engaging and 

meaningful manner. 

“Water Safety New 

Zealand is thrilled to 

fund this new initiative 

and continue its 

strong partnership 

with NZUA,” said Ben Christie of 

Water Safety NZ. 

“We are blessed with places to 

dive in this country. Diving in all 

its forms continues to grow in 

popularity across all demographics 

and it’s so important every diver 

makes safety a priority and gets 

the knowledge they need to stay 

safe in the water,” he said. 

“This free interactive learning 

platform will make access to that 

critical knowledge so much easier.” 

Thanks to its sponsors Water 

Safety NZ, Maritime NZ and Air 

Purity Limited, the Survive the 

Dive certification is available at no 

charge. 

The low down 

WWW.SURVIVETHEDIVE.NZUNDERWATER.ORG.NZ DIVE EMERGENCIES 0800 4 DES 111 

The Survive the Dive platform is an 

engaging way to refresh your diving 

and boating safety knowledge. 

It’s suited for divers of all levels as 

well as dive boat operators. 

And it’s gamified, allowing participants 

to save high-scores and track 

their learning progress. 

It doesn’t replace commercial dive 

qualifications, so if you’re unqualified 

and planning on diving, please 

take a formal, professional dive 

training course first. 

Everyone who passes the final exam 

with 80% correct answers receives an 

NZUA-endorsed Survive the Dive 

certificate, valid for two years. 

As well as in English the Survive 

the Dive app is to be released in 

five additional languages soon: Te 

Reo, Samoan, Tongan, Hindi and 

Simplified Chinese. 

Ready to play? 

There are two stages: 

A gamified quiz with 

10 randomly generated 

questions. Take 

the quiz multiple 

times to cover all the 

material. Save your 

high-scores to track 

your progress. 

An online exam with 

20 comprehensive 

questions. If you pass 

the exam (scoring 

80% or more), you’ll receive an 

NZUA-endorsed Survive the Dive 

certificate, valid for two years! 

“It’s so important that every diver 

makes safety a priority and gets 

the knowledge they need to stay 

safe in the water. 

“This free interactive learning 

platform will make access to that 

critical knowledge so much easier.” 

Water Safety NZ 

Start your Survive the Dive here: 

https://www.nzunderwater.org.nz/post/survive-the-dive-certificate-launched 

What we are reading... 

How is the dive industry faring in the face of a 

global pandemic? What can we expect now? 

The State of The Scuba Diving Industry after a Year 

of Pandemic tinyurl.com/4spsuzbh 

Oceanic sharks and rays have declined more 

than 70% since 1970, according to a new study: 

Shark Populations Are Crashing, With a ‘Very Small 

Window’ to Avert Disaster tinyurl.com/a75fba76 

Some coronavirus vaccines rely on a shark-based 

product: 

Coronavirus Vaccine Makers Are Not 

Mass-Slaughtering Sharks tinyurl.com/daa5pdxw 

Catching spiny lobsters is a stunningly 

dangerous pursuit for the mostly indigenous 

Nicaragua fishermen: 

For Nicaragua’s Lobstermen, Deadly Dives Are All 

Too Common tinyurl.com/y74pnadv 


BACK IN THE DAY 

Yesterday’s 

BIG DIVE events 

With Dave Moran & Gilbert Peterson 

The Oceans conferences 

were the biggest event 

on the diver’s calendar 

during the 1970s and 80s, 

lasting a full weekend, 

with the last of these major 

events held in Auckland’s 

Aotea Conference Centre 

in 1990. Then, in 1996 and 

1997, a couple of “A Night 

to Remember” events were 

held. 

As part of the Oceans 

Conference was the Ocean’s 

Photographic competition, 

New Zealand’s most sought 

after photographic award 

which attracted many 

international entries. 

The Conferences drew a 

massive number of divers 

wanting to hear presentations 

from local divers 

including Kelly Tarlton, 

Wade Doak, Dr Roger Grace, 

Dr Simon Mitchell, Andy 

Belcher, Kim Westerskov 

and many others. 

Many high-profile international 

people came as 

well to give presentations, 

including Dr Sylvia Earle, 

Dr Joseph MacInnis, Al 

Giddings, Mel Fisher, Stan 

Waterman, Ron and Valeri 

Taylor, Robert Marx, Peter 

Gimbel, Jacques Mayol, 

Jean-Michel Cousteau, 

Rodney Fox and Scott 

Carpenter. 

Who are these people? 

Google them. You will be 

amazed. Amongst them are 

shipwreck explorers, marine 

scientists, film makers and an 

astronaut who walked on the 

moon. Just to mention a few! 

One of the more astonishing 

presentations was in 1983 by 

UK diver John Diamond. John 

was born in South London, 

and became a commercial 

diver at age 21. He had been 

doing saturation diving for six 

years before that, an ex Royal 

Navy diver. 

He came to New Zealand originally 

to work as a commercial 

diver on the Maui offshore 

gas production rig off New 


Plymouth and stayed on in 

New Zealand, subsequently 

buying a farm in Northland. 

John’s presentation was on the 

successful salvage recovery of 

gold from the British cruiser 

Edinburgh, one of 12 divers in a 

team led by Keith Jessop in the 

Arctic’s Barents Sea. 

Five and a half tons of gold 

– 465 bars valued at $94.5 

million, in 1983 NZ dollars, 

was recovered in one of the 

greatest ‘treasure hunts’ of all 

time. 

Which takes us on to the story 

of the gold in the Edinburgh… 

Keith Jessop’s book, Goldfinder 

published in 1998, tells the 

story, and what a great, fast 

paced tale it is! 

Not only about the many 

challenges that had to be 

overcome in 1983 to recover 

gold at 240 metres, but as well 

about the rollicking times 

Keith Jessop led earlier in his 

career. 

In the 1950’s Keith enjoyed 

a charmed life when scuba 

diving was yet to be developed, 

salvaging scrap metal 

off the many wrecks littering 

the coastlines of the UK, and 

especially in Scotland: high 

risk adventures, bold entrepreneurism. 

If your enthusiasm for diving 

feels slightly less than it used 

to be this book could be just 

the right medicine to excite 

your need to explore underwater 

once again. 

Kiwi diver Peter Croft, an ex 

Royal Navy saturation diver 

apparently now retired in 

Indonesia, was also part of that 

amazing gold recovery effort. 

Where to get married underwater… 

Well, anywhere around New Zealand of course. 

But let’s hope that won’t always be the case. 

If you and your partner want to tie the knot underwater 

one of our enterprising dive operators is sure to be able 

to assist your deepest wish. 

In most cases to do this you wear a dive mask or a full 

face mask with audio communications, with or without 

a wedding party. Of course you will need the other 

usual dive gear, and a location with a sandy seafloor 

to kneel on. 

First of course you will probably need diving certification 

for wedding guests before the ceremony. 

And though an underwater wedding is not usually 

recognised officially you may need a civil ceremony to 

make it legal. 

So choose your romantic hotspot! 

And if urgency is not so much on your agenda, then 

dream of the warm waters, or with the sharks, of Fiji, 

Tahiti, Rarotonga, Bora Bora, or even Hawaii 

or somewhere in the Caribbean. 

Your celebrant could use a slate to ask the 

big questions, or perhaps just basic 

hand signals. You and your spouse 

can then say, nod, or give a thumbs 

up for the “I do” part. It could be all over 

in 15- to 20-minutes. 


SOUNDINGS 

LOCAL NEWS 

Sharks store sperm for later 

NIWA researcher has found the first evidence 

A that female deep sea sharks store sperm as 

a strategy to preserve the species and possibly 

avoid aggressive mating encounters. 

While sperm storage is a relatively common 

strategy in some insects, bats, turtles and fish, 

this is the first time it has been documented in 

these species of deep sea sharks. 

Fisheries modeller Adele Dutilloy was keen to 

discover more about deep sea sharks in New 

Zealand waters at risk from the impact of fishing. 

Using specimens of longnose velvet dogfish, 

leafscale gulper sharks and smooth deep sea 

skate collected by NIWA’s research vessel 

If female sharks are not able to produce viable 

offspring when they mate, they may store sperm 

to use when they start ovulating. Turtles go one 

step further - they can decide which sperm to 

use to fertilise their eggs. And in some species 

of anglerfish the male fuses itself to the female, 

essentially acting as a sperm bank to increase the 

chances of reproductive success. 

Ms Dutilloy says “It might also be a strategy 

to reduce the need for more frequent mating 

events. Shark mating can be very aggressive 

resulting in bite wounds to the females.” 

Some sharks can also congregate in groups 

for mating where multiple males will mate 

with a single female increasing each male’s 

chances of passing on their genes to the next 

generation. 

Ms Dutilloy says it is not known how long 

sperm can be stored for but there are 

estimates of between 13 months and two 

years. 

NIWA fisheries modeller Adele Dutilloy: “Looking for 

sperm stored by a female shark was like looking for a 

needle in a haystack”. Photo: NIWA 

Tangaroa on the Chatham Rise and in the 

sub-Antarctic, Ms Dutilloy compared measurements 

of the reproductive organs with other 

assessment methods. 

“I also cut up parts of the oviducal gland which 

produces egg casings and jelly to protect the egg 

and the foetus. In other species this gland has 

also been known to store sperm. 

“I have to say looking for sperm inside a cell is 

like looking for a needle in a haystack. It was 

incredibly exciting when I actually found it.” Ms 

Dutilloy found sperm storage in three of the nine 

species she looked at it. 

Distinguishing sperm in a female shark means being 

able to differentiate between different shades of blue. 

Photo: NIWA 

Records there to break 

n January 7, in Siberia’s freezing Lake Baikal, 

OEkaterina Nekrasova, a Russian woman 

wearing nothing but a swimsuit, a swimming 

cap, and a mask swam nearly 90 metres (279 feet) 

under the ice, possibly setting a new Guinness 

World Record. According to the Siberian Times her 

aides cut holes in the 30 centimetre thick ice at 

regular intervals if she needed to abort the swim. 


Wanted: candidates for Blake Inspire week 

Up to 70 passionate, young 

environmental leaders (Yr 

11–13) are being sought to join a 

BLAKE Inspire programme. 

And this year there are two 

programmes running: 19-23 April 

in Waikato; and 11-15 October in 

Auckland. 

BLAKEInspire is an action-packed 

week of experiential learning and 

adventure. The youthful delegates 

spend the week working with 

scientists, experts and leaders to 

develop strong leadership skills 

while learning about environmental 

issues and how to take 

action. 

BLAKE Inspire is fully funded and 

Scientists track elusive sperm whales 

Scientists heading to Antarctica 

on NIWA’s research vessel 

Tangaroa are keeping a look out for 

sperm whales, specifically large 

males which feed on toothfish in 

the Ross Sea, the same species 

targeted by whalers in the 19th 

and 20th centuries wiping out over 

70% of them. 

Marine ecologist Dr Matt Pinkerton 

says crews on research ships and 

fishing vessels almost never see 

sperm whales in the Ross Sea 

region making it extremely difficult 

to know how many are there. 

“My theory is that because of all 

the whaling that took place, they 

learned to disappear as soon as 

they hear a big ship.” 

“We don’t really know their annual 

cycle - where their populations are 

concentrated and how different 

groups of whales interact,” Dr 

Pinkerton says. 

“We do know they eat a lot of 

toothfish... (but) The abundance 

of toothfish on the Ross Sea slope 

has reduced because of fishing and 

is set to reduce further. We want 

to know if that’s affected sperm 

whales there.” 

The best way to count sperm 

whales is to listen in on them via 

acoustic moorings which record 

the sounds they make. 

NIWA marine mammal acoustician 

Dr Giacomo Giorli has been 

Marine mammal acoustician Dr 

Giacomo Giorli with a passive 

acoustic monitoring instrument. 

Photo: Dave Allen NIWA 

DAN launches 2021 webinars 

ivers Alert Network (DAN) has launched a new 

Dseries of live monthly webinars on its YouTube 

channel, DAN TV with experts from DAN’s 

Research, Risk Mitigation, and Medical Services 

teams presenting on topics relevant to divers, 

dive pros and dive business owners. 

The 30-45 minute webinars will cover topics 

such as fill station safety, ear barotrauma, DAN 

research updates, the latest about COVID-19 and 

diving, and more, followed by questions and 

discussion. 

The webinars are on the third Thursday each 

month. Recorded presentations will remain on 

DAN’s YouTube Channel. 

SOUNDINGS 

LOCAL NEWS 

fully supported by the Ministry for 

the Environment so students just 

need to bring their environmental 

passion, commitment and energy! 

If this sounds like you, or someone 

you know, head to the website to 

find out more and APPLY NOW! 

https://tinyurl.com/4d5a6v4c 

working on 

the sperm 

whale 

project 

since its 

inception 

in 2017. He 

says sperm 

whales 

make 

a very 

distinctive 

sound and are one of the easiest 

marine mammals to recognise 

sonically. 

“What we look for is the echolocation 

sound. The whales listen 

to the echo and track their prey 

by working out the time delay 

between producing the sound and 

the return of its echo.” 

Foraging sperm whales typically 

send one sound every second while 

searching for prey but increase 

the rate the closer they get to their 

selected target. 

“It’s a cool project,” he says. 

Every year hundreds of thousands of divers 

around the world look to DAN as their dive safety 

organization. You can join or learn more at 

www.DAN.org 


Domestic focus for 

Underwater Hockey this year 

So long as the COVID-19 uncertainty continues Underwater Hockey 

NZ will be keeping its focus on providing a great domestic 2021 

season. We aim to grow the depth of underwater hockey players as 

well as raise their ability levels. 

Taupo club 

So it’s pleasing to see club nights getting underway across the 

country. Clubs are always looking out for new members from within 

the greater Underwater Community, and if you’re keen to give it go, 

please check out your local club. There’s sure to be one near you. 

Club round up 

• The new Taupo club had a great start to the new year with 18 

Juniors (10-14 year olds) attending the 15th February 2021 session. 

• Tauranga Underwater Hockey had their first sessions on Sunday 

14 Feb at the Baywave Aquatic Centre. The night included Have a 

Go and Novice as well as experienced player sessions. 

• Marlborough Underwater Hockey had their first playing night on 

the 16th February at the Marlborough Lines Stadium 

• NelSun UWH Club is up and running at Richmond and Riverside 

pools from the beginning of February. 

• The Annual General Meeting of Underwater Hockey New Zealand 

Inc will be held online on Saturday 27th March 2021. The 2020 

Annual Report and other meeting documents will be released to 

clubs at the end of February 2021. 

Tournament calendar 

Underwater Hockey New Zealand have confirmed an exciting domestic 

tournament calendar for 2021 and UWHNZ will be doing everything 

possible to ensure all of them are held. 

With that in mind, it’s time to renew your club and UWHNZ 

membership for the 2021 playing year. 

UWHNZ website: www.underwaterhockeynz.com 

or email competitions@underwaterhockeynz.com 

Tauranga club 

Marlborough club 

NelSun club 

Date Tournament Venue 

27 Mar UWHNZ Inc AGM 10am Online 

9-11 Apr NZ Interzone Championships Wellington Regional Aquatic Centre 

22 May South Is. Interclub Championships Jellie Park Aquatic Centre, Christchurch 

5-7 Jun North Is. Island Interclub Rotorua Aquatic Centre 

19-20 Jun Northern Junior Secondary School championships Westwave Aquatic Centre, Auckland 

26-27 Jun Northern Senior Secondary School Championships Baywave Aquatic Centre, Tauranga 

2-4 Jul Central Secondary Schools Championship Wellington Regional Aquatic Centre 

28-31 Aug NZ Secondary School Championships Baywave Aquatic Centre, Tauranga 

8-9 Oct NZ Interclub Championships Wellington Regional Aquatic Centre 

23-25 Oct Under18 Interzone Championships Wellington Regional Aquatic Centre 


P A C I F I C 


P A C I F I C 


www.nzunderwater.org.nz 

P A C I F I C 


International UH 

update 

Internationally, the Underwater Hockey 

New Zealand (UWHNZ) Executive 

attended by Zoom the CMAS meetings of 

the Referees’ Coaching and Development 

committees in the last quarter of 2020. We 

also attended the National Federation’s 

meeting held on 16 January 2021. 

The key takeaways were that the 

Federations require 12 month notice 

of the World Championship dates to 

provide sufficient time for the selection 

and build-up of representative 

teams. In addition, Elite/ Masters World 

Championship are to be prioritized to 

occur as soon as practical. 

With the international future uncertain, 

UWHNZ is currently revising the high 

performance plan to cover 2021 through 

to 2023 and this will be published once 

approved by key stakeholders. 

January 2021 CMAS Zoom 

meeting 

Refereeing latest 

In the refereeing corner, US 

underwater Hockey Rules 

director Don Mathews has 

developed new refereeing guide 

and it’s available on Amazon for 

purchase. 

If you are interested in refereeing 

Underwater Hockey talk to your 

club or school about becoming 

involved and what courses are 

coming up. We suggest you do 

the rules course first to build 

your understanding of them. 

Further information can be 

obtained by emailing the 

UWHNZ Referee Development 

Officer 

mailto:referees@underwaterhockeynz.com 


CMAS Underwater Hockey Commission 

press release from the Director. 



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February / March 2019 



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SOUNDINGS 

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

Treasure from Nelson ship up for auction 

after years of wrangling 

More than 2,000 pieces found on two early 

19th-century shipwrecks, including a cannon 

used at Trafalgar and a letter seal belonging to Admiral 

Lord Nelson, are to be auctioned off after a two-decade 

legal battle, reports the UK Telegraph. 

The decision to auction the treasure from the historical 

ships has been criticised in both Uruguay and 

Spain. Spain’s ABC newspaper reportedly editorialised: 

“treasure hunters reach an agreement with a 

government, society loses out as it watches historical 

heritage being lost”. 

It has been agreed the money raised is to be divided 

between the Uruguayan state and the heirs of Héctor 

Bado, the diver who led an expedition in the 1990’s 

to locate treasure from the HMS Agamemnon, once 

captained by Nelson, and the Spanish ship El Salvador. 

The auction is to be held in Montevideo in Uruguay in 

May after a series of court decisions and agreement 

between the government and the rights-holders to the 

treasure. 

The Salvador sank in a storm in 1812 killing the crew 

and a complete detachment of cavalry, over 500 men. 

Items from it include personal objects, military equipment 

and artillery. Photographs of the retrieval have 

shown bones of drowned Spaniards. 

The most remarkable object yielded by the wreck 

of the Agamemnon, which was said to be Nelson’s 

favourite ship and which participated in the Battle of 

Trafalgar before sinking in 1809, is a small seal that 

Nelson used to imprint his surname and a star shape 

on wax. 

Eagle from Admiral Graf Spee raised 

In an unrelated case, the 

Uruguayan government is 

refusing to apply the same shared 

solution to Nazi loot, including a 

massive bronze eagle bearing a 

swastika recovered from the bow 

of the cruiser Admiral Graf Spee 

which was sunk off the coast in 

1939. The destroyer HMS Achilles 

largely crewed by Kiwis featured 

in the action leading to its captain 

scuttling the ship. 

Instead, the Uruguayan government 

is appealing against a court 

ruling ordering it to put the 400kg 

eagle up for sale and award half of 

the proceeds to Alfredo Etchegaray, 

a businessman who bankrolled the 

team that retrieved the sculpture 

and other objects 

in 2006. 

Javier García, 

Uruguay’s defence 

minister, justified 

the decision 

by telling the 

Uruguayan 

newspaper El País, 

“We don’t want 

it to fall into the 

hands of someone 

who could use it to 

worship the Nazis.” 

But speaking to 

the Spanish online 

news outlet Público Mr Etchegaray 

agreed, saying: “The interested 

parties should be museums, states, 

institutions or a combination of 

individuals who can guarantee an 

academic purpose, because history 

and its objects must be remembered, 

explained and contextualised.” 

Launched in 1931 the HMNZS Achilles was a Leander-class light cruiser 


SOUNDINGS 

LOCAL NEWS 

Shark numbers in decline. Research gaps 

lack of information about 

A New Zealand oceanic shark 

populations is making assessment 

difficult on how well they are 

doing, says a NIWA researcher. 

New research published in a 

recent edition of premier science 

journal Nature, with input from 

NIWA, showed the global population 

of oceanic sharks and rays 

has declined by more than 70% in 

the past 50 years. 

If the decline continues the 

extinction of some species is 

likely. 

NIWA fisheries scientist Dr Brit 

Finucci says New Zealand waters 

are home to about 113 shark 

species and their relatives, of 

which 20 are considered oceanic 

which means they spend most of 

their time in the open ocean. 

While most of the species are not 

considered threatened in New 

Zealand, Dr Finucci says there is a 

rapidly growing body of research 

linking changes to sharks to 

change in the environment. 

But Dr Finucci says “It is very hard 

to assess the status of many sharks 

in our waters because we don’t 

have shark-specific monitoring 

programmes. 

White tip reef sharks 

“For some species we have noted 

possible declines in recent years, 

but we are unsure if these trends 

are a real decline in abundance, a 

change in the fishery, or a change 

in animal behaviour.” 

The global decline of oceanic shark 

numbers is mostly attributed to a 

huge increase in fishing since 1970, 

with half the world’s 31 oceanic 

shark species now listed as endangered 

or critically endangered 

by the International Union for 

Conservation of Nature (IUCN). 

Recently retired NIWA scientist Dr 

Malcolm Francis was a member of 

the IUCN Shark Specialist Group 

for more than 20 years and a co-author 

of the Nature paper. 

Some shark species are managed 

under New Zealand’s Quota 

Management System while another 

nine oceanic species are protected 

or managed under the Wildlife Act 

and Fisheries Act. A further eight 

New Zealand oceanic species have 

no species management. 

“New Zealand not only has globally 

threatened oceanic species, but 

also some highly threatened 

global deep-water 

species as well. We 

know these species 

are very susceptible 

to population declines 

because of their 

biology,” Dr Finucci says. 

Dr Finucci says the 

research needed 

includes mapping 

critical habitats for 

populations, particularly nursery 

areas and pupping grounds, and 

determining the patterns of shark 

movement in New Zealand and 

beyond to inform the best timing 

for potential closed areas or 

seasons. 

“Sharks have been part of our 

oceans for millions of years and 

if they disappear it is likely to be 

noticed in ways we haven’t yet 

measured.” 

The Nature paper said action was 

needed immediately to prevent 

shark population collapse and 

“myriad negative consequences for 

associated economic and ecological 

systems. 

“There is an urgent need to adopt 

science-based catch limits for 

oceanic sharks that are capable of 

supporting sustainable fisheries, 

along with bycatch mitigation,” Dr 

Finucci said. 

Oceanic sharks found 

in New Zealand 

waters include: 

Oceanic whitetip, 

Carcharhinus longimanus 

Globally critically endangered. New 

Zealand protected species 

Basking shark, 

Cetorhinus maximus 

Globally endangered, New Zealand 

protected species 

Shortfin mako, 

Isurus oxyrinchus 

Globally endangered, managed under 

the QMS 

Common thresher shark, 

Alopias vulpinus 

Globally vulnerable, no species-specific 

management in NZ 

Smooth hammerhead, 

Sphyrna zygaena 


SOUNDINGS 

LOCAL NEWS 

Slippery slope up for native fish 

New Zealand’s native fish are 

doing their best to climb up 

ramps in a NIWA laboratory so 

scientists can learn how to better 

help them navigate our tricky 

waterways. 

limits of the known climbing 

fish… and we know some small 

fish can climb near vertical 

slopes, but they probably can’t do 

that their entire lives so we want 

to find out at what stage they 

A banded kōkopu makes its way 

up a slippery slope during a NIWA 

experiment. Photo: Chloe Ramsey 

NIWA freshwater scientist Dr Eleanor Gee in the laboratory setting up her fish 

ramp experiments to see how adept the animals are are climbing slopes. 

Photo: Chloe Ramsey 

Hamilton-based hydroecologist 

Dr Eleanor Gee and her team 

have rigged up six ramps of 

different angles and surfaces to 

test how adept the fish are at 

making their way upstream. 

She’s using young fish of the 

whitebait species kōaro and 

banded kōkopu at the moment 

with plans to move on to redfin 

bullies, species all known to be 

climbers and migrate as part of 

their lifecycle. 

Kōaro in particular are known 

to be excellent climbers and able 

to penetrate further inland than 

other whitebait species after 

spending their larval life in the 

sea. 

But migrating native fish face 

manmade barriers such as dams, 

weirs and culverts that prevent 

them reaching their preferred 

freshwater habitats. 

“We’re trying to find out the 

stop,” Dr Gee said. 

More than one third of New 

Zealand’s native freshwater fish 

migrate from the sea upstream 

including species in decline. 

“The shortjaw kōkopu is nationally 

threatened and also a 

climber, so it’s 

important to 

find as much as 

possible about 

climbing so we 

can manage 

them in the best 

possible way.” 

Not all climbing 

fish climb in the 

same way. Kōaro 

and banded 

kōkopu use an 

alternating limb 

movement, 

like swimming 

freestyle, while 

bullies use more 

like breast-stroke, moving both 

limbs in the same direction at 

the same time. Some have been 

known to surmount significant 

waterfalls. 

The insight Dr Gee gains will 

update the New Zealand Fish 

Passage Guidelines which set 

out recommended practice 

for designing infrastructure 

in streams that enable fish to 

pass through to help waterway 

managers, engineers, environmental 

officers, iwi and communities 

understand and implement 

better management of fish 

passage. 

New freshwater management 

rules require all regional councils 

to identify barriers to fish 

passage and come up with a plan 

for mitigating them. 

The fish ramps set up in a Hamilton laboratory for trials 

that aim to help native fish better negotiate waterways. 

Photo: Chloe Ramsey 


Why do turtles like to eat 

plastic? 

t’s been assumed turtles visually mistake plastic for 

Ijellyfish, a natural food source, but Undercurrent reports 

new research published in Current Biology provides 

startling new evidence that they are attracted by its smell. 

When plastic drifts in the sea, it develops a community of 

bacteria, algae, and small animals on its surface that gives 

off odours that turtles seem to like. You can read the full 

study here. news.clas.ufl.edu 

SOUNDINGS 


More bad news 

for Manatees 

s if having Trump’s name carved 

Aonto the back of one of the creatures 

wasn’t bad enough, the Miami Herald 

reports that last year boat strikes were 

the main cause of Manatee deaths by 

humans. Many were also killed by 

the floodgates and locks regulating 

Florida’s water flows. Since the 1990s 

sensors are activated if manatees are 

near but 2020 was an exceptionally wet 

year in Florida and water managers 

activated the flood control systems 

more frequently, leading to increased 

incidents. 

Two rewards amounting to $25,000 

were offered for information leading to 

a conviction of the person responsible 

for the name carving. Slow-moving 

manatees often gather a layer of algae 

on their skin and someone had carved 

the ex-President’s name into that layer. 

UK moves to ban bottom trawling in protected areas 

espite the heading sounding 

D odd or ironic, nonetheless 

conservationists are welcoming 

a UK government proposal for 

a widespread ban on bottomtrawling 

in protected English 

waters to save threatened 

cold-water corals. 

In what would be a first attempt to 

limit trawling in protected offshore 

English waters, a consultation has 

just begun arguing for the banning 

the destructive fishing practice 

from four Marine Protected Areas 

including for example on Dogger 

Bank, the South Dorset Marine 

Conservation Zone, and The 

Canyons which is a deep-water 

habitat off the Cornish coastline 

containing coral gardens and coral 

reefs. 

The South Dorset Marine 

Conservation Zone is home to sea 

squirts, sponges, crabs, starfish 

and scallops. 

The proposal has been welcomed 

by conservation groups. Many of 

the protected areas have been 

criticised as being ‘paper parks’; 

nothing stops them being targeted 

by British and foreign fishing 

vessels. 

The UK’s Marine Conservation 

Charity recently said bottomtrawling 

occurred in a staggering 

98% of offshore Marine Protected 

Areas in UK waters between 2015 

and 2018, all at sites identified 

as needing protection due to the 

ecological importance of their sea 

beds. 

An oceans campaigner at 

Greenpeace UK, Chris Thorpe said: 

“There are still hundreds of other 

equally important marine areas 

still open to all forms of destructive 

industrial fishing. Action in 

these four sites is only the tip of 

the iceberg in terms of the scale 

needed to solve the crisis facing 

our oceans.” 

Coral reefs to die out entirely this century 

o coral reefs will survive 

Nthis century, if a UN 

environmental report is 

correct, unless there are drastic 

reductions in greenhouse-gas 

emissions. The last global 

bleaching event ran from 2014 

well into 2017 spreading across 

the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic 

oceans. It was the longest, most 

pervasive, and destructive coral 

bleaching incident recorded so 

far. 

A report by the UN’s 

Environmental Programme, 

‘Projections of Future Coral 

Bleaching Conditions’, outlines 

the links between coral 

bleaching and climate change. 

It postulates two possible 

scenarios: ‘Worst-case’ - if the 

world economy remains heavily 

driven by fossil fuels, all corals 

will be lost by 2034. 

Or ‘Middle-of-the-road’ - 

where countries exceed their 

current pledges to limit carbon 

emissions by 50%, then severe 

bleaching could be delayed by 

11 years to 2045. 


Wakatobi 

rises to the Covid challenge 

The coronavirus pandemic created big challenges for dive travelers as well as 

(and especially) for the destinations and resorts they love to visit. This was 

certainly the case for Wakatobi Dive Resort which was unable to welcome 

guests during most of 2020 due to travel restrictions and lockdowns. 

But rather than simply shutter their operations, the resort’s owners and 

management team created a proactive plan to weather the global crisis. 

Roma rose from above 

Photo Jamie Ann Robinson 


With no firm date for 

re-opening in sight, and no 

guest revenue to offset operating 

expenses, Wakatobi’s management 

team knew that keeping 

the lights on would require both 

strategic planning and economic 

sacrifice. 

As the last guests departed in 

March of last year their plans 

were put in place. 

Local staff kept on 

A top priority during the coronavirus 

shutdown remained the 

welfare of the local people and 

communities that depend on 

Wakatobi for their livelihoods 

and much-needed revenue. 

Rather than furloughing the 

local staff and guides, the 

owners and managers chose 

to provide rotating part-time 

employment for some 160 

local workers, paid those for 

whom there was no work, and 

continued to pay health insurance 

costs and contribute to the 

pension fund for all their local 

staff. 

Conservation maintained 

Equally important as providing 

support for local communities 

was a commitment to 

conservation. Wakatobi has 

continued to fund reef patrols, 

social programmes and their 

signature lease payments to 

local villages in exchange for 

honouring no-take marine zones. 

These actions saved 20 jobs, 

provided much-needed funds 

to villagers and ensured that 

the surrounding reefs remain 

protected and pristine. 

Compliance in the marine 

sanctuaries remains high, 

despite the absence of tourism, 

and the locals are able to help 

monitor the reefs and respect all 

no-take areas. 

Resort facilities kept pristine 

A small team stayed on at the 

resort, including resort founder 

Lorenz Mäder, and they continue 

to monitor and patrol the reefs, 

maintain old moorings and 

install new ones. They also 

devoted time to beach cleanup 

Wakatobi 

and collecting debris found while 

snorkeling and diving. 

Lorenz reports that “the reefs are 

in prime condition. Waters were 

about two degrees cooler than in the 

previous El Nino years, providing 

favorable conditions that have 

allowed the corals to thrive.” 

New dive sites 

This revitalization was especially 

apparent in areas that had 

suffered damage prior to the 

establishment of the marine 

reserve. Consequently, the 

Wakatobi team has spotted an 

increase in larger marine life at 

deeper depths, and report there 

are at least five new dive sites 

to add to the itinerary once the 

resort re-opens. 

Wakatobi’s ‘sprucing up’ efforts 

also extended to many aspects 

of the resort and dive operation. 

All the dive boats have 

been updated, and the property 

has seen a number of significant 

repairs and improvements. 

The jetty has been widened 

Wakatobi Blade 

Photo Walt Stearns 


Wakatobi jetty and longhouse 

Photo Marco Fierli 

Working on the jetty 


Lintea 


Kitchen staff 

and smoothed, and the airstrip 

received an upgrade under the 

supervision of a certified runway 

engineer. 

Thanks to the ongoing efforts of 

staff and management, Wakatobi 

is ready to open its doors once 

again just as soon as international 

travel has normalized and 

borders are open again. Guests 

are already anticipating and 

planning their return. 

Inquire about booking a future 

here: 

https://tinyurl.com/y5xjjaes 

Contact: Linda Cash 

Guest Experience Representative 

Email: linda@wakatobi.com 


For a specialglimpse of the 

Wakatobi experience go to: 

https://divenewzealand.co.nz/wakatobi/ 


An experience 

without equal 

“Simply put you can’t have a better experience! Everything is about service and maximizing 

your diving and snorkeling. The dives were amazing, and all the staff are first class. At 

Wakatobi they will accommodate any request, but you hardly need to make any since they 

have thought of essentially everything.” ~ Dr. James and Laurie Benjamin 



With their new shop and workshop at Orams Marine 

Village in Westhaven, General Marine Services offers 

convenient and comprehensive dive compressor options. 

General Marine Services started out 26 years 

ago in the yard-arm building on the side of the 

original Orams yard. “We moved out to make way 

for the existing development so it’s great to be 

back,” says GMS director Roy Chalton. 

Roy and business partner Michael Coventry are 

both engineers and met while working on flotillas 

and superyachts in the Mediterranean. GMS 

worked on the first two superyachts to come to 

New Zealand – Freedom and Jagare – and the 

business grew as the superyacht market expanded. 

General Marine Services specialises in marine 

plumbing and fluid handling but maintains its 

roots and expertise in engines, generators and 

propulsion, offering a complete service. And 

although pumps are core to the brand, other 

services include certified fabrication, installation 

and machining. Roy says that the company’s 

location in the heart of Auckland’s Westhaven 

marine precinct makes it easy to service and 

support any type of vessel. 

A number of our staff are certified Bauer 

technicians and we are one of a number of Bauer 

breathing air compressor approved distributors 

so we carry all consumables and a large range of 

spare parts for Bauer compressors. 

General Marine Services has been involved with 

many installations and servicing of the Bauer 

Profi-Line commercial range. Our staff have had 

training to service and maintain these models 

over a number of years and we have also been 

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Aero Guard OX. 

One of GMS’ strengths is a comprehensive range 

of Compact and Profi-line refurbished units 

making the Bauer range much more affordable 

to newcomers for recreational compressor 

ownership. 

General Marine also offers a retail arm, which 

sells a large range of highly respected plant and 

equipment. Brands include Scania, Cummins 

Onan, Bauer compressors, Hamilton Jet and 

Gianneschi. Roy says that all products are fully 

backed by the General Marine service department. 

GMS completes a large majority of Orams Marine’s 

engineering systems work. They also service a 

number of local commercial clients including 

Fullers ferries, NZ Coastguard, NZ Customs and 

the NZ Police (automotive and marine). 


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S pearos notebook 

The summer hunt for Boarfish 

with Jackson Shields 

Boarfish, to recap, (see Dive 

Pacific, 173 Feb/March 2020) 

is relatively unknown to a 

lot of fishers. They seldom 

take a hook as they mostly 

feed on big worms in the 

sand. But they are fantastic 

eating and on most spearos 

bucket list. 

We mostly encounter 

Boarfish only during the 

warmer months when 

they are spawning and 

move in to shallower water 

to occupy reef systems, 

commonly from October 

through to May. Then they 

tend to disappear out deep 

during the cooler months, 

though I have encountered 

them in winter time but 

rarely, and then they are 

often spooky. 

Boarfish are found from 

East Cape to Kari Kari 

Peninsula but have seen 

them speared at the top 

of the South Island and 

around Wellington also. 

From personal experience 

the best places to target 

them is in the Coromandel 

(east side) and Great Barrier 

Island where in both places 

large numbers of them 

occur during the summer 

months. Early in the season 

they school up to spawn in 

large numbers, and the rest 

of the year they are often 

found in pairs with a male 

and female paired up. 

The sort of country they 

like to hang around is 

where weed meets sand. 

Also in broken weedy 

bottom with sandy patches 

from which they extract 

large worms. Since I have 

just had some amazing 

Boarfish spearfishing this 

season here are a couple of 

recounts. 

Late December 2020 and the 

weather played ball. We were 

on a mission to Great Barrier, one 

of the most diverse spearfishing 

locations in New Zealand. We 

headed to the northern end as the 

water there is not very calm that 

often. 

On the way we would hit up 

some of the weed-edges 

along the inside of the 

island where there are a 

good many places to find 

Boarfish, amongst many 

other species. 

Where sand meets 

weed 

First up was a weed-edge 

running 10m out to 32m, all 

of it good Boarfish country. 

We began shallow and 

slowly worked out deeper. 

Visibility was not great. 

We had to dive through 

a very dirty layer to get 

to the bottom but once 

there good fish life became 

evident, and the sand was full of 

life. The sand on weed-edges is 

very important as it indicates the 

likelihood of fish. 

We picked up some nice Trevally 

and Koheru destined for sashimi 

later that night. Lying on the 

bottom on the deeper end of the 

edge I was then peering over 

Jackson and John with male and female 

Boarfish plus welcome Terakihi by catch 

my shoulder to see a pair of nice 

Boarfish cruising in from the 

deep over the top of me. The 

male made for the easiest shot 

so slowly swinging my spear gun 

around I managed it, close-range. 

With the current increasing we 

headed back to shallower diving, 

scanning along the bottom. 

Sophie spied a nice 

female parked up in the 

shallows, and she got on 

top of it to ensure it did 

not spook. With that we 

had two Boarfish early 

in the day just to get 

started! 

Great Barrier 

Great Barrier is a great 

area to look for Boarfish 

- the entire inside is 

mostly protected from 

ocean running swells 

which can churn up the 

sand too much. Also, and 

this is merely speculative, 

maybe the worms 


At the front of the reef I spied a pair of Boarfish and 

glided towards the closest one taking a shot as it 

spooked. Back on the surface, I tell my dive buddy 

there’s another one and pointed the direction it 

went. When Boarfish spook, they can stop after a 

short swim then park up again on the sand, making 

an easy target. So don’t give up when you see one 

swim off. My dive buddy John managed to find 

another, not long after, further down the reef. 

Back at the Barrier 

Only a week later, still early in January, and my 

good friend Sam invited us to stay on their family 

boat back out at Great Barrier again. Me and Sophie 

jumped at the chance, racing out late morning to 

get set up. 

Sophie with a nice Great Barrier Boarfish 

Boarfish feed on, and other life, doesn’t like living in 

churned up sandy areas so much. Perhaps the gritty 

wavy sand you see is not a great area to look. 

We thought due to the decent viz we would look at 

some good looking broken ground where we had 

dived before, in about 25-32m and it didn’t take long 

for Sam to find a school of Boarfish milling over 

broken rock and sand, an incredible sight, and he 

managed one for dinner that night. Sophie was next 

down and she also scored. The area seemed to hold 

active groups of them milling around the entire 

time, which allowed me to get some really nice 

footage and soak up the experience. 

…The sort of country they like to hang around is where 

weed meets sand. Also in broken weedy bottom with 

sandy patches from which they extract large worms… 

New Year’s Day: While most people might be sleep 

deprived we are up and fresh and excited to hit the 

water. This time we stayed closer to the inshore 

Islands. Early in summer you tend to find coastal 

and inner islands holding bigger number of Boarfish 

than outer islands, which tend to see more of an 

influx later in the season. This may be related to 

their spawning patterns. 

New Year’s Day showed perfect water conditions 

with flat, sun drenched seas while below, the viz 

was a little more gloomy. Anchoring up on one of 

our favourite reefs I made sure I was first in with a 

quick dive to inspect the bottom. A rogue Tarakihi 

pretending to be a porae was soon in the chilly 

bin… Then, since fish like to hang around with 

other fish, I worked out which way the current 

was going and headed to where I figured most fish 

would be. 

Spin and twirl 

When looking for Boarfish in dirty water it pays 

to scan slowly on your way down as you can 

easily miss them and often they don’t like being 

approached side on. So I spin and twirl around, 

scanning the bottom on the way down. 

Boarfish behaviour 

It’s always great to watch Boarfish 

behaviour as they tend to change 

throughout the season. Early on, when 

active and preparing for spawning they 

become inquisitive and will approach you on the 

Sam and Sophie with male and female 

Boarfish, and snapper 


National Spearfishing Champs scheduled 

Easter 2021 is scheduled for this year’s National Spearfishing Champs to be held at Flaxmill Bay 

in Whitianga. 

The programme includes the usual social activities with the main dates: 

Thursday 1st April 

Friday 2nd April 

Saturday 3rd April 

Sunday 4th April 

Monday 5th April 

- Women’s and Juniors 

- Photography, Fin Swim, AGM, and mandatory attendance safety briefing. 

- Day 1 Open 

- Day 2 Open 

- Reserve Day 

John Dory tend to hang around Boarfish 

bottom. Whereas, as the season passes, they park 

up in pairs and tend not to be very interested in 

approaching; you often need to approach them. 

Boarfish are great eating with a texture and fillet 

size similar to Snapper but a taste leaning to John 

Dory. With a couple of Boarfish on board we had 

plenty of fish for dinner that night! 

…When Boarfish spook, they can stop after a short swim 

then park up again on the sand, making an easy target… 

Seasonal movement analysis 

Later on in January we head further north where I 

have tried to analyze Boarfish movements, and where 

I have seen them in good numbers and where their 

numbers spike at different times. At the very first 

spot we were welcomed by clearer water and many 

fish. Before even loading my gun Sophie had secured 

a prowling John Dory under the boat that we had 

spotted from the surface. Shortly after I landed a John 

Dory too to add to our Wettie Float boat. We had hit 

the spot at the perfect time: the tide was picking up 

and fish were moving into the reef. 

As I was lying on 

the bottom a small 

Boarfish moved in 

off the sand and 

became a little too 

inquisitive. Sophie 

then spied a couple 

more and got the 

bigger of the two. 

All the while our 

other two other dive 

mates, John and 

Ben, were picking 

up fish in about 7m 

of water. 

Which spear 

gun? 

Most of the time 

when diving these 

Weed line variety in the Wettie 

Float Boat 

weed-edges we use reel guns, meaning we don’t have 

to have a float line attached to our gun, which can be 

restrictive, (drag wise) during deep dives and the artificial 

sight of float line can put fish off from approaching 

you. 

I usually use a Wettie Viper carbon spear gun around 

100cm-120cm with a Wettie Snapper reel. A carbon 

gun provides fantastic freedom and 

manoeuvrability, and its light weight 

when coming up from depth. 

Another great thing about targeting 

Boarfish is the other species we encounter with them, 

like John Dory, Tarakihi, Kingfish, Trevally… the list goes 

on. 

Early days 

Now it’s still early days for the Boarfish season, and I will 

be doing my best to look for them all the way into May 

this year at many different locations. That’s the great 

thing about spearfishing; we can target an incredible 

array of species throughout the year and be selective 

of the ones we want to take, and those we can film 

and watch swim on by. Good luck out there! 


Why a COVID infection, even without 

symptoms, could end your diving career 

In May last year Undercurrent 

newsletter reported that an 

Innsbruck University physician 

and diving doctor had found 

serious lung damage in COVID 

patients, and he warned how 

it might affect any diver who 

contracted the virus. (See also Dive 

Pacific Dec/Jan, 2020/2021). 

SOUNDINGS 


Now the newsletter reports that 

in an interview released by CBS 

News, an assistant professor of 

surgery at Texas Tech University, 

who has treated thousands of 

patients since last March, says that 

every patient who has suffered 

COVID-19 symptoms shows severe 

problems in a chest X-ray. Even 

those who were asymptomatic 

show severe chest problems most 

of the time. 

Dr Brittany Bankhead-Kendall says 

that post-COVID lungs look worse 

than any type of terrible smoker’s 

lungs they’ve ever seen. 

Here is the story 

https://tinyurl.com/epsh8y8h 

Undercurrent contacted Doug 

Ebersole, an interventional cardiologist 

in Lakeland, FL, and a 

technical dive instructor who 

consults for Divers Alert Network 

(DAN) and who, himself, suffered 

a bout of COVID-19. He knows of 

the lung problem though he hasn’t 

seen it so widespread. “There’s 

nothing new here . . . We have 

known for many months that 

COVID on MV AquaCat 

It’s very disappointing when 

your expensive liveaboard trip 

is spoiled by bad weather, but 

making it much worse is when 

some passengers board who are 

suffering from COVID-19. 

John Miller of Lubbock, Texas 

a small percentage of patients 

will develop severe lung abnormalities 

with COVID-19 - a lot 

of them improve over time, but 

some do not. Also, a small proportion 

of patients continue to have 

symptoms for months after the 

illness. In fact, one of the internal 

medicine doctors in our clinic has 

set up a special ‘Post COVID-19 

Clinic’ for these patients.” 

In a study published in 

EClinicalMedicine from a team 

in Henan Province, China, led 

by Aiguo Xu (The First Affiliated 

Hospital of Zhengzhou University), 

et al., found that in 55 people 

recovering from COVID-19 

in China, even those with a 

mild-to-moderate infection may 

have the effects persist in the 

lungs for months. In fact, three 

months after leaving the hospital, 

discovered two infected 

passengers had boarded on 

a trip he had booked, despite 

having Bahamas Health Dept. 

visas for COVID. Within days, 

he reported, at least six divers 

and two crew had become 

infected. 

about 70% of those in the study 

continued to have abnormal lung 

scans, an indication that the lungs 

are still damaged and trying to 

heal. 

A study at Oxford University (UK), 

using a novel scanning technique 

highlighting areas where inhaled 

air is not flowing easily into the 

blood, studied eight patients who 

reported breathlessness. They 

found that their lung damage 

might be why some victims feel 

unwell months after infection. 

The British NHS describes the 

condition as Long COVID, with 

symptoms including extreme 

fatigue, shortness of breath, and 

chest pain, among many others. 

You can read it here. 

CBS News/BBC 

He said, “social distancing on a 

boat is impossible, with no-one but 

food service staff wearing masks. 

Travel during COVID is a gamble as 

there are absolutely no procedures 

that will adequately protect you in 

crowded airports, hotels, or dive 

boats.” 



MARINERESERVES 

From the short, full life of an octopus to 

protecting our seas: Where do we stand? 

By Dee Harris 

Recently I was pointed to My Octopus 

Teacher on Netflix, one of those films that 

escapes you into a little known underwater 

world far removed from our everyday terrestrial 

existence. 

South African documentary filmmaker Craig 

Foster relates how he began diving daily 

in the kelp forests that wrap around the 

southern tip of Africa and where he followed 

the life and adventures of an octopus. 

The area was dubbed The Cape of Good Hope 

by the Portuguese King Joao II in 1488, a 

name has become something of a metaphor 

these days for our planet’s survival. 

I highly recommend My Octopus Teacher for 

the added inspiration it gives us to go diving 

and also to help adjust our perspective around 

the significance of our oceans, and how the 

life in them sustains us. 

Foster’s love affair with the octopus appears 

to be reciprocated. At least that’s what he 

came to believe. The experience certainly 

affected him profoundly. He says, “It made 

me realize just how precious wild places are.” 

“What she (the octopus) taught me was to feel 

that you’re a part of this place, not a visitor. 

There’s a huge difference.” 

Inspired by the octopus Foster went on to 

found The Sea Change Project, a community 

group aiming to protect South Africa’s marine 

environment by making the Great South 

African Sea Forest a global icon. 

He says: “Our African ancestors lived here for 

hundreds of thousands of years and left us with a 

completely intact ecosystem. It’s our duty to do the 

same for our children.” 

So here in New Zealand, do we 

hear a similar call to duty? 

Certainly there is no lack of 

community and national groups 

aiming to tackle 

different parts of our 

marine protection 

predicament. 

But let’s be honest. 

Over the last 50 years we have 

dallied around the issue of marine 

conservation. And deep down we 

know that so long as we keep on 

using economic gain and loss as 

the key indicators, not to mention 

motivation, for our protection 

of the environment, the consequences 

of our actions will always 

be limited. Partly because our 

understanding of what is economic 

in the long term is so severely 

limited. 

We’ve been making such slow 

gains that now we find we’re up 

against a rapidly closing out time 

frame. We will need to do much 

more, and act far faster, if we’re to 

save our planet from the rigours of 

a rapidly changing climate. 

The outline 

…What she (the octopus) taught me was to feel that you’re a 

part of this place, not a visitor. There’s a huge difference… 

This is to be the first of a series of 

three articles. Here we’ll explore 

the current state of health of the 

oceans near New Zealand, going 

over what must be done do to give 

them, and ourselves, a future fit 

for our children and grandchildren. 

…it was not until the early 1990s that a steady list of additional 

reserves began to be added… 

This first article focuses specifically 

on marine reserves in New 

Zealand: What benefits do they 

deliver, and what challenges do 

we need to face up to, to enhance 

those benefits? 

A second article will be to review 

what’s being done to reserve 

marine space in 

the rest of the 

world, and the 

opportunities to 

connect marine 

reserves across 

all oceans. A third article will 

look at what is the extent of the 

challenges facing New Zealand 

and the rest of the planet. What 

trajectory for humankind should 

we follow if we are to preserve our 

natural marine habitats for future 

generations. 

In the beginning… 

Cape Rodney-Okakari Point Marine 

Reserve (Goat Island) was the first 

marine reserve in New Zealand, 

established in 1975. At first it was 


proposed mainly for scientific 

purposes. 

Then followed many years of 

debate and planning between the 

various interest groups over the 

value of such reserves. Objections 

from recreational fishers and 

other interest groups subsequently 

slowed down as Goat Island not 

only proved to benefit the seas and 

fisheries nearby but also offered 

a wonderful place for locals and 

tourist to visit. 

Even then it was not until the 

early 1990s that a steady list of 

additional reserves began to be 

added. It was if our collective 

national mindset had moved 

further along on the conservation 

spectrum. Today New Zealand 

has a total of 44 marine reserves 

though many are very small. 

The purpose 

Forest and Bird refers to Marine 

reserves as the ocean equivalent 

of national parks - places 

where marine life can breed and 

regenerate with less disruption 

from humans. 

They are often 

defined as areas 

off-limits to all 

“destructive” and 

“extractive” uses. 

(For example 

bottom trawling is 

“destructive” and 

fishing “extractive”.) 

Marine Reserves allow marine 

life the space where eco systems 

can exist largely as if man were 

not part of the equation. They 

represent a place where the 

eco systems can act as a sort 

of control group allowing for 

measures of relative health 

compared to other non-protected 

areas. 

Of course marine reserves 

help increase species’ diversity 

and density, and if established 

before serious degradation, and 

after some years of protection, 

they offer guidance on the 

health of ocean systems. 

…The reserves are mostly disjointed, tending to serve as a sort 

of localised “gaol” for wildlife where, if species stay in the gaol, 

they are safe… 

for ocean science, they act as living 

ocean parks to explore and wonder 

at, where we can experience places 

and see things that only flourish 

where there is minimal human 

interference, a great boon to 

tourism and especially for activities 

such as diving and snorkelling. 

Goat Island Marine Reserve boasts 

annual visitors of around 300,000 

people, visitors who spend money 

on other things in the surrounding 

community. It demonstrated early 

on that by far the most effective 

method of winning over people’s 

approval of marine reserves is to 

give them direct experiences in 

and around them. 

What works best 

In 2018 an international study 

of the various types of marine 

protected areas considered the 

most effective was undertaken by 

…our current figure still stands at .0035% if we only count the 

marine reserves around the coastal shorelines of New Zealand… 

Sala and Giakoumi and published 

in the ICES Marine Science Journal. 

It found that no-take marine 

reserves are very effective in 

restoring and preserving biodiversity, 

and in enhancing ecosystem 

resilience. It concluded that the 

reserves provided on average 670% 

greater protection than adjacent 

unprotected areas, and 343% 

greater protection than partially-protected 

areas. 

In New Zealand, several studies 

recently have, for instance 

analysed sediment samples in 

reserves. One in 2008 by NIWA 

(National Institute for Water and 

Atmospheric Research) looked at 

where there had been a 30-year 

fishing ban at Separation Point 

near Nelson with adjacent fished 

areas. The analysis showed the 

reserve area sediment was very 

coarse, full of shell, and poorly 

sorted, whereas the adjacent fished 

areas had sediment comprised 

almost entirely of soft muds. 

Other studies have confirmed a 

greater richness and biodiversity of 

sediments within reserves. 

Proactive 

Bill Ballantine, 

considered the 

“Father of our 

Marine Reserves,” 

spent a large 

part of his life 

advocating for 

their establishment. In 1999 he 

reviewed his 35 years of experience 

concluding that progress was 

slow but continuous. He suggested 

a marine reserve is a proactive 

rather than a reactive form of 

More positives 

A number of studies confirm 

the various positives deriving 

from marine reserves. In 

addition to providing habitats 

Giant Pacific Octopus off the coast of Vancouver 


marine preservation. 

By contrast, marine protected 

areas are fraught from the outset 

with rules, legal frameworks, and 

vague definitions because they 

are reactive – as in reacting to 

diminishing numbers of fish and 

other species. Ballantine defines 

areas of partial protection as stock 

specific and data-based, effectively 

putting rules around what man 

can and cannot do in a specifically 

identified area of protection. An 

example of the stock and data he 

refers to is that 98 of 169 commercially 

caught fish species are 

managed under the QMS (quota 

management system). 

The ‘gaol’ 

At present New Zealand’s 44 

legally protected marine reserves 

cover 19,903 square kilometres, 

estimated to be 11.8% of the 167,650 

square kilometres comprising our 

territorial seas defined as the area 

within 12 nautical miles of the 

coast. 

List of marine reserves in New Zealand from first to most recent 

Name Area (ha) Date created 

Cape Rodney-Okakari Point Marine Reserve (Goat Island) 547 1975 

Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve 1,890 1981 

Kapiti Marine Reserve 2,167 1992 

Tuhua (Mayor Island) Marine Reserve 1,060 1992 

Long Island-Kokomohua Marine Reserve 619 1993 

Piopiotahi (Milford Sound) Marine Reserve 690 1993 

Te Awaatu Channel (The Gut) Marine Reserve 93 1993 

Tonga Island Marine Reserve 1,835 1993 

Whanganui-A-Hei (Cathedral Cove) Marine Reserve 840 1993 

Westhaven (Te Tai Tapu) Marine Reserve 536 1994 

Long Bay-Okura Marine Reserve 980 1995 

Motu Manawa-Pollen Island Marine Reserve 501 1995 

Te Angiangi Marine Reserve 446 1997 

Pohatu Marine Reserve (Flea Bay) 215 1999 

Te Tapuwae o Rongokako Marine Reserve 2,452 1999 

Ulva Island - Te Wharawhara Marine Reserve 1,075 2004 

Hawea (Clio Rocks) Marine Reserve 411 2005 

Horoirangi Marine Reserve 904 2005 

Kahukura (Gold Arm) Marine Reserve 464 2005 

Kutu Parera (Gaer Arm) Marine Reserve 433 2005 

Moana Uta (Wet Jacket Arm) Marine Reserve 2,007 2005 

Taipari Roa (Elizabeth Island) Marine Reserve 613 2005 

Taumoana (Five Finger Peninsula) Marine Reserve 1,466 2005 

Te Hapua (Sutherland Sound) Marine Reserve 449 2005 

Te Matuku Marine Reserve 690 2005 

Te Tapuwae o Hua (Long Sound) Marine Reserve 3,672 2005 

Parininihi Marine Reserve 1,844 2006 

Te Paepae o Aotea (Volkner Rocks) Marine Reserve 1,267 2006 

Whangarei Harbour Marine Reserve 237 2006 

Tapuae Marine Reserve 1,404 2008 

Taputeranga Marine Reserve 855 2008 

Akaroa Marine Reserve 512 2014 

Tā wharanui Marine Reserve 394 2011 

Hautai Marine Reserve 853 2014 

Hikurangi Marine Reserve 10,416 2014 

Kahurangi Marine Reserve 8,419 2014 

Punakaiki Marine Reserve 3,520 2014 

Tauparikā kā Marine Reserve 17 2014 

Waiau Glacier Coast Marine Reserve 4,557 2014 

Total area: 61350 3% of NZ’s total 

Marine Reserve area 


Available from DOC website 

The reserves are mostly disjointed, 

tending to serve as a sort of localised 

“gaol” for wildlife where, if 

species stay in the gaol, they are 

safe. But if they go even so far as 

approaching the reserve’s border, 

they face increasing risk though 

of course unaware of any such 

boundary. 

Goat Island Dive and Snorkel 

owner Tine Roland says she sees 

crayfish pots placed around the 

perimeter of Goat Island Marine 

Reserve, and suspects a lot of 

poaching goes on. 

To counter this gaol effect how 

might we create a meaningful 

network of reserves between which 

marine species can migrate to help 

safeguard their protection? 

Ballantine argued that a network 

of marine reserves, with the 

distances between them being not 

too great, was vitally important to 

enable various life forms to move 

between reserves. 

Size (and shape) matters 

The size of a reserve is significant. 

In general, it is thought a 

reserve needs to be twice the size 


Offshore Reserves 

Name Area (ha) Date created 

Kermadec Islands Marine Reserve 748,000 1990 

Auckland Islands - Motu Maha Marine Reserve 498,000 2003 

Moutere Hauriri / Bounty Islands Marine Reserve 104,626 2014 

Moutere Ihupuku / Campbell Island Marine Reserve 290,000 2014 

Moutere Mahue / Antipodes Island Marine Reserve 217,287 2014 

Total area: 1,857,913 97% of NZ’s total 

Marine Reserve area 

Total Marine Reserve Area 1,919,263 

of the foraging range of its focal 

or target inhabitant species – with 

each species requiring different 

sized areas to flourish. Some sea 

turtles for example forage over a 

huge range whereas many species 

survive well in a fairly small area. 

Greenpeace suggests the figure 

might ideally be around 40% and Sala 

and Giakoumi mentioned earlier, 

believe 40% is a minimum figure. 

Ballantine put a figure of from 10 to 

50% and suggested back in 1999 that 

we start by aiming for 10%. This was 

a goal to achieve by 2020. 

and Auckland Islands. Is this good 

enough? 

Bill Ballantine said in an interview 

before he passed away in 2015. 

“We hear a great deal in the 

media about the ‘rights’ of 

fishermen, but the ‘rights’ of 

others are rarely mentioned. 

…even though less than 1% of New Zealand’s total marine 

environment is protected in marine reserves, respondents on 

average thought that 31% of the environment was protected, and 

they wanted 36% to be protected… 

Square areas or circles are also 

considered more effective than 

elongated reserves in areas that 

are extensively fished around 

their perimeters, and of course, 

a healthier reserve will lead to a 

more abundant food source and 

help reduce the size needed to 

forage. 

A study carried out by Colmar 

Brunton for the WWF (World 

Wildlife Fund) in 2011 found 

that even though less than 1% 

of New Zealand’s total marine 

environment is protected in 

marine reserves, respondents on 

average thought that 31% of the 

environment was protected, and 

they wanted 36% to be protected. 

This suggests firstly, that New 

Zealanders are in general on-board 

with protecting marine life, but 

unfortunately it also shows a 

mismatch with our level of knowledge 

of what is actually the case. 

2020 has come and gone and 

our current figure still stands at 

.0035% if we only count the marine 

reserves around the coastal shorelines 

of New Zealand, and 11.51% 

if we count the marine reserves on 

New Zealand’s far away offshore 

islands such as the Kermadecs 

“What should we think about 

the ‘right’ of children to see 

for themselves the full display 

of marine life? Or should 

they just see what the fishing 

industry did not want, or 

couldn’t catch? 

“I personally consider it is a 

human right for all children to 

experience the rich range of 

natural life, and that we should 

make real efforts to arrange 

this.” 

Photo Dave Abbot 

How much is needed? 

No one has the answer to the exact 

amount of our oceans that need to 

be protected by marine reserves to 

put us on a trajectory that will save 

our oceans. 


GOAT ISLAND DIVE AND SNORKEL 

Making a case for increasing the size of marine reserves 

Goat Island Marine Reserve, 

more properly known as Cape 

Rodney/Okakari Point, offers 

some of the best scuba diving and 

snorkelling in New Zealand, and 

local dive shop owners Tine Roland 

and Stone Meharry feel privileged 

to be on hand to share their area 

knowledge and advice. 

Their headquarters, Goat Island 

Dive and Snorkel, 

just around the 

corner from the 

reserve, is an hour 

and a half from 

Auckland; the 

reserve’s location has proven ideal 

for many tens of thousands of local 

and international visitors. 

One of the reasons marine reserves 

are so important and should 

be increased to protect marine 

habitats is because so many people 

visit them. Goat Island is considered 

a New Zealand gem with 

people coming from all over the 

world to see it. Places like this are 

worth protecting, not just for the 

fish’s sake, but for people’s sake as 

well. 

In pre-Covid times the Matakana 

Coast hosted some 380,000 visitors 

a year: working out at about 40% 

international: 60% national, and 

with its temperate waters permitting 

diving and snorkelling almost 

year-round. The international 

contingent came primarily from 

Germany, US, Canada, and Asia. 

Tine and Stone say they’re finding 

people are finding it increasingly 

… People come from all over the world to see it. Places like 

this are worth protecting, not just for the fish’s sake, but for 

peoples’ sake as well.… 

popular to enjoy the freediving 

and diving as a sport not just for 

hunting. “We also love seeing 

people appreciate the rich fish 

life with more people getting into 

underwater photography. Where 

else in the world can you get nose 

to nose with a massive Snapper?” 

Shared values 

The couple met in Fiji diving and 

found they shared 

similar values, particularly 

around their love 

for the sea and desire to 

protect it. They returned 


to the area where Stone grew 

up in 2011, and serendipitously 

the dive business there was for 

sale. 

Within 10 years of its establishment 

in 1975, Goat Island 

Marine Reserve had become 

a rich ecological area teeming 

with fish and other sea life. 

Having been previously overfished, 

the transformation illustrated 

the value of conservation where 

rocky shores, sandflats, deep reefs, 

underwater cliffs and canyons 

provide habitats for a large range 

of sea creatures. 

But change is a constant, and 

the couple say that in the five 

years since they have owned the 

business they see numbers in the 

marine reserve declining due to 

the constant fishing pressure just 

outside it. The pressure outside is 

having an effect inside. 

Tine has a clear picture in her 

mind of what’s happening and 

what needs to be done. 

Make it bigger 

“Make it bigger,” she says referring 

to the reserve which currently 

includes 5 km of coastline but 

extends only to 800m offshore. 

She says the length of the reserve 

is okay but it should be taken 

further out to 3 kilometres from 

Family groups ready to try a days snorkeling 

…People come from all over the world to see it. 

Places like this are worth protecting, not just for 

the fish’s sake, but for peoples’ sake as well.… 

the shore. Marine scientists also 

recommend this. “At its deepest 

point it’s just 28m so it is not 

protecting a whole lot of fish,” Tine 

adds. 

As an example she suggests 

making it bigger is important for 

crayfish since, further out from 

the reserve is a feeding ground. 

Crayfish head out there to feed and 

are not making it back. “We try 

and keep an eye on things as we’re 

down there all the time,” she says. 

In addition 

to crayfish, 

the area is 

important for 

the breeding 

of many other 

species and 

acts as a nursery for them. 

Overfishing has consequences 

Tine and Stone aim to 

show recreational fishers 

the consequences of 

overfishing which they 

do via social media and 

all their diving tours. 

“We always explain why 

marine reserves are 

important and why we 

need them. We also do 

educational programs for 

schools teaching this,” 

Tine says. Local MP Mark Mitchell 

is on board, and local fishers are 

also keen to ensure their industry’s 

survival. “Awareness is everything,” 

Tine adds. 

Stone adds that they have dived in 

many places in the world and the 

unique thing about New Zealand 

diving is that it always gives you 

a sense of discovery you don’t get 

elsewhere. “New Zealand diving 

is all about exploration and interactive-ness, 

parting the kelp to 

find an abundance of life large and 

small. The colours and intricate 

forms make it exciting and distinctive,” 

he says. 

Tine and Stone intend that their 

particular showcase for our 

magnificent marine environment 

will expand people’s awareness 

of the need to nurture all of New 

Zealand coastal and offshore 

habitats. 

Snorkeler finds a baby octopus 

Snapper 


TecFestNZ 2021 programme update 

Steve 

Davis 

Pete 

Mesley 

Hanna van 

Waart 

Planning for this year’s TecFestNZ 

(April 30-May 2nd) is in full 

swing, with a fantastic and diverse 

lineup of presenters and topics, not 

to be missed, especially if you are 

an aspiring technical or professional 

diver. 

All speakers from last years 

postponed event will be attending, but 

unfortunately border restrictions have 

put a stop to any overseas presenters 

coming, for this year at least. 

On the flip side however, Covid has 

freed up two presenters who couldn’t 

have made it last year due to other 

commitments: Professor Simon Mitchell 

and Pete Mesley and both will be there 

this year. 

Speakers and topics include: 

• Steve Davis - on side mount diving 

techniques 

• Pete Mesley - 25 years of deep 

exploration in NZ 

• Hanna van Waart - using full face 

masks with the unconscious diver re 

the Thai cave rescue 

• Keith Gordon - the Ventor wreck 

exploration 

• Xavier Vrijdag - gas narcosis, and 

• Prof Simon Mitchell - topic to be 

decided. 

Other presenters and workshops are 

Tim Marshall on emergency management 

strategies, Nicole Millar with a 360 video 

and presentation on the Taputeranga 

Marine reserve, and Richard Taylor, 

representing WorkSafe possibly on 

structural changes to the CoC system. 

Of course, there will be the usual 

in-water activities on the Taupo Lake 

foreshore where you can try out different 

equipment configurations and check out 

some of the latest kit on the market. 

For full details check out 

www.tecfestnz.com or email event 

director Brent McFadden at 

info@tecfestnz.co.nz 

Keith 

Gordon 

Xavier 

Vrijdag 

Tim 

Marshall 

Nicole 

Miller 

Richard 

Taylor 

Simon 

Mitchell 

www.dive-pacific.com 

35

PETITION PHOTO COMPETITION PHOTO COMPETITION PHOTO COMPETITION PHOTO 

Biodiverse images showcase 

major marine conference 

photography and video 

A competition held late 

last year (virtually) as part 

of the 5th World Conference 

of Marine Biodiversity went 

looking for images that said 

something extra about the 

diversity of life in our oceans. 

The conference hosted at 

the University of Auckland 

and endorsed by the 

International Association of 

Biological Oceanography, and 

Conservation International 

and sponsored by the 

UNESCO was attended by a 

wide range of scientists from 

across the globe. 

They were asked to show 

a new or rare species or 

phenomena discovered, 

curious species associations 

or behaviours, something 

amazing or beautiful that 

contributes to ocean literacy, 

or how biodiversity contributes 

to a UN Sustainable 

Development Goal. 

Winners were selected by 

popular vote of conference 

participants and a jury. 

A prize fund of NZ$4,000 

from Conservation 

International and 

UNESCO-IOC/WESTPAC was 

split between the winning 

entries. 

With this spread we feature 

some of the entries. 

The battlefront 

- Ohad Peleg, University of Auckland, NZ 

Kelp forests dominate shallow temperate rocky reefs 

around the world, but overfishing can release sea urchins 

from predation, leading to their proliferation and to 

deforestation of the 

kelp from their grazing. 

This contrast between 

healthy kelp forests to 

denuded urchin barrens 

underlines how humans 

can indirectly degrade the 

reef ecosystem and reduce 

its sustainability. Large 

reef areas around the world 

have been reported to have 

shifted from kelp forests 

to urchin barrens. But 

when fishing on urchin barrens ceases, the sea urchins are 

controlled and kelp forests can recover. 

In the photo ‘kina’ 

(Evechinus chloroticus) 

graze on a boulder at the 

barren-kelp (Ecklonia 

radiata) frontline. The sea 

urchins seem as if they 

are on a deforestation 

mission. The photo was 

taken during a first dive 

after New Zealand’s first 

COVID-19 lockdown. 

Depth 10m, at Cape 

Rodney, Leigh, NZ. 

WINNER 

$1000 


COMPETITION PHOTO COMPETITION PHOTO COMPETITION PHOTO COMPETITION 

Racing vent snail 

In mid-July 2020 the ROV Kiel 

6000 placed a trap designed 

for amphipods onto the 

bacterial mats of the newly 

discovered hydrothermal 

vents on the Reykjanes Ridge 

in Iceland. Upon our return, 

instead of amphipods, the 

trap contained this handsome, 

inquisitive buccinid snail. 

The snails were racing over 

the bacterial mats and the 

bacteria covering their shells 

showed they live in this 

hydrothermal habitat. 

Photo by Solvin Zankl, on board of RV Sonne during the expedition SO276, took the photo in an aquarium 

one day after the snail had been sampled. The image was submitted by IceAge 3 scientist Katrin Linse. 

Eunice, a deep-sea worm from Iceland 

- Karlotta Kürzel, University of Hamburg, Germany 

This polychaeta represents with its otherworldly 

appearance the incredibly diverse but fragile 

deep-sea community. The specimen was 

collected using an ROV Kiel 6000, on board 

RV Sonne in May 2020, as part of the IceAge 

3 project (Icelandic marine Animal: 

Genetics and Ecology) which explores the 

biodiversity of Icelandic waters. 

Peoples 

Award 

C0-WINNER 

$500 


A field of flowers 

Aimee van der Reis entered this photo of 

Pentagonaster pulchellus taken at Aramoana 

Mole near Dunedin 

“When we take the time to stop and smell the 

flowers, intricate details of common marine 

organisms are revealed. 

Plagiobrissus grandis 

burrowing sediment urchin 

- Antar Mijail Pérez-Botello 

Universidad Nacional Autónoma De México 

I took this photo on June 23, 2018 in Cayo Arcas, Mexico as part of the record for the Yucatán Marine Biodiversity 

project of the National Autonomous University of Mexico. During a night dive to document the crustaceans and 

cnidarians (Ceriantharia) organisms from a sandy area on the island, we came across an incredibly sharp stone, which 

was actually this beautiful sea urchin. 

This animal its entire life buried in sandy bottoms with its presence usually recorded only by observing skeletons 

emerging from the seabed. Once we obtained this record, we thanked him for allowing us to admire him. 

Then watched as he quickly buried himself in the sand, and that is the photo moment. 

Technical Info: Canon G12 + Housing, f/4, 1/16s, ISO 100 

Illumination: Light & Motion Sola Video Flashlights 

Runner 

Up 

$250 


Xanthos snake 

in ambush posture 

- Brooke Bessesen, University of Reading, UK 

The unique ambush posture of the venomous 

Golfo Dulce yellow sea snake is seen only at night 

when feeding at the ocean surface. Hydrophis 

platurus xanthos is only recently described in an extremely limited range in the 

inner basin waters of Golfo Dulce of Costa Rica. The sinusoidal shape appears to 

have a stabilizing effect in the waves. 

“I first observed the curious nocturnal body position in 2010 and wondered if it was 

defensive. Not until a morphology and behaviour study in 2017 did I realize the 

snakes were feeding! Working by flashlight from a bouncing boat in the darkness, 

photography proved extremely difficult and I gasped with delight when I finally 

captured this shot. I hope xanthos serves as a flagship for marine conservation and 

the protection of Golfo Dulce’s incredible biodiversity, including whale sharks, sea 

turtles, juvenile hammerhead sharks, dolphins, and humpback whales from both 

the northern and southern hemispheres.” 

Runner 

Up 

$250 

WINNER 

$1000 

Sassy eyed, long legged 

amphipod 

- Anne Helene Solberg Tandberg 

(University Museum of Bergen) 

entered the photo by Solvin Zankl 

taken during the IceAGE3 cruise 

in summer 2020 in areas south of 

Iceland. www.iceage-project.org 

The amphipod species Rhacotropis 

acuelata (Lepechin, 1780) has been 

known for 240 years, but still brings 

us new and exciting knowledge 

and understanding. In 2018 two of 

the iceAGE-scientists (both named 

Anne) together with Professor 

Endre from Bergen proved this to 

be one of the true arctic species in 

deep water. Further examination 

showed us new aspects. Look at 

the unusual use of the antennae, 

almost as if used for walking, 

while that one leg is really out of 

proportion with the rest! 


False Bay 

During the sample collection for my 

research, I got the opportunity to scuba 

dive in False Bay in South Africa. This 

is an extraordinary place where in few 

metres of water it is possible to find a 

huge biodiversity of marine flora and 

fauna. I choose this picture because it 

not only represents my study species, 

but also because the study species is 

surrounded by a rich number of other 

species. I definitely think that this picture 

can perfectly be used as one of the icon 

for WCMB 2020. 

Photo by Alessia Dinoi 

Enigmatic anemones 

Submitted by expedition participant Anne-Nina Loerz 

During the IceAGE 3 expedition in July 2020 we observed and sampled fat, orange sea anemones close to a newly 

discovered hydrothermal vent field via the Kiel 6000 ROV. The specimens lived on the Reykjanes ridge, an extension of the 

mid Atlantic ridge in 650m depth. 

Remarkably this animal started to send off bioluminescent fluids when triggered mechanically on board. (We can only 

speculate the reasons - scaring off enemies, confusing predators, attracting prey?). Surely a rather beautiful example of 

mysterious marine biodiversity. 

Photo by Solvin Zankl during the expedition SO276 on board of the RV Sonne in an aquarium a day after being sampled. 


Peoples 

Award 

C0-WINNER 

$500 

Deep sea shark Dalatias licha bioluminescence - Jerome Mallefet UC Louvain, Belgium 

This is the first time the blueish bioluminescence of 

the largest vertebrate, the black shark, Dalatias licha 

(Bonnaterre, 1788), has been documented, using an 

extremely sensitive camera. I was successful at obtaining 

it on the last specimen catch after 30 days trawling at sea, 

says Jerome Mallefet. 

Surprisingly, the dorsal fins are luminous. We don’t know 

why, though we can speculate luminescence might be for 

signalling each other (for schooling or mating perhaps). 

Ventral luminescence most probably is for countershading 

camouflage, or a maybe camouflage allowing this very 

slow swimming shark, the slowest speed ever measured for 

a shark, to get close to its prey near the bottom. 

Bioluminescence has often been seen as a spectacular 

uncommon event at sea but now it is increasingly obvious 

that producing light at depth must play an important role. 

It’s thought 10% of shark species could be able to produce 

light, a capability rarely documented due to the difficulty 

of seeing deep-sea sharks. 

The specimen was collected during the Chatham rise 

survey in January 2020 by the NIWA Research Ltd. Nothing 

was previously known about the luminescence of these 

glowing sharks. 

For the glowing mucus function of big sea anemones my 

guess is that it might stick on a potential predator (like a 

post-it) making it visible to a secondary predator which 

would lessen the predation pressure on the sea anemone 

itself. A similar use has been suggested for the sticky 

glowing skin of a jelly fish, or the mucus from a shrimp, a 

function referred to as the burglar alarm. 


Melithaea 

This octocoral gorgonian, Melithaea sp., (knotted fan coral) is commonly seen in the shallow waters of Indonesia. The 

genus is not well understood as species are difficult to distinguish from one another, and an excellent example of marine 

biodiversity. www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=205342 

This colony was photographed in October 2019, on a shallow reef (10 metres) by Dawera Island in the eastern region of the 

Banda Sea, Indonesia. The image was taken in natural light, using a SeaLife DC1200 underwater camera. 

Photo by Nancy K. Prentiss, University of Maine at Farmington, U.S. 

The judging panel 

Chair: Mark Erdmann 

(Conservation International 

which provided most the 

cash prizes) 

Suchana (Apple) Chavanich 

(Chulalongkorn University, 

Thailand and UNESCO/ 

IOC-WESTPAC provider of 

cash prize) 

Gilbert Peterson, 

Dive Pacific Magazine 

Graham Edgar, 

University of Tasmania 

Tina Molodtsova, 

P. P. Shirshov Institute of 

Oceanology, Moscow, Russia 

Halcurias 

This anemone (Halcurias sp.) has most likely been present in the rocky reef overhangs in Nuevo Gulf, Patagonia 

Argentina for many millennia but it was first reported in 2018 when the rocky reefs began to be examined in 

more detail. However, a photo taken by a recreational diver in 1993 showed them there then so it is probable the 

species was always there and it took us too long to report it. 

Photo: Gonzalo Bravo. Site: Puerto Pirámides, Golfo Nuevo 


Whale stranded off Florida identified as new 

species, and endangered 

An 11.5 metre whale that 

washed ashore in the Florida 

Everglades in January 2019 has 

been shown to be a newly identified 

Rice’s species of whale, and 

endangered. 

It washed up along Sandy Key, 

underweight and with a hard 

piece of plastic in its gut, and 

at first scientists thought it 

was a subspecies of the Bryde’s 

(pronounced “broodus”) or 

rorqual whale. (Various populations 

of smaller rorqual whales 

around the world are known 

collectively as Bryde’s whales 

including the species that 

inhabits the Hauraki Gulf). But 

genetic analysis and an examination 

of the skull identified it a 

Rice’s whale. 

Researchers have long known 

of a different population of 

Bryde’s-like whales in the Gulf 

of Mexico. They seemed mostly 

to stay put in the 

north-eastern 

corner of the gulf, 

and didn’t mingle 

with the Bryde’s 

whales found 

in the Indian, 

Atlantic and 

Pacific Oceans. 

They also feed 

near the seafloor 

while most Bryde’s 

whales typically 

forage near the 

surface. 

But to definitively 

tell the species 

apart genetic 

evidence and a 

close examination 

of the animal’s 

morphology was 

needed. 

Tissue sampling 

ultimately from 

36 individual 

Rice’s whales began in 2000, 

and these, together with 

skeletal differences was 

enough to warrant a new 

species designation. 

Previously Rice’s whales 

included as a population of 

Bryde’s whales were listed 

as endangered under the US 

Endangered Species Act. 

The discovery was detailed 

in the January 10th edition 

of the journal Marine 

Mammal Science. There are 

fewer than 100 members 

of the critically endangered 

species, according 

SOUNDINGS 


The newly described whales, dubbed Rice’s whales, 

were previously believed to be a population of 

Bryde’s whales. Photograph: Xinhua/Rex/Shutterstock 

to the National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration 

(NOAA). 

In addition to having different 

skulls, Rice’s whales grow up 

to 27 tonnes and 12.8 m long, 

according to NOAA, with a life 

span of up to 60 years, whereas 

Bryde’s whales have been known 

to reach 15.2 m and 25 tonnes. 

Living in the Gulf of Mexico, they 

face threats from oil spills, ocean 

noise, entanglement in fishing 

gear, and are particularly vulnerable 

to ship strikes because they 

have the “unfortunate” habit of 

sleeping at night just under the 

sea surface. 


This 11.5 metres baleen whale stranded off Florida in 2019 is now 

considered part of a completely new, and endangered, species called 

Rice’s whale. (Image: © Florida Everglades National Park) 

P A C I F I C 


P A C I F I C 



P A C I F I C 


Diving Fiordland! 

The great Jacques Cousteau placed Fiordland in his 

Top 10 destinations for diving! We’ve had dive photo 

journalists rate it much higher than that with one 

recently placing it ‘if not the best, then in his top 

three’. 

Scenic diving can be amazing. Though the waters are 

cool the visibility can be extreme - over 40m visibility 

occurs regularly. 

The internal waters of Fiordland with their micro-habitats 

are interestingly different to the waters of the 

coast, or entrances where fish life abounds; and the 

colours are diverse so even an inexpensive camera can 

get awesome photos when you dive in Fiordland. 

There’s the odd wreck to be explored too, and wall 

dives that trigger vertigo. 

And there’s always plenty of kai Moana to gratify the 

appetite at the end of a busy day. 

Fiordland Expeditions have been operating throughout 

Fiordland for 15 years and are well versed on a range 

of sites to be explored. If you are keen to tick this one 

off your bucket list, then contact us today. We’d love 

to discuss how we can tailor a trip to meet your own 

specific desires. 

Call us on 0508 888 656 or check out: 

FiordlandExpeditions.co.nz 

Fiordland –– a a diver’s paradise 

A bucket A list list destination 

Your multi-day live-aboard 

Charter a multi-day 

charters can comprise: 

live-aboard dive vessel 

• Live-aboard charters all year round 

• Two • Fully vessels, catered, both with multi-day own compressors, 

options 

tanks, • Two weights dive-equipped and beltsvessels 

• Fully • Available catered (except all year alcohol) round 

• Experienced dive crew 

Get a group together! 

Photography by by Darryl Torckler 

Phone Phone 0508 0508 888 888 656 656 or +64 or +64 3 2493 249 9005 9005 

Email Email charters@fiordlandexpeditions.co.nz 

fiordlandexpeditions.co.nz 



The Dive Zone group are keen 

to see divers enjoy their own 

backyard this summer and 

looking forward to getting you out 

on, and under the water in each of 

their fantastic dive locations: Dive 

Zone Bay of Islands, Tauranga, and 

Whitianga. 

Each of their stores offer awesome 

service with a full range of dive 

gear to hire or purchase, with 

good quality, reliable brands such 

as Mares and Beuchat leading 

their range. Be it a new dive 

knife, a float or flag or even the 

whole kit; the Dive Zone stores 

are locked and loaded ready to 

help you, our summer visitors, 

enjoy, and get the most out of 

their diving. 

All stores also offer tank filling 

and testing, and BCD and 

Regulator testing. 

Three top dive 

destinations 

invite you… 

Since our stores are located in 

out of the way areas, we are well 

used to assisting divers with last 

minute problems that can pop up 

and prevent you from getting out 

on the water. 

Got a friend or family member 

that wants to learn? Or do you 

want to upskill? All of our stores 

offer a full range of PADI dive 

training courses, and all of them 

are available throughout the 

summer. 

Make the most of our Summer Road 

Trip offer. Dive with all three stores 

and go into the draw to win $1000 

to spend with us. 

What are you waiting for? 

Come and visit us. 

Dive Zone Bay of Islands 

Dive Zone Tauranga 

Dive Zone Whitianga 

Dive at each of our 3 world class dive 

destinations, get your Passport stamped and 

go into the draw to win a $1000 voucher to 

spend with Dive Zone! 

Just a Taste of Some of Our 

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Bay of Islands – Diving the wrecks of the Rainbow 

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Reserve or the offshore Cavalli Islands 

DIVE ZONE 

ROADTRIP 

Whitianga – Diving from the Mercury Island group to 

the Aldermen Islands, Te Whanganui A Hei Marine 

Reserve (Cathedral Cove) and the stunning eastern 

Coromandel Coastline 

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Okaparu, the Astrolabe reef with the wreck of the 

Rena, or the stunning sheltered bays and marine 

reserve at Mayor Island. 

So get on the road this summer and come diving 

with each of our stores and be in to win! Book your 

trip and pick up your Passport at one of our stores. 

Dive Zone 

Bay of Islands 

5 Klinac Lane 

Waipapa, 

Kerikeri 

Ph 09-4079986 

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10 Campbell 

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Whitianga 

Ph 07-8671580 

www.divezone.co.nz 

Dive Zone 

Tauranga 

213 Cameron 

Road 

Tauranga 

Ph 07-5784050 


FREEDIVING 

Three ways 

to improve your 

freediving performance 

By Chris Bustad, for Performance Freediver International 

We all start somewhere. For a lot of us, it was going out and buying a set of long blade fins and 

trying it all out. Maybe you accessed online freediving videos, seminars, and courses. Others 

start by taking an entry-level freediving course. But once the class is over, and we have been 

shown the techniques that help you freedive safer, longer, and deeper, what comes next? 

Practice makes perfect? 

The thing is, practice only makes 

perfect if the practice IS perfect! 

If we finish our freediving course 

then run with our new skills and 

practice them, we will only end up 

as perfect as we can be if we have 

someone to correct any imperfect 

technique. For those of us that 

got into freediving by just going 

out and doing it we probably have 

some really bad habits to break! 

As a freediving instructor, every 

student I have has their technique 

corrected over and over and over. 

Maybe it’s their head position, too 

much bend in the knee, moving 

their equalizing hand above their 

head then back to their nose, and 

back above their head, wasting 

precious oxygen and energy. 

I repeat it over and over not 

because the student isn’t smart, or 

not listening, but because there is 

muscle memory to develop. Even 

if you haven’t been freediving 

before! And it takes time and 

repetition to change that muscle 

memory. 

Skills are perishable 

In addition the skills you learn in 

a freediving course are perishable. 

Skills not practiced regularly, 

like rescue skills, can disappear 

altogether. Think about when 

you first get out of a First Aid/CPR 

course. At the start when you’re 

driving down the road you’re 

looking for accidents so you can 

stop and help. But six months 

without any practicing of your 

skills and you see a 12 car pileup 

down the road you might think, 

“well I was going to turn left here 

anyway.” 

Unlike most sports, freediving 

requires physiological adaptations: 

splenic contractions, 

peripheral shunting, bradycardia, 

all parts of the mammalian dive 

reflex, will kick in faster with 

practice. 

Open line diving vs refresher 

courses vs coaching 

sessions 

How do you prevent imperceptible 

changes to your technique from 

becoming permanent? And how 

do you work on those problem 

areas you found you had during 

your course? Ask about Open 

Line Diving, Refresher Courses, or 

Coaching Sessions. Here is what 

you can expect in the Performance 

Freediving International system. 

Open Line Diving will usually 

mean you join up with a freedive 

professional, not always an 

instructor, who will oversee the 

overall safety of the session, but 

won’t necessarily join the freedives 

with you. The freedivers that 

join provide safety for each other, 

with most instructors I know 

offering guidance or correction to 

the issues they see. 

Open Line sessions are less costly 

than a coaching session because 

you are part of a group, and you 

don’t get focused attention from 

the professional. 

Refresher Courses do exactly 

that. It’s been a while so you jump 

in a class at a level you are already 

certified, and it’s amazing how 

much you can pick up that you 

missed the first time around. 

Also, it’s not a bad idea to take a 

course from a different instructor. 

Most of them have their own way 

of teaching things, and sometimes 

…If you learn and use the techniques to make it comfortable to 

get two to three times deeper, think about how comfortable you 

would become at shallower depths!… 

you pick up something better 

when it’s approached differently. 

I always encourage my students 

to go take a course from other 

instructors. 

Coaching Sessions are where 

you fine tune your breath-hold 

abilities, with a group or private. 

They can take a general approach 

or an entire session could be 

spent on an area where you want 

to improve. Maybe learn a more 

efficient dolphin kick, or work on 

your Frenzel or air management. 

Perhaps you want an extra 15 

seconds on your static. 

The top freedivers in the world 

use coaches to eke out that extra 

metre or five seconds. But a 

coaching session is not intended 

to get you deeper than you are 

certified to freedive to. That 

requires a next level course. 

Even if you never plan on 

becoming a competitive freediver 

or freediving past 20 metres, if you 

learn and use the techniques to 

make it comfortable to get two to 

three times as deep as you want 

to, think about how comfortable 

you would become at shallower 

depths! After all, aren’t the best 

dives the most comfortable? 


Chance leads to first look at coral larvae 

Small orange flecks spotted 

floating in a respiration 

chamber at a NIWA laboratory 

have led to a discovery about the 

spawning habits of a deep-sea 

stony coral in New Zealand 

waters. 

NIWA scientists collected 

tangled mass of what looked 

A like discarded yellow rope 

recently washed up on a beach 

in Texas turned out to be a sea 

whip, a type of soft, flexible 

coral. 

Rebekah Claussen, a National 

Park Service (NPS) guide at the 

Padre Island National Seashore 

near the Gulf of Mexico found 

one of the “rope balls” partly 

buried in the sand there. 

Sea whips can be red, yellow, 

orange, violet, lavender or purple 

- the term “sea whip” refers to 

several genera of soft corals 

in the order Gorgonacea. The 

species that washes up in North 

American coastal regions is a 

colourful sea whip (Leptogorgia 

virgulata). Their vibrant colour 

comes from colonies of polyps, 

tiny, soft-bodied animals with 

colonies of the deep-sea 

stony coral, Goniocorella 

dumosa, from the Chatham 

Rise in June to help assess 

the resilience of corals to 

sedimentation. 

The small orange flecks 

turned out to be larvae 

that had been released 

from the mature coral 

polyps. This coral 

species is prevalent 

throughout the southern 

hemisphere but its larvae have 

never been seen before. They 

measure about 1.1mm x 0.8 

mm and were covered in small 

hair-like filaments called cilia. 

NIWA scientist Dr Jenny 

Beaumont says they settled 

“within a few days, which is 

a contrast to other deep-sea 

corals, some of which can take 

‘Pile of rope’ on a Texas beach a colourful coastal coral 

eight tentacles 

forming a ring 

around their 

mouths. When 

these colonies 

cluster they 

secrete proteins 

that form a 

dark-coloured 

skeleton, which 

branches into 

whip like stalks 

measuring 

nearly a metre 

tall. 

Their polyps feed 

on plankton, 

and sea whips typically cling 

to ledges made of rock and 

limestone at depths between 

3 and 20 m, according to the 

Smithsonian Marine Station at 

Fort Pierce in Florida. 

Deep sea stony coral 

The colourful sea whip (Leptogorgia virgulata) is often 

mistaken for a tangle of cable or rope. (Image: © R. Claussen/ US 


SOUNDINGS 


months to reach this stage. It’s 

fascinating to watch and record 

their development as they form 

feeding tentacles and a calcified 

base.” 

NIWA’s coral expert, Di Tracey, 

says being able to observe the 

larvae has changed the understanding 

of the reproductive 

process of this species. 

National Park Service) 

We recommend just leaving 

the sea whips on the beach 

because they are natural and will 

decompose and help the island, 

Claussen said. 

Originally published on Live Science 

CLEAN SEAS. BEST PRACTICE. HOME SAFE. 


A DIVER’S MEMOIR (& BLOG) 


by Roger (Jan) Meecham 

HMS Victorious in the Pacific 

in the early 1960s 

I 

n 1961 I was serving as a ship’s diver on board the British aircraft carrier HMS Victorious in the Far 

East and on this particular occasion we had experienced a ferocious tropical storm which we were 

obliged to ride-out for a week. Once the storm had passed, the Captain decided to give the crew two 

days of rest and recreation on a remote South Pacific island, something none of us had ever experienced 

before or since. The captain chose the uninhabited island of Pulau Tioman, a remote and very 

beautiful tropical paradise, a tiny dot in the vastness of the Pacific Ocean. 

The ship anchored half a mile 

off shore and we put our boats 

in the water to ferry men and 

supplies ashore to the beautiful 

white sandy beaches. Fires 

were lit on the beach to cook up 

barbeque meals and men were 

soon swimming and playing ball 

games. Food, beer and ice were 

ferried ashore by our helicopters 

and soon the whole ship’s 

company was in holiday mood. 

Whale skeleton 

On the first morning, before I’d 

had my turn ashore, a message 

came back to the ship that 

someone had discovered the 

skeletal remains of a large whale 

half submerged in one of the 

bays. The captain had some 

interest in whales and asked the 

dive team to go in and see if it 

was possible to recover some of 

the whale’s teeth. Most of the 

ship’s 30 divers were ashore 

eating and drinking up large, 

so in the end the diving officer 

and three ship’s divers including 

myself, set off in the ships motor 


Most of the ship’s company were soon ashore on the island, swimming 

sunbathing, but mostly eating and drinking up large 

cutter to find the whale. 

Once close in shore the rib 

bones of the whale were quite 

obvious, protruding out of the 

shallow, crystal-clear water. The 

lower jaw containing the teeth 

appeared to be buried in the 

sand, and it looked to us like the 

whale had either stranded in the 

bay and died, or had died at sea 

and its body had floated ashore. 

So we set to dig out the jaw. 

Whale fights squid 

Only three weeks before, while 

the Victorious was exercising 

south of Hong Kong, we had 

just flown our aircraft off for 

a one-hour sortie when the 

captain called over the loudhailer 

…The fight was terrific, with the two giants of the seas 

rolling around and splashing up foam and blood. 

We stayed transfixed… 

The huge sperm whale had an equally large 

giant squid attached to his head and it was a 

fight to the death 

system, “Attention all hands, 

ahead about one mile on our port 

side is a whale and a giant squid 

on the surface fighting. We are 

stopping engines and coasting 

over towards them. Anyone who 

can be spared should come up to 

the flight deck to observe.” 

The fight was terrific, 

with the two giants of 

the seas rolling around 

and splashing up foam 

and blood. We stayed 

transfixed watching 

the fight until our 

aircraft returned and 

we had to speed up 

and turn into the 

wind. We never saw 

who won the fight but 

my money was on the 

whale. 

Ambergris 

Much later in life when living 

in New Zealand I told the 

story to a friend who had 

been born and brought up 

on the East Coast of New 

Zealand’s South Island. He 

laughed, and said for all 

the effort we had put in we 

should not have bothered 

with the teeth but searched 

for any ambergris. Until 

then I had never heard the 

word ambergris, but as my 

friend explained, the only 

prey of the Sperm Whale 

is the giant squid which 

have hard, bird-like beaks 

that the whale cannot 

digest. The beaks accumulate 

in the whale’s stomach 

surrounded by a protective 

substance, called ambergris. 

Occasionally the whale 

excretes a lump of it, and 

it can wash up on New 

Zealand beaches, known 

locally as ‘whale vomit.’ The 

important point here is that 

ambergris, which does have a 

wonderful smell, is much sought 

after in the perfume industry 

and can be worth a lot of money. 

My South Island friend saw we 

had missed an opportunity. 

Eventually, after some grovelling 

on my part he gave me a small 

piece of ambergris which I still 

have. 

Why Sperm Whale? 

Interestingly the Sperm Whale 

only has between 18 and 26 

teeth on either side of its rather 

narrow, lower jaw. Equally 

interesting is how the Sperm 

Whale got its name. In the days 

of Herman Melville’s classic 

yarn of Captain Ahab and the 

sperm whale Moby Dick, whalers 

discovered that in the whale’s 

head was a large container of 

whitish fluid which the not-toobright 

sailors decided was whale 

sperm. Hence the erroneous 

name. 

Meanwhile back on the island 

with the whale skeleton, we 

divers, sweating in navy dry suits 

and oxygen breathing sets, could 

only find one half of the lower 

jaws and with some difficulty 

recovered about ten teeth which 


qualify as a super pod, rare, but 

not unusual for the Cook Strait. 

After the encounter with the two 

Orca at Red Rocks, I came ashore 

with a look on my face that my 

wife felt compelled to take a snap 

of. 

Now I was in a quandary how 

to get to shore without bumping 

into the Orcas. I decided that 

as they were swimming on the 

surface, my best bet was to dive 

to the bottom and swim, or crawl 

as close to the rocks as possible 

where I hoped they wouldn’t 

notice me. 

We divers wore Admiralty pattern dry suits and oxygen re-breather 

dive sets which were very hot in the sun and shallow water 

on inspection proved to be from 

a very old whale. 

Collecting teeth 

However the captain was very 

pleased and chose three teeth 

for his collection with the rest 

offered to the divers. Back then 

no one was very much interested 

in whales’ teeth so they were put 

in a cardboard box out of sight. 

When it came time for me to 

leave the ship I stuffed the box in 

my kit-bag and took them home 

where they languished in my 

mother’s shed for 30 odd years, 

until I had an encounter with a 

couple of other toothed whales, 

and this awakened my interest in 

whales and their teeth. 

The Orca connection 

In the mid 70s I was diving off 

the south coast of New Zealand’s 

capital city Wellington in an area 

known as Red Rocks looking for 

cray fish. I had enjoyed a good 

…Out of the gloom appeared two huge Orca. They stopped 

dead in front of me. I stopped too, holding my breath, 

frozen into immobility, tinged just a little with fear… 

dive and filled my 

catch bag, but as I 

was getting low on 

air it was time to go 

ashore. The thing 

was, I wasn’t quite 

sure which way was 

home so decided to 

go up to the surface 

to get my bearings. 

As I surfaced the 

first thing, I saw 

between myself and 

the shore, a good 

half mile away, was 

a huge pod of Orca, 

killer whales. Later, 

observers on shore 

counted well over 20 

of them which would 

The ways of Orca 

At that time I have to admit 

to being rather ignorant of the 

ways of Orca and the only thing 

I could recall ever learning about 

them was that in the southern 

hemisphere summer they travel 

south to Antarctica to breed. I 

also knew that when they were 

going south they were voracious 

eaters, but slightly less voracious 

on their return. At that moment 

they were swimming from west 

to east so that didn’t really tell 

My collection of sperm whale and orca teeth, in a display 

with the whalebone trinket box, depicting HMS Victory 


After the encounter with the two Orca at 

Red Rocks, I came ashore with a look on my 

face that my wife felt compelled to take a 

snap of 

me if they were coming or going. 

I have to admit I wasn’t sure if I 

was coming or going myself just 

then. After all I mused they were 

called killer whales for a reason. 

Just then out of the gloom 

appeared two huge Orca. They 

stopped dead in front of me. I 

stopped too, holding 

my breath, frozen into 

immobility by caution, 

tinged just a little with 

fear. Judging by its huge 

erect dorsal fin and 

immense size I guessed 

the one closest was 

a male, and he was 

checking me out to see 

if I was a threat to his 

family or the pod. After 

a moment’s scrutiny 

with one huge eye, he 

obviously decided not 

only I wasn’t a threat, 

but not even big enough 

for a decent meal, and so 

swam on. I still hadn’t 

drawn a breath, going 

purple and cross eyed. 

But as he passed out of 

sight I’m sure he was 

smiling or even laughing 

at me. 

Adding to the collection 

After that wonderful 

encounter I decided to 

educate myself about 

Orca and whales in 

general to learn of the 

fascinating world of 

our fellow, seagoing 

sources. Two are very well-done 

scrimshawed Orca teeth by an 

Australian artist called James 

Cumberland-Brown who I met in 

Perth, Western Australia. 

Years after I left the Navy, I was 

in Hong Kong on holiday and by 

chance went into a junk shop 

in Wan Chai where in a box of 

other stuff was a whale’s tooth, 

quite intricately carved, and 

which turned out to be genuine. 

Much later I acquired a whalebone 

scrimshawed trinket box 

with the image of HMS Victory, 

Nelson’s flag ship at the battle 

of Trafalgar, and added it to my 

collection along with other small 

items such as two pieces of black 

coral, a piece of greenstone and a 

tiny piece of ambergris. 

More of Roger (Jan) Meecham’s 

blogs can be found at: 

https://janmeecham.wordpress.com 

…By chance I went into a junk shop in Wan Chai 

where in a box of other stuff was a whale’s tooth, 

quite intricately carved… 

mammals with their 

large brains which we 

know so little about and 

in the past nearly drove 

to extinction. 

Orca are huge magnificent 

creatures and to meet one is a 

privilege 

At about the same 

time 40 Pilot whales 

stranded on 90 mile 

beach, in the very north 

of New Zealand, and 

this got me very interested 

in whales’ teeth 

and the illustrations 

sailors carved on them 

called scrimshaw. I 

salvaged my Pulau 

Tioman teeth from 

my mother’s shed and 

managed to acquire a 

few more from various 

An intricately worked whales tooth purchased 

from a junk shop in Wan Chai Hong Kong 


GEARBAG 

Retro or quirky boat anyone? 

The Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show has sent out an 

invitation to owners of retro and/or quirky powerboats or 

water going oddities. 

The show wants to create a special, fun display of them for 

the 2021 show, said general manager Dave Gibbs. 

“We want to celebrate those beautifully restored, 

classic powerboats of days gone by, as well as those of 

imaginative Kiwis who have created some of our more 

unusual floating oddities (floating caravans? Outboardpowered 

bathtubs and the like?).” 

Those who matched their retro boats with a classic vehicles 

of similar vintage are welcome to bring both too, and boats 

will be able to be displayed for sale if in fact they are for 

sale. 

Anyone with a suitable boat or other quirky creation 

interested in being part of this display is urged to email 

info@p-e.co.nz with a brief description and photograph. 

The 2021 Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show will be held 

at the ASB Showgrounds in Greenlane Auckland on May 

13-16. Tickets are available at the gate or online at 

www.boatshow.co.nz 

Tickets on sale 

A stunning Surtees/Yamaha Grand 

Prize with a retail value of over 

$250,000 will be won at the 2021 

Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show 

held at the ASB Showgrounds, Greenlane, Auckland on May 13-16! 

The prize consists of a 7.5-metre Surtees 750 Game 

Fisher powered by a Yamaha F250 4-stroke outboard 

with Yamaha’s latest Helm Master EX boat control 

system, a fully kitted-out Hosking custom 

tandem trailer and a comprehensive Garmin 

electronics package. 

This special prize package has been 

specifically designed, built, outfitted and set 

up for both serious fishers and for cruising 

with family and friends safely, comfortably 

and successfully anywhere around the coast. 

The boat features a 400-litre fuel tank for extended 

offshore cruising, 530 litres of water ballast for greater 

stability and an 80-litre fresh water tank, connected 

to an electric hot water shower and sink, an Engel 

electric fridge and an electric toilet. 

The 4.2 litre V6 engine delivers big power performance 

and economy. 

The fully integrated boat control system features 

a full-manoeuvrability joystick, digital 

electronic control, digital electric steering 

and Yamaha autopilot. 

The Hosking custom tandem trailer has 

been specially designed and built for the 

boat using any vehicle with a 3500kg 

towing capacity, without having to install a 

hard-wired brake controller. 

And there’s more, plus fishing gear and more 

and more… 

Full details of this amazing Surtees/Yamaha Grand 

Prize and all terms and conditions, click here. 

Tickets to the Hutchwilco Boatshow are on sale now online at www.boatshow.co.nz 

All tickets bought online qualify to enter for this amazing grand prize as well as entry to the draw for a powered 

Viking Kayaks’ Reload package worth over $6,500 plus a bonus entry into the Surtees/Yamaha Grand Prize draw. 


GEARBAG 

Introducing X-Adventurer 

Sea Tech is excited to bring you X-Adventurer Innovation 

Underwater. They manufacture affordable, high-quality 

dive lights. Beautifully machined anti-corrosive 

aluminium alloy, and depth rated to 100m. You can 

charge most via a USB cable, so if you’re on a boat, 

or elsewhere where you don’t have access to a wall 

socket, you can charge using a powerbank or car 

charger. 

Looking for a small handheld torch? We recommend 

the M1200 Spot Beam LED, shown below. You can 

charge it via a USB cable, so if you’re on a boat, or 

elsewhere where you don’t have access to a wall 

socket, you can charge via a powerbank or car charger. 

This is our lowest price 1200 lumen handheld light. 

M1200 Spot Beam LED $135.00 

Smart Focus is here 

X-Adventurer lights with Smart Focus support strobe 

flash modes when you add a fibre optic cable so these 

versatile lights can be used as a video LED or a strobe! 

This is a great option if you’re looking for a versatile 

set-up, and there’s range of lumen strength and light 

colour options. Ball Mount and YS mount included. 

Packed with features, these lights really are smart. 

• M1000 WRA Smart Focus Video Light $155.00 

• M2500 WSRBA Smart Focus Light $382.50 

• M3000-WRUA II Smart Focus Video Light $637.50 

• M6000-WRBT II Smart Focus 6000 $890.00 

Trade enquiries welcome. 

Ph:09 521 0684 Email: info@seatech.co.nz 

www.seatech.co.nz 

By popular demand Oh, and we know 

you’ve wanted it and finally it’s here: 

The X-Adventurer RL3000 Ring Light! 

Comes with an adapter so you can use 

it with M52 or M67 and includes smart 

focus, so if you pair it with a fibre optic 

cable you can use this as a strobe. Give 

us a shout if you’re interested in this, 

and we can help make sure you get 

the correct cable for your housing. The 

RL3000 Ring Light is $465.00 

Pelagic nudibranch image by Irene Middle- 

RL3000 RING LIGHT 

• 1800 lumen white light 

• 200 lumen red light 

• 3000 lumen strobe mode 

Visit www.seatech.co.nz for information and specifications. 

Available in New Zealand 

Sea Tech Ltd 

P: 09 521 0684 

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GEARBAG 

ROV used to collect sea shells from seabed 

Seashells have a critical role in ocean ecosystems 

providing nesting materials, shelters and homes for fish 

and crabs, and attachment surfaces for algae, sea grass, 

sponges, and a host of other microorganisms. 

So it seems challenging for J W Fisher, the US 

manufacturer of specialist underwater equipment, to 

promote the collection of seashells from the seabed by a 

customer’s use of one of their ROV’s, the Sealion-2. 

J W Fisher says their South Australian customer, 

ScubaCom, has the only specimen seashell permit 

(EP0002) in South Australia. They say most of ScubaCom’s 

individual seashell collecting is done using their ROV 

at 300 metres. They say “The ROV has a modified 

ROV modified for shell collecting 

out of thirty or more seen.” 

(4) “South Australia has many sanctuary zones protecting 

many seashell populations and marine parks ensuring 

minimal impact on species.” 

The media statement says “Any seashells that ScubaCom 

has for sale on the website will show the fisherman’s 

license number, processors license number, export 

exemption details, where the shell was caught (sic), 

identification photo and data base number, and other 

information. All of these details are available on a database, 

which the South Australian Fisheries Department can fully 

access.” 

manipulator arm with docking station so that seashells can 

be scooped up effortlessly.” 

In defence, ScubaCom’s owner Steve Robinson says, “it is 

my aim to offer seashells to the world with a guarantee that 

all specimens have been responsibly collected ensuring 

species sustainability. We currently have a database 

Apparently a certificate is also issued with each shell with 

details, photos, and unique number, to ensure “all shells 

purchased have been collected under strict environmental 

management.” 

The media statement ends saying: “JW Fisher applauds 

Steve’s efforts to operate a successful business, while also 

taking environmental factors very seriously for our ocean 

waters. We are proud to be part of his team!” 

What do you think? 

of every seashell taken by us (with photos and unique 

number) and will be able to verify all shells sold by us.” 

Steve says he carefully weighed up the environmental 

considerations, including: 

(1) “This would be the only specimen seashell license in 

South Australia, so overfishing seemed impossible,” 

(2) “The weather would only allow me to fish a small 

number of days a year.” 

(3) “With specimen seashells, only the best shells have 

value so I would expect to only take about one quality shell 


Boxfish ROV marks record breaking dive 

GEARBAG 

Boxfish Research based in Auckland has announced its 

small battery-operated remotely operated vehicle (ROV) 

has reached a seafloor 710 metres down and within 15 

minutes of deployment, a new record. 

Users of the Boxfish ROV include biosecurity, marine 

science, asset inspection cinematography, aquaculture, 

military, police and search & rescue. 

During the project 4K uncompressed video of the ocean 

floor was collected by its surface external 

video recorder. 

The Boxfish ROV boasts 14 hours of 

battery life and up to 17,000 lumen, and 

demonstrated a survey of more than 3km 

was possible in significant cross currents 

at this depth on a single battery charge. 

The Boxfish ROV also offers six degrees 

of freedom of movement due to its eight 

3D-vectored thrusters and stabilisation 

system, and is the only vehicle of its size 

and class to deliver uncompressed 4K UHD 

video. 

The Boxfish team also deployed Boxfish 360 

camera to the same depths, the only 360 

degree professional underwater camera 

with a depth rating up to 1,000 metres and 

recording time up to four hours. 

The ROV can come with a grabber, underwater navigation, 

sonar & tether options to 1500m and beyond, along with 

power packs for off-grid charging and fast charger options. 

Boxfish now offers personalised tuition in using its ROV 

online with a virtual Customer Training program in 

addition to free remote training sessions with a Boxfish 

Instructor. 

www.boxfish.nz 


INCIDENTINSIGHTS WITH THE DIVERS ALERT NETWORK (DANAP] 

By DAN World 

If you can’t equalise, 

abort the dive 

Sinus barotrauma can be very unpleasant 

By Divers Alert Network’s Matías Nochetto, M.D. 

THE DIVER 

The diver was a 26-year-old 

woman with approximately 200 

lifetime dives. 

THE DIVE 

She did a single, morning dive to 

a maximum depth of 27 metres, 

reporting no troubles equalising 

or any other complications during 

her descent. 

However, approaching her safety 

stop near the end of the ascent 

she was struck by a sudden 

massive headache, nausea and 

vomiting. She skipped the safety 

stop and ascended directly to the 

surface. 

The headache and vomiting 

continued on the boat, and also 

experienced an onset of what 

she called dizziness. The crew 

helped her remove her gear and 

administered oxygen. After a few 

minutes with no improvement, 

the crew recalled the rest of the 

divers and called emergency 

medical services (EMS) and the 

DAN Emergency Hotline. 

ANALYSIS 

Further discussion revealed that 

the dizziness the diver reported 

was likely true vertigo. Vertigo 

is characterised by a spinning 

sensation and usually accompanied 

by nausea and vomiting, 

while dizziness is a sensation of 

loss of balance. 

In a diving context, a sudden 

onset of vertigo during ascent 

or descent is suggestive of ear 

barotrauma, with inner-ear 

barotrauma (IEBT) being most 

concerning. Ear pain may or may 

not be present. 

Vertigo is also common in cases 

of inner-ear decompression 

sickness (IEDCS). Symptom onset 

for it is usually not so sudden and 

dramatic, and the dive profile 

did not seem to be aggressive 

enough to immediately suggest 

it. Nevertheless, such a diagnosis 

could not be completely ruled out. 

Critical differences 

Distinguishing between IEDCS 

and IEBT can pose a significant 

diagnostic challenge, but doing 

so is critical because the two 

conditions require very different 

therapeutic approaches, and 

misdiagnosis and mistreatment 

could be harmful. 

Headaches are a common 

post-dive complaint, and often 

the result of a sinus barotrauma. 

Although much rarer, another 

possible diagnosis was a very 

bad sinus barotrauma with gas 

leaking into the cranial cavity 

(pneumocephalus). The sudden 

onset of a massive headache 

associated with a significant drop 

in barometric pressure accompanied 

by nausea, vomiting and 

vertigo was suggestive of such a 

rare diagnosis. The diver did later 

report some difficulties equalising 

and what seemed to have 

been some sinus pain during 

descent as well as a sensation of 

pressure later during ascent. 

Recent cold 

The diver’s recent history of 

having a cold increased the 

likelihood of a very bad sinus 

barotrauma. Pneumocephalus is 

usually diagnosed using imaging, 

but small amounts of gas can 

be reabsorbed in a short time. 

Because of the relatively small 

window for a positive diagnostic 

image and the harmful — even 

fatal — nature of pneumocephalus, 

ruling it out should be a 

priority. 

The mechanism of injury is 

assumed to be a reverse block 

of the sinuses. The presence 

of mucus and inflammation of 

mucous membranes are the most 

common causes of transient sinus 

blockage. These generally pose 

no greater risk than inflammation 

in the mucous membranes of 

the sinuses, but with the ambient 

pressure changes involved in 

diving, a partial or intermittent 

blockage may act as a valve that 

impairs normal gas flow in the 

sinuses. 

Separating the sinuses 

Gas expansion from a reverse 

block can be significant enough 

to disrupt the thin bone walls 

separating the sinuses from each 

other and from the cranial cavity. 

When a sinus cavity suddenly 

relieves its pressure into another 

one, this usually manifests as 

pain, a headache and possibly a 

nose bleed. Gas leaking into the 

cranial cavity (pneumocephalus), 

on the other hand, can result 

in anything from headaches to 

life-threatening neurological 

deficits. 

Potential consequences will 

depend on the amount of gas 

and the degree of displacement 

of normal anatomical structures. 

This sort of injury can 

initially manifest as a moderate 

or severe headache or, in severe 

cases, result in seizures or even 

death. Most cases of pneumocephalus 

resolve spontaneously 


without surgical intervention. 

Management involves breathing 

oxygen, keeping the head of the 

bed elevated, taking antibiotics 

(especially when traumatic injury 

is involved), managing pain, and 

performing frequent neurologic 

checks and repeated CT scans. 

EVALUATION AND TREATMENT 

The diver’s X-rays revealed subtle 

signs that could indicate pneumocephalus, 

which warranted 

her admission to the hospital. 

These findings, however, could 

not be reproduced during a 

CT scan several hours later. 

These diagnostic discrepancies 

prompted some discussions, 

but based on the case history, 

symptom presentation and initial 

imaging, the diagnosis was still 

thought to be pneumocephalus 

following sinus barotrauma. The 

patient had been breathing pure 

oxygen since surfacing, including 

during transportation, evaluation 

and hospital admission, which 

could have sped up the reabsorption 

of the gas. 

In the absence of concrete 

evidence of pneumocephalus, the 

treatment plan was for the patient 

to continue to breathe oxygen, 

begin a course of antibiotics, 

undergo repeat CT scans and 

YOUR LEADER IN 

GLOBAL DIVE SAFETY. 

be observed for no less than 48 

hours. 

A six-month follow-up appointment 

revealed the diver had 

a very good outcome with no 

complications during or after 

her hospital stay. She has not 

resumed diving. 

DISCUSSION 

One of the first rules we learn 

as student divers is to discontinue 

diving when we experience 

difficulty equalising. This 

is probably the first rule we all 

break. Questions about the use 

of decongestants are among the 

most common asked on the DAN 

Medical Information Line. (Learn 

more about decongestants and 

diving at DAN.org/medical/FAQ.) 

With regard to barotrauma risk, 

the most critical phases of a 

dive are the descent and ascent, 

during which massive barometric 

changes take place. 

When divers have difficulty 

equalising during descent, dive 

leaders often go to excessive 

lengths to avoid aborting a dive, 

encouraging divers to try different 

equalisation techniques and 

instructing them to alternate 

between ascending a few metres 

and trying again to descend. It 

is also not uncommon to see 

divers pinching their nose and 

blowing during ascent, presumably 

because they are experiencing 

equalisation difficulties 

while ascending. Both of these 

practices are counterproductive 

and significantly increase the risk 

of middle-ear, sinus and inner-ear 

barotrauma. 

Problems with sinus inflammation 

and congestion may be 

amplified by the sinuses’ natural 

responses to cold temperature. 

Exposure to cold triggers a reflex 

to limit heat that manifests as 

increased mucus production and 

swelling of mucous membranes. 

This is known as “cold-induced 

rhinitis.” Sea water can also have 

an irritating effect on mucous 

membranes, further stimulating 

mucus production. 

Normally this has no negative 

consequences other than copious 

amounts of clear mucous when 

we surface, but be careful when 

diving: If you are recovering from 

a cold or have other predisposing 

factors such as active allergies, 

gas movement between sinuses 

may be significantly more difficult. 

If you experience mild difficulty 

equalising at the beginning of a 

dive, chances are the increased 

mucus production and swelling 

of mucous membrane may make 

equalising even more difficult 

near the end of the dive. 

Remember you can always abort 

a descent; aborting an ascent is a 

lot more problematic. 

+ 39 Years 

Divers Helping Divers 

+ 24/7 

Emergency Medical Services 

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Emergency Calls Managed 

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Members Served Worldwide 

Experience Matters. 

Join DAN 

DANAP.org 

For more diving health and safety 

articles DANinsider.org for weekly 

posts discussing recent incidents, 

and diving health and safety content. 

Visit: daninsider.org and follow us on 

Facebook by searching DAN World. 

Need more information? Send DAN 

World an email info@danap.org or 

call +61-3-9886 9166 


DIGITALIMAGING 

Hans Weichselbaum www.digital-image.co.nz 

DSLR vs mirrorless: Should you switch? 

High-end mirrorless cameras have been in the 

headlines for some time now. And sooner or later 

the time will come when you need to upgrade your 

gear. You have been a devoted fan of DSLRs (digital 

single lens reflex cameras) and you can’t see a reason 

for switching into unknown territory. However, 

these new mirrorless brands keep popping up and 

camera manufacturers seem to be throwing a lot of 

development nto this new technology. Is it time for 

you to switch? 

In this article I want to walk you through all the pros 

and cons of this new breed of camera to help with 

your decision making. 

Comparing DSLR with mirrorless technology 

SLRs (single-lens reflex cameras) 

go back well into the days of film 

cameras and, after replacing the 

film with a digital sensor, we now 

call them Digital or DSLRs. They 

have a mirror which reflects the 

image coming through the lens 

onto a prism sitting on top of your 

camera, projecting the image into 

the viewfinder. The moment the 

shutter is released, the mirror flips 

up and the image hits the sensor 

sitting behind the mirror. 

Compare this to a mirrorless 

camera. The lens projects the 

image directly onto the digital 

sensor and the optical viewfinder 

is replaced with an electronic 

viewfinder that displays the scene 

in front of the lens, as captured by 

the sensor. There is an LCD screen 

at the back of the camera which 

also allows you to compose your 

image. Image 1 below compares 

the two scenarios. 

Image 1 Comparing DSLR with 

mirrorless technology 

At first glance, the mirrorless 

technology seems to be 

simpler and more straightforward. 

The flange range (distance 

between lens and sensor) is 

reduced, which allows for smaller 

and lighter lenses. Note that both 

camera types have a mechanical 

shutter in front of the sensor. For 

some time now DSLR cameras 

have allowed us to capture video, 

and this is done with the mirror 

permanently flipped up, but you 

will have noticed their sluggish 

autofocus speed. The latest 

mirrorless cameras will give 

you a vastly improved autofocus 

speed and allow you to use either 

the mechanical or an electronic 

shutter. 

Not new 

Mirrorless cameras are not new; 

they have been around since the 

dawn of digital technology. Your 

trusted point-and-shoot camera 

is a good example. While they are 

compact and light we are all too 

familiar with their shortcomings: 

sluggish response; unreliable 

autofocus and; because of their 

smaller sensor, their inability 

…The ability of these new cameras to latch onto and track 

the eyes of your subject (even animal eyes!) is on a level 

never experienced before… 

to isolate your subject from the 

background. 

They always seemed to have 

lingered in the consumer market, 

never really making it onto the 

professional scene. (What we are 

talking about in this article are 

mirrorless full-frame cameras with 

their superior image quality.) 


The breakthrough came in 2013 

when Sony released the first 

mirrorless full-frame Alpha7. 

With this Sony took over the 

whole market until Canon and 

Nikon arrived on the scene in 

2018, followed later by Sigma and 

Panasonic. These cameras have 

dominated the headlines in a 

constant battle of features and 

specification, and the race shows 

no sign of slowing down. 

Comparing autofocus 

Until recently, autofocus has been 

one of the strong points in favour 

of DSLR technology. DSLRs use a 

special phase detection autofocus 

system (Image 2) perfected over 

many camera generations, which 

gives them lightning-fast autofocus 

and high frame rates. 

Image 2 DSLRs have a dedicated 

autofocus detection system 

Mirrorless cameras, on the other 

hand, don’t have a separate light 

beam for autofocus detection. 

Everything needs to happen right 

on the sensor. Autofocus is established 

by looking at a small area 

of the sensor, which is supposed 

to be in focus, and adjusting the 

lens until maximum contrast is 

achieved. Hence the term ‘contrast 

detection autofocus’. 

This process is slower than phase 

detection because the camera 

needs to move the lens first in 

one direction, then back again to 

find the sharpest point. However, 

contrast detection allows you to 

assign the autofocus to any point 

across the entire screen, not just to 

some specific areas of the image. 

But the latest generation of mirrorless 

cameras have now caught up, 

sporting a combination of phase 

and contrast detection sensors. 

The ability of these new cameras 

to latch onto and track the eyes of 

your subject (even animal eyes!) 

is on a level never experienced 

before. 

The same goes for shooting speed. 

Again, this used to be the domain 

of DSLR technology. But the specs 

of the latest generation of mirrorless 

full-frame cameras will excite 

the sport and wildlife photographer: 

10 fps is fairly average, going 

up to 20 fps with the electronic 

shutter. 

Optical vs 

electronic 

viewfinders 

This is a bit of a mixed 

bag. Some photographers 

still prefer 

to see the scene 

through an optical 

viewfinder, unfiltered 

and unaltered. Like 

looking through a 

window. There is no 

time lag, no problem with colour 

shifts and they work the same in 

bright light as they do in low light. 

Fast moving objects don’t become 

jerky because of low screen refresh 

rates. 

However, the electronic viewfinder 

does show you exactly how the 

sensor captures the world in front 

of your lens. When changing 

aperture or exposure you can 

see the effect on your image in 

real time. The latest electronic 

viewfinders have vastly improved 

specs, with superb image resolution 

and a high refresh rate, which were 

previously their weakest points. 

Other differences 

What stands out for the average 

photographer is the reduced size 

and weight of the new mirrorless 

technology. Having got rid of 

the mirror box and pentaprism, 

together with the smaller lenses, 

there is now more room in your 

camera bag, not to mention the 

reduced weight you need to carry. 

The reduced flange range required 

meant all camera manufacturers 

had to come up with a new lens 

mount. This is always an annoying 

development though you can use 

all your old lenses in combination 

with an adaptor between the 

…The new lenses developed for the mirrorless technology, 

however, won’t fit your old DSLR camera… 

camera body and the lens. The new 

lenses developed for the mirrorless 

technology, however, won’t fit your 

old DSLR camera. 

Another strong point in favour 

of mirrorless technology is you 

can shoot in total silence. This is 

great when shooting events, but 

probably not important in underwater 

photography. 

Serious power drain? 

And this takes us to one weak 

point of mirrorless cameras - in 

my opinion, the only serious one: 

the electronic viewfinder uses a lot 

of power, which is a drain on the 

battery. No problem when photographing 

on land, you simply pack 

in a spare battery, but an issue 

to consider when you take your 

camera underwater. 

When shooting with the electronic 

…The current top models also command premium prices, 

and with the technology improving rapidly in the coming 

years, we can expect prices to come down!… 

shutter, some photographers 

have also reported problems with 

banding. And there is the ‘rolling 

shutter’ issue which shows up in 

wobbly lines, skewed buildings or 

chopped up rotor blades, whenever 

there is some fast motion either 


y the subject or the camera, 

with switching to the mechanical 

shutter eliminates banding and 

rolling shutter problems. 

Conclusions 

Mirrorless full-frame 

cameras are everywhere. 

Camera 

manufacturers seem 

to be throwing all their 

resources into the new 

technology. And if you 

are in the market for a 

new camera, the latest 

crop of mirrorless 

cameras will surely 

satisfy all your needs, 

no matter what type 

of photography you 

specialise in. The only 

serious downside is the 

reduced battery life. 

camera and jump on the mirrorless 

bandwagon. 

The current top models also 

command premium prices, and 

with the technology improving 

rapidly in the coming years, we can 

expect prices to come down! 

If you are happy with 

your trusted DSLR, 

and in no hurry for an 

upgrade there is no 

reason to dump your 

One advantage of the large sensor in a high-quality full-frame camera is the 

more shallow depth-of-field, which allows you to isolate your subject in focus 

from the background. In the next issue we’ll discuss depth-of-field and how you can 

control it better in your photography. 

SOUNDINGS 


Wildlife photographer of the year People’s Choice 

Award winner 

Australian Robert Irwin won 

the 2020 Wildlife Photographer 

of the Year People’s Choice 

Award for ‘Bushfire’. (Dive 

mag covers most underwater 

photos from the competition and 

while this isn’t one of them we 

are running it here to complete 

the record from 2020.) 

The fire line leaves a trail 

of destruction near the 

border of the Steve Irwin 

Wildlife Reserve in Cape 

York, Queensland, Australia, 

an area of high conservation 

significance with over 

30 different ecosystems and 

home to many endangered 

species. 

Now in its 56th year, Wildlife 

Photographer of the Year is a 

showcase for the world’s best 

nature photography. The competition 

is developed and produced 

by the Natural History Museum, 

London. 

To enter the 2021 competition first 

go to: 

https://tinyurl.com/ep5yey8d 


SPECIESFOCUS 

Butterfly perch 

~Caesioperca lepidoptera 

By Paul Caiger 

The butterfly perch is 

a beautiful, light pink 

coloured fish, with iridescent 

blue markings, in particular 

under the eyes (caesio is Latin 

for bluish-grey). 

The defining mark however, is 

a dark blotch on its rear flank, 

serving as a false eye-spot 

similar to that on butterflies. 

This helps confuse predators 

about which way the fish might 

be oriented and thus swim off. 

The butterfly perch is a 

bentho-pelagic schooling fish 

that can be abundant in some 

places. Being largely planktivorous 

fish, schools of them 

can be found in areas of strong current near pinnacles, 

reefs and walls where they filter out the zooplankton. 

However, they are generally never far from refuge - 

be it kelp or a crevice – so they can dart away from 

pelagic predators. At night they rest on the bottom in 

cracks and crevices, their colour becoming blotchier 

and their eye-spot fading. 

A member of the groper family, Serranidae, these 

dainty schooling planktivores are not that similar to 

the large sit-and-wait gulping predators we usually 

think of as gropers. In fact, they are placed in the 

anthia subfamily (Anthiinae) that comprises largely 

small tropical reef fishes. 

The butterfly perch is common in New Zealand but 

also widespread across temperate regions of the South 

West Pacific and eastern Indian Ocean. In the north of 

New Zealand where they are common they compete 

with many other planktivorous fishes such as sweep, 

blue and pink mao mao, trevally and jack mackerel. 

South of Cook Strait they are the most plentiful reef 

planktivore, and particularly abundant in Fiordland. 

As with many fish species in New Zealand, there is 

a latitudinal effect on growth and size, meaning that 

larger individuals found further south. 

1 

2 

3 

4 

~Canthigaster callisterna 

A member of the groper family, Serranidae 

Known in Māori as Oia. 

Usually 20-30 cm in length, but can become 

larger than this in the south. 

Widespread across temperate regions of the SW 

Pacific and E Indian Ocean. 

5 

6 

7 

8 

Planktivorous, occupying current-swept reefs. 

Species name lepidoptera a reference to the 

order of insects that includes butterflies. 

Often school with sweep, blue and pink maomao. 

Live up seven or eight years. 


DIVE STORES / TRAVEL 

By region. To list your dive/sports stores contact Dive New Zealand for information. 

More information on Dive Stores, Clubs & Travel at www.DiveNewZealand.com 

NEW ZEALAND 

NORTHLAND 

Paihia Dive Dive training, charter and retail 

in Paihia. Dive the Rainbow Warrior, frigate 

Canterbury and the Bay of Islands. PADI 

courses: Open water to Instructor. Quality 

scuba brands: Aqualung, Tusa, Faber, Luxfer 

and Wettie spearfishing. Open 7 days. Williams 

Rd, Paihia, P: Craig or Lisa 09-402 7551 

E: info@divenz.com www.divenz.com 

Dive Zone Bay of Islands Far North’s 

only PADI 5 Star IDC facility. Open Water to 

Instructor courses. Freedive and spearfishing 

training & trips. Dive trips,On-site equipment 

servicing & cylinder testing. Aqualung, 

Mares, Scubapro, Beuchat. 

Open 7 days! 5 Klinac Lane, State 

Highway 10 Waipapa. 09 407 9986. 

www.divezoneboi.co.nz, 

info@divezoneboi.co.nz 

Northland Dive World Class Diving package 

– Great diving mixed with even better 

accommodation, meals and hospitality. Dive 

with the team that instigated the sinking of the 

Canterbury Frigate. Full Gear available incl 

NITROX – PADI /TDI/ SDI training “Unbelievable 

value for money”. 3851 Russell Road, 

Whangaruru, 

Bay of Islands, P: 09 433 6633, 

E: info@northlanddive.com 

www.info@northlanddive.com 

DIVE NOW For all your SCUBA Freediving 

and Spearfishing needs. Onsite servicing, 

cylinder testing, Air and Nitrox fills, wetsuit 

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most major brands. 5 Star PADI Tec Rec dive 

training facility and breath holding courses with 

onsite training pool. Located at the gateway to 

the beautiful Poor Knights Islands and Bay of 

Islands. 

41 Clyde Street Whangarei 

Freephone: 0800 102 102 or 

P: 09 438 1075 E: info@divenow.co.nz 

www.divenow.co.nz 

AUCKLAND / DISTRICTS 

Performance Diver NZ’s diving superstore! 

Massive stocks of all lines at unbelievable 

prices. PADI 5 star Instructor Development 

Centre offering training from beginner to 

Instructor. Local & national dive charters, 

overseas trips, servicing, air fills and rental. 

Open 7 days! 

74 Barrys Point Road, Takapuna 

(behind Avanti bikes). 09 489 7782 

www.performancediver.co.nz 

Auckland Scuba on Auckland’s north 

shore. PADI 5 STAR IDC diver training 

specialists. PADI dive courses beginner to 

instructor and tec rec. Part time/full time 

tertiary (student loan approved), NZQA 

credits. Dive trips, air/nitrox fills, cylinder 

testing, equipment servicing. Top quality 

equipment! 

Unit I, 121 Rosedale Rd, Albany. 

P: 09 478 2814 E: info@aucklandscuba.co.nz 

www.aucklandscuba.co.nz 

Global Dive NZ’s favourite technical and 

recreational dive store. All top brands stocked 

and serviced. Our active dive club meets 

monthly with guest speakers and BBQ. Experts 

in photography and tech diving. Quality rental 

gear, including technical and drysuits. Nitrox fills. 

132 Beaumont St, Westhaven, P: 09 9205200 

www.globaldive.net E: info@globaldive.net 

Book an ad space today! 

For Editorial or Classified ads call 

Colin Gestro 

Affinity Ads 

M: 027 256 8014 


Dive HQ Westhaven in Auckland's 

CBD. PADI 5 Star Instructor Development 

Centre. Become a PADI Dive Instructor 

with us. NZQA approved Part Time 

and Full Course available. Still Your 

Local Dive Shop for all your SCUBA 

dive, freediving, spear-fishing and gearservicing 

needs. Mares, Atomic, Oceanic, 

Pinnacle, Beuchat, and Zeagle. Fully 

equipped dive equipmentservice centre 

and dive cylinder testing facility onsite. 

Corner (101) Beaumont & Gaunt Sts, 

Westhaven, Auckland. P: (09) 307 3590, 

E: info@divehqwesthaven.co.nz 

www.divehqwesthaven.co.nz 

Dive Doctor Mt Wellington New Zealand’s 

specialist dive servicing company, regulator 

servicing, drysuit & wetsuit repairs, compressor 

servicing, cylinder testing, NITROX, O2, Helium, 

300 BAR air fills. A full selection of quality 

products as well as hard to find items for the 

technical, recreational and commercial diver. 

20R Sylvia Park Rd, Mt Wellington 

www.divedoctor.co.nz P: 09 5308117 

E: info@divedoctor.co.nz 

For the latest in maritime news and v 

from tinny to tanker we have it cover 

KIWI DIVERS SSI, TDI/SDI, RAID dive 

centre. Recreational and Technical dive 

courses (rebreather friendly). Regular trips 

from our own boat. Equipment sales, 

servicing and hire. Cylinder testing, air/ 

nitrox trimix/oxygen fills. Open 7 days. 

8 Keith Hay Court, Silverdale (just 20 

mins north of Akld) P: 09 426 9834 

E: info@kiwiscubadivers.co.nz 

www.kiwiscubadivers.co.nz 

SUBSCRIBE NOW 

www.skipper.co.nz • phone 09 533 4336 

MINI ADS - GREAT RATE 


For the latest in maritime 

news and views, from tinny to 

tanker we have it covered 

Dive! Tutukaka The Poor Knights Islands 

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someone at the end of the phone 0800 288 

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E: info@diving.co.nz www.diving.co.nz 

DNZ164 

Manufacturing Quality 

Wetsuits in New 

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conditions. 

www.seaquel.co.nz 

15G Porana Rd, Glenfield, Auckland 

wetsuits@seaquel.co.nz Tel: 09 443 2771 


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phone 09 533 4336 


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COROMANDEL / BAY OF PLENTY 

FREE 

PHONE 

TUTUKĀKĀ 

NEW ZEALAND 

SIMPLY 

AWESOME! 

0800 288 882 

www.diving.co.nz 

3-5 Rona Place, Tutukaka, Whangarei, SOUTH PACIFIC 

• New BAUER compressors 

• Late model, low hours, 

preowned BAUER 

compressors 

• Service, spare parts, oil 

and consumables 

AVAILABLE NOW FROM 

General Marine Services 

65 & 90 Gaunt St, Westhaven, 

Auckland. Phone 09 309 6317 

www.generalmarine.co.nz 

sales@generalmarine.co.nz 

service@generalmarine.co.nz 

APPROVED 

BAUER 

AGENTS 

Dive Zone Whitianga The Coromandel’s 

only PADI 5 Star IDC facility. PADI courses 

from Open Water to Instructor. Dive trips 

from boat, shore and kayak, to many 

amazing dive sites. Full gear service and 

extensive retail store. Open 7 days. 

10 Campbell Street, Whitianga, 

P: 07-867 1580, 

E: info@divethecoromandel.co.nz 

www.divezonewhitianga.co.nz 

Cathedral Cove Dive & Snorkel, Hahei 

The PADI Dive Centre situated at the base 

of Cathedral Cove, Coromandel Peninsula. 

Hahei offers spectacular ocean diving and 

snorkeling trips both within the stunning 

Marine Reserve plus the outer islands, 

pinnacles and volcanic coastline – Half Day 

Marine reserve or non-reserve diving option 

all within a short boat ride from Hahei Beach. 

PADI Dive Courses, Discover Scuba Diving, 

full sales, air fills, tank testing, rental gear. 

48 Hahei Beach Road 

P: 07 8663955 or NZ Free 0800 223483 

M: 027 2713187 

E: ccdive@hahei.co.nz 

www.cathedralcovedive.co.nz 

Dive Zone Tauranga is Tauranga’s only 

PADI 5 Star Instructor Development 

Centre offering everything from Open 

Water courses to Specialty Instructor 

training. Gear sales for all scuba, 

spearfishing & snorkelling needs. Hire 

equipment, gear servicing, air fills, dive 

charters, cylinder testing and more! See 

us at 213 Cameron Road, Tauranga, 

P: (07) 578 4050 

E: info@divezonetauranga.co.nz 

www.divezonetauranga.co.nz 

CENTRAL NORTH ISLAND 

Dive & Gas Gisborne's Mares and Atlantis dive 

gear stockist. A great product range, as well 

as other Scuba, spearfishing and snorkel gear. 

Plus we test and fill all Scuba Tanks. 

Kevin & Tracey Halverson, 

cnr Carnarvon St, and Childers Rd, Gisborne. 

P: 06 867 9662 E: diveandgas@gmail.com 

WELLINGTON / DISTRICTS 

Dive Wellington Become a Padi Dive 

Instructor with our fulltime Diploma course. 

NZQA approved and eligible for student 

loans and allowances. Contact us for a 

course prospectus. Dive Wellington is an 

audited and approved sub contractor of 

Academy of Diving Trust 

E: dive@divewellington.co.nz 

P: 04 939 3483 www.divewellington. 

co.nz 

NZ Sea Adventures PADI 5 Star Instructor 

Development Centre – also TDI Technical diver 

training including CCR. Open 7 days. Dive 

courses – beginner to Instructor. Club dives and 

trips in NZ and overseas. Dive retail, fills, gear 

hire & servicing. 

9 Marina View, Mana, Porirua. 

P: 04 233-8238 E: nzsa@scubadiving.co.nz 

www.scubadiving.co.nz 

Sales and Service of 

Breathing Air Compressors for 

Diving and Fire Fighting 

Supplier of 

-Genuine Bauer Spare Parts and 

Consumables 

-High Pressure Regulators 

-High Pressure Pumps 

-Customised Filling Panels 

-Nitrox Systems 

-Servicing and repair of all 

compressor brands – Bauer, 

Poseidon, Coltri, Brownie 

Bauer Kompressoren Agents for 

over 34 years 

High Pressure Equipment 

32 Parkway Drive, Mairangi Bay, 

Auckland, New Zealand 

PH 64 09 4440804 

info@highpressure.co.nz 

Dive & Ski HQ Wellington PADI dive 

courses – beginner to professional 

qualifications. Dive club with regular local, 

national & overseas trips. Wide range 

of diving/ spearfishing equipment and 

accessories. Equipment servicing/tank 

testing. Open 7 days. 

14 Waione St, Petone. New Zealand 

P: (04)568 5028 mob 0210369996 

www.diveski.co.nz E: diveskihq@xtra.co.nz 

snow ski and board rental available 

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Oceandry suits 

35 Station Road.Wellsford 

www.oceandry.co.nz 

Call Paul on 021 425706 

Email: info@oceandry.co.nz 

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M: 027 256 8014 


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DIVE STORES / TRAVEL / PRODUCTS / SERVICES 

SOUTH ISLAND 

Go Dive Marlborough Specialist TDI 

technical diver training facility. Mixed gas, 

decompression and advanced wreck courses. 

Operate Lermontov Lodge (Port Gore) our base 

to diving one of the world’s biggest wrecks the 

Mikhail Lermontov. Weekly tours ex Picton from 

1–6 days. Direct flights from Wellington to Port 

Gore. We offer Inner Sounds Tours from Picton. 

South Island’s only SSI Dive Centre. 

www.godive.co.nz 

Freephone 0800 GODIVE 

Email info@godive.co.nz 

Dive HQ Christchurch 30 years industry 

experience, Christchurch’s only PADI 5 

Star Instructor Development Centre and 

Adventure Activities Certified for SCUBA 

diving and snorkelling. Busy retail store 

selling the world’s leading brands and 

offering PADI recreational and tertiary 

SCUBA qualifications. Full range of 

spearfishing equipment including breath 

hold courses. Quality gear hire, service 

centre, Enriched Air training and filling 

station, local and international dive and 

spearfishing trips.103 Durham St Sth. 

Sydenham, Christchurch. Freephone 

0800-DIVEHQ. 

P: (03)379- 5804 www.diveskiworld.co.nz 

E: sales@diveskiworld.co.nz 

INTERNATIONAL DIVE 

OPERATORS AND RESORTS 

AUSTRALIA 

Pro Dive Cairns Offers the highest quality, best 

value PADI dive courses and 3-day liveaboard 

Outer Great Barrier Reef dive trips in Cairns. We 

have 16 exclusive dive sites across 4 different 

reefs to choose from and departures 6 days/ 

week. 

Check out www.prodivecairns.com 

or call us on +617 4031 5255 

or E: info@prodivecairns.com 

Spirit of Freedom visits the remote dive 

destinations of Cod Hole, Ribbon Reefs, and 

Coral Sea. The 37m vessel offers spacious 

en-suite cabins, every comfort on board, and 

exceptional service. Marine encounters include 

the potato cod feed, Minke whales in season, 

and the shark dive at Osprey Reef. 

E: info@spiritoffreedom.com.au 

www.spiritoffreedom.com.au 

Tusa Dive Cairns local day dive operators 

with over 30 years experience diving the Great 

Barrier Reef. Tusa’s fast modern catamaran the 

Tusa 6 will visit two unique sites where you can 

enjoy up to three dives in the day. Tusa Dive 

also offer a great day out for snorkellers. P: 

00617 4047 9100 

E: info@tusadive.com www.tusadive.com 


MINI ADS - GREAT RATES 

Colin Gestro - Affinity Ads 

M: 027 256 8014 

HDS Australia-Pacific 

PO Box: 347 Dingley Village Victoria 3172, 

Australia. www.classicdiver.org 

COOK ISLANDS 

Dive Aitutaki with Bubbles Below Explore 

Aitutaki’s underwater world with Bubbles Below. 

Only 40 minutes from mainland Rarotonga to 

the picturesque island of Aitutaki.PADI dive 

courses Beginner to Dive Master. Manned boats 

during dives! Safety and enjoyment paramount! 

‘Take only Memories & Leave only Bubbles Dive 

Safe, Dive Rite, Dive Bubbles Below!’ www. 

diveaitutaki.com 

E: bubblesbelow@aitutaki.net.ck 

The Dive Centre – The Big Fish PADI 5-star 

dive operator. Services: intro/lagoon dives, dive 

trips twice a day, courses, retail and rental gear. 

2 boats, boats are manned with an instructor, 7 

days, night dives. Aroa Beach by the Rarotongan 

Resort. 

P: 682 20238 or 682 55238 

E: info@thedivecentre-rarotonga.com 

www.thedivecentre-rarotonga.com 

dnz164 



FIJI 

VANUATU 

Subsurface Fiji Visit Fiji for fun, relaxing 

tropical diving. Subsurface Fiji PADI 5-Star 

Dive shops are located in the beautiful 

Mamanuca Islands, offering daily trips and 

courses to some of the best dive spots 

in Fiji. Subsurface provides full diving 

services from Musket Cove, Plantation, 

Malolo, Likuliku, Tropica, Lomani, Funky 

Fish, Namotu, Tavarua, Wadigi & Navini 

Island Resorts. 

E: info@subsurfacefiji.com 

www.subsurfacefiji.com 

Captain Cook Cruises Reef Endeavour and 

Tivua Island are 5 star PADI operations – 

Discover Scuba – Scuba Dive – Open water 

dive – Advance Wreck Dive, MV Raiyawa at 

Tivua Island. Fiji P: +679 6701 823 E: fiji@ 

captaincookcruisesfiji.com 

www.captaincookcruisesfiji.com 

Mantaray Island Resort Yasawa Islands – 

Fiji – Over 40 dive sites ; vibrant reefs, stunning 

coral gardens, caves, swim throughs, wall 

dives, drop offs, shark dives, turtles, and a 

stunning house reef. Fiji’s only accredited 

free-diving school, Mantaray swimming May– 

Oct. Small group diving in a safe and enjoyable 

environment visit us at 

www.mantarayisland.com 

Volivoli Beach Resort offers you relaxed, 

unspoilt white sandy beaches in a spectacular 

part of Fiji. Ra Divers operates from the resort 

giving you a water wonderland on the worlds 

best soft coral dive sites. The Fiji Siren is a 

livaboard boat offering you 7 and 10 night dive 

packages. www.volivoli.com 

E: info@volivoli.com P: +679 9920942 

SOLOMONS 

Raiders Hotel and Dive Wreck and Reef 

diving, Accommodation, Bar and dining, 

Snorkelling Hiking and more. Located 1 hour 

from Honiara on the waterfront of the historic 

Tulagi harbour. Dive - Discover – Relax. www. 

raidershotel.com 

email raidershotel@solomon.com.sb 

ph +677 7594185 / 7938017 

SIDE Dive Munda – Dive the unexplored 

Experience Magical Munda at Agnes Gateway 

Hotel. Award winning service and pristine 

diving. SSI Instructor Training Centre. WWII 

wrecks, caves and reefs – untouched and 

unspoilt. 

www.divemunda.com 

divemunda@dive-solomon.com 

Find us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram 

SIDE TAKA Dive See more of the Solomon 

Islands by liveaboard! Save $700 on a 7 

night booking on board MV Taka: 7 Nights 

Accommodation; 3 gourmet meals daily; 24 

Dives – sharks, WWII wrecks, manta rays, night 

dives; Round trip airport transfers. Conditions 

apply. For more information or to make a 

reservations: 

book@dive-solomon.com 

Tulagi Dive Solomon Islands An underwater 

paradise for marine life and explore the many 

ships and aircraft wrecks at the famous Iron 

Bottom Sound. We offer the PADI and TDI 

courses. Phone (+677) 25700 

www.tulagidive.com dive@tulagidive.com 

ADVERTISERS’ 

INDEX 

DAN 57 

Dive Pacific subs ad 

IBC 

Dive Zone Whitianga 45 

Fiordland Expeditions 44 

Nautilus Watersports Vanuatu’s longest 

running dive operation in Port Vila with 30+ 

years’ experience. Nautilus offers 4 dives a day 

(double dive both morning and afternoon). We 

also offer PADI course from Discover Scuba 

right through to Dive Master. For dive groups we 

can also offer diving/accommodation packages. 

P: Peter or Leanne +678 22 398 

www.nautilus.com.vu 

E: nautilus@vanuatu.com.vu 

TRIPS/CHARTERS 

CRUISE FIORDLAND 

fish • hunt • dive • cruise 

Fish, Hunt, Dive or Cruise aboard the fully 

refurbished MV Cindy Hardy. Fiordland or 

Stewart Island, our scenic cruises will provide 

you with a once in a lifetime experience. 

Everything is provided regardless of how 

short or long your time on board with us is. 

Cruise options available on our website. 

www.cruisefiordland.com 

info@cruisefiordland.com 

+6421 088 14530 

(DNZ156) 

DIVE HOLIDAY 

Travelandco 

At travel&co (previously Dive Fish Snow 

Holidays) we’ve been crafting tailor-made 

active travel trips and experiences for over 30 

years. Our team of active travel experts share 

your passion for adventure and can help 

book an exceptional active travel experience 

that goes beyond the ordinary. From wreck 

or reef diving, learning to dive, to liveaboard 

adventures - for insider tips on the best dive 

locations and tailormade diving experiences 

let your active travel journey start with us. 

t: 09 479 2210 Toll free NZ: 0800 555 035 

e: enquire@travelandco.nz 

www.travelandco.nz/dive 

Outer Gulf Charters 

One hour north of Auckland CBD 

Providing divers with the ultimate diving day 

out with diver lift, fast/comfortable travel, hot 

water shower, and all the tea and coffee you 

want. 

Recommended Dive Sites: Goat Island Marine 

Reserve, Mokohinau Islands, Great/Little 

Barrier, Sail Rock/Hen & Chickens in style. Trip 

schedule and info 

www.outergulfcharters.co.nz 

or phone Julie 021 827 855 

General Marine Services 22 

Hutchwilco Boatshow 

IFC 

Saltaway 53 

SeaTech 55 

On the seafront downtown Port Vila. 

• Certified dives • Snorkel Tours • Training to 

Instructor Level • Full gear hire available • 

Very friendly, professional & experienced 

local Instructors & Dive Masters. 

20 dive sites (10 to 20 minutes) including 5 wrecks 

(including 4 engine QANTAS Sandringham flying 

boat and 150 year old sailing ship Star of Russia) 

Temp 24-28°c. Viz 10m to 

40m. Free pickup from 

Resorts in town. 

P: +678 27518 or email: 

dive@bigbluevanuatu.com 

www.bigbluevanuatu.com 

For your safety Vanuatu has 

recompression facilities. 

SPEAKERS/LECTURERS 

Available for talks to dive clubs etc. You can 

find full details on these speakers/lectures at 

www.DiveNewZealand.co.nz/dive-in-nz/diveshops/ 

Terry Brailsford Wreck diving for gold & 

treasure. Incl the Rothschild jewellery, search for 

General Grant. 

0274 958816, theadmiral@xtra.co.nz 

Tony Howell History and entertainment with lots 

of rare historical photos and illustrations – 12 

powerpoints in total. 45 mins –1 hr each. 

Contact me for topics. 04 233-8238, 

www.scubadiving.co.nz 

tony@scubadiving.co.nz 

Darren Shields Spearfishing titles,uw cameraman, 

author. Motivating/compelling/innovative/ 

inspiring/entertaining P: 09-4794231, 021839118, 

darren@wettie.co.nz 

Jamie Obern Technical instructor/cave diver, 

20+ years On the exp. seafront globally. downtown Photos/video: Port Vila. uw caves 

in • Mexico, Certified USA, dives UK, • Snorkel NZ, Australia. Tours • Training Techdive to NZ/ 

GUE Instructor NZ instructor. Level • Full P: 021 gear 614 hire 023, available • 

www.techdivenz.com Very friendly, professional jamie@techdivenz.com 

& experienced 

Dave Moran 

local Instructors 

Ching Dynasty 

& Dive 

porcelain 

Masters. 

from the 

Tek 20 Sing. dive sites P: Dive (10 to New 20 minutes) Zealand including 09-5215 wrecks 0684, 

(including 4 engine QANTAS Sandringham flying 

E: divenz@DiveNewZealand.co.nz 

boat and 150 year old sailing ship Star of Russia) 

Samara Nicholas M.O.N.Z Temp 24-28°c. -Programme Viz 10m to 

Director: Experiencing 40m. Marine Free pickup Reserves from – Te 

Kura Moana: samara@emr.org.nz 

Resorts in town. 

www.emr.org.nz www.facebook.com/emr.mtsct 

P: +678 27518 or email: 

P: 09 4338205 or 0210362019 (field only) 

dive@bigbluevanuatu.com 

www.bigbluevanuatu.com 

TecFestNZ For your 35&BC safety Vanuatu has 

recompression facilities. 

Wakatobi 1&21 

ALPHABETICAL ORDER 

• Ce 

Instr 

Ve 

20 d 

(inc 

boa 

• Ce 

Instr 

Ve 

20 d 

(inc 

boa 


1/2/3rd 

• Sidemount, CCR, Drysuit, 

Twin Backmount, Full Facemask and 

Scooter trydives 

• Boat and River Drift Dives 

• 

Presentations on Cave 

Diving and Wreck Diving 

• Equipment Exhibitions 

• 

New for 2020: 

- new venue at Suncourt Hotel 

and Conference Centre 

- new foreshore venue 

Brilliant prizes including overseas trips 

Shutterstock stockimage 

You don’t have to be a technical diver to join in the 

action - come along and see how it is to Go Tec. 

Order your ticket online now at www.tecfestnz.com 

E: info@tecfestnz.co.nz M: 0274 344 874 

or ask at your local dive shop 

Pre-festival ticket purchase required, no entry tickets sold at event 

is sponsored by 


P A C I F I C 

NEW NEW ZEALAND’S ZEALAND'S ONLY DIVE MAGAZINE 

P A C I F I C 



P A C I F I C

DIVE NZ D176 March/April 2021

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