Dive Pacific April/May 2018 Iss 163 lr by Dive Publishing

ISSUE 163 - $9.90 inc GST April / May 2018

PA C I F I C ’ S M O S T I N F O R M AT I V E D I V E M A G A Z I N E

Shrimp dentist

"Open wide!"

• The menace of the Niagara

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• Stingrays meet for speed dating

• What we're learning from scallop vision New Column! 'Back in the Day'

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contents In Depth 4 New Zealand’s Hauraki Gulf struggling to keep up 5 EDITORIAL: State of Gulf report a further wake up call, with Dave Moran SOUNDINGS L ocal and international news & comment 6 Maritime NZ boost protection of Poor Knights Elite divers take legal action USS Lexington located 7 Man loses prosthetic arm: Paihia Dive finds it 8 Wahine sinking remembered 50 years on Volunteers kill thousands of starfish 9 Scallops see the world with hundreds of eyes 10 11 18 20 23

iving family wins Paralenz camera D Dive for Cancer makes $100k for research Hoki fishery stocks ‘healthy for now’ New Zealand Freediving Depth Nationals – special report! Solomon Island register best year yet for tourism The Tara Expedition’s remarkable DNA discoveries

SPECIAL FEATURES 16 Gold & oil: The legacy and menace of the Niagara 28 The sting ray aggregation of the Poor Knights Islands COVER FEATURE 22 SHRIMP DENTISTRY? Roland Hanewald suggests divers should make use of a free teeth cleaning service on offer! All you do is Open Wide!

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BUCKET LIST - DESTINATIONS 24 How Wakatobiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Coral Kingdom came about 33 Fiji moves to revitalise dive tourism 39 Tahiti, slice of paradise 48 C hristmas Island! The gift that keeps on giving for divers GEAR BAG 52 New stuff to capture your wallet OUR EXPERT COLUMNISTS 14 Legasea Update: Fisheries review demands priority 55 Species Focus: The grey moray eel, with Paul Caiger 56 N ovice diver continues despite ear pain: with DAN, the Divers Alert Network 58 W ho should have dive medicals? Dive Medicine, with Professor Simon Mitchell

Open wide! Roland Hanewald presents his teeth for professional attention. Photo: Uwe Jacobs

64 Editing in RAW. Digital Imaging, with Hans Weichselbaum 66 Diving the Web, with Phil Bendle 60 O ur Shades of Colour photo competition, the latest stunning images in our regular photo competition NEW COLUMN! 45 B ACK IN THE DAY! â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Dive reflects on what diving used to be like, back in the day 72 Book Review: Dining with divers - for those who dive, and those who don't 67 Classifieds Do you have a possible cover image? Email: divenz@divenewzealand.co.nz. NZ$100 will be paid if used. Must be relevant to the marine world.

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Hauraki Gulf struggling to keep up: new report

ew Zealand’s Hauraki Gulf is struggling to keep up with the effects of population growth and climate change, a new report states. The State of Our Gulf prepared by the Auckland Council every three years highlights the issues; poor fish and marine life stocks top the list. Species such as snapper and crayfish are now only 20% of what they used to be. “The pace of change is outstripping the ability of current management frameworks to respond effectively,” said John Tregigda, chair of the Hauraki Gulf Forum of the Council which oversees the report. “Demand for facilities, infrastructure and resources

are pushing development towards the sea, and fisheries indicators point to significant stress.” Other pressures are from increasing amounts of chemicals and pathogens due to storm water overflows, septic tanks and livestock, the spread of mangroves, increased littering and the expansion of recreational facilities. The Hauraki Gulf Forum is calling for central and local government, as well as iwi, to work together on a renewed, integrated programme of action, an approach which has remained elusive for the past 17 years. Due to climate change the Hauraki Gulf will become warmer and more acidic, and risks associated with invasive species will increase.

Photo: Iain Anderson

On the positive side, the number of Bryde's whales being hit by ships has been reduced. Until four years ago, two on average were hit and killed every year. Now, after discussions with shippers, virtually all ships travel at 10 knots, and just one has been struck in the past four years. “Nutrient loads from the Hauraki Plains and heavy metal concentrations in Auckland’s urban estuaries remain elevated but there are signs of improvement, and biodiversity gains are progressively being made on the islands of the Gulf. But pressures are rapidly mounting as the population increases.

Eleven key indicators The report says: “Eleven key environmental indicators have been used to assess the state of the Hauraki Gulf or Tikapa Moana/Te Moananui-a-Toi. “These are: fishing; toxic chemicals; sediment and benthic health; mangroves; nutrients; microbiological contamination; non-indigenous marine species; harmful algae, pathogens and mass mortalities; maintenance and recovery of biodiversity; litter; and, coastal development. “Of the top 15 finfish stocks caught in the Gulf, only four are at, or above their target levels (kahawai, albacore tuna, baracoutta and gurnard). Snapper are overfished, john dory is Most fish stocks in the gulf are in decline. Photo: Hauraki Gulf Forum ‘about as likely as not’ below its soft limit, and the status of the nine remaining species (relative to “Threatened seabirds also continue to be caught by the their target levels) is unknown. fishing industry, with little change in the total number “Commercial crayfish catch rates in the CRA2 stock which includes the Gulf have been declining since 2007, and catch rates are now at their lowest levels since the 1979-1980 fishing year. “High resolution data on where Danish seining occurs shows that MPI have been allowing Danish seining to occur in areas where regulations specify it is not permitted. MPI are getting a legal opinion to determine whether the area in question was correctly specified in the regulations.

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captured in the most recent three years of data (20112013). “Toxic chemicals, such as heavy metals, affect urban estuaries in Auckland and the coast in the southeastern Firth of Thames. Low level sediment quality guidelines are frequently exceeded for copper, lead and/ or zinc in these areas. Mercury concentrations also exceed guideline values around Thames, and at sites in the upper Tamaki Inlet and Waitemata Harbour.” https://tinyurl.com/yckkwxnc

INDEPTH EDITORIAL

e s t ab l i s h e d

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State of Gulf Report a further wake up call

ike a cancer, metre by metre, litre by litre New Zealand’s Hauraki Gulf, the big pond that leads you to New Zealand’s largest city, Auckland, is steadily losing its battle to maintain a healthy environment for all marine creatures, birds, and for people to enjoy. Many of you would be aware of the recent 106 page Report released on the 2nd March 2018 by the Hauraki Gulf Forum which is a statutory body charged with the promotion and facilitation of integrated management and the protection and enhancement of the Hauraki Gulf. The media have naturally jumped on the data relating to commercial and recreational fishing. Stating numbers such as the snapper population is approximately 20% of what it was in 1945, and about 50% of marine life in the Gulf has vanished in the past 93 years, and other depressing statistics. This is the fifth such report. The first being published in 2004. For me the first part of the report was the scariest. This section looks at the environmental impact on the water quality and the Gulf’s coastal shoreline as urbanisation of land in Auckland and the Coromandel continues unabated. The list of the environmental and infrastructure problems facing local councils and central Government due to our expanding population, is mind boggling. The issues that the report lists just seem so massive you wonder how the creeping cancer can be halted. The momentum of urban development and farming on land and in the sea seems to be unstoppable!

There is a heap of ‘numbers’ in the report; here are a few: • Auckland Council manages around 6,000km of storm water pipes, 20,000km of streams, 150,000 manholes and 370 ponds and wetlands. • Watercare Services manage around 8,000km of wastewater pipes, 18 wastewater treatment plants and about 420,000 wastewater connections. • The cost of providing new infrastructure to service Auckland’s greenfield areas (undeveloped land) alone is estimated to be $20 billion over the next 30 years • Development is increasingly sprawling onto the coast. In 2014, 2900ha of marine space had been zoned or consented for mussel and oyster farms, with a further 390ha zoned for fish farms.

d i s t r i b u t e d

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April/May 2018 Issue 163 Publisher Gilbert Peterson +64 27 494 9629 Dive Publishing P.O. Box 34 687 Birkenhead, Auckland, New Zealand 0746 divenz@Divenewzealand.co.nz Editor at Large Dave Moran +64-9-521 0684 davem@divenewzealand.co.nz Advertising Sales Manager Colin Gestro +64 272 568 014 colin@affinityads.com Art Director Mark Grogan +64-9-262 0303 bytemarx@orcon.net.nz Printed by Crucial Colour Ltd Retail distribution NZ: Gordon & Gotch Aust: Gordon & Gotch

• The Gulf’s six marine reserves only protect around 0.3% of the Gulf, and only one new reserve has been created since the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Act was enacted in 2000.

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 Sea Tech Ltd. All material is accepted in good faith and the publisher accepts no responsibility whatsoever.

• Cable protection zones prevent fishing in around 4.9% of the Gulf, but there is little evidence of ecological recovery in the largest of those zones.

Registered Publication ISSN 1774-5622 (print) ISSN 2324-3236 (online)

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• Past estimates indicate that at least 11,000 yachts and launches; between 2,500 and 2,800 personal water craft; and, 75,000 small craft use the Gulf. • In 2014, the Gulf contained 19 marinas, with around 49% of New Zealand’s 12,918 marina berths located in the Auckland region. • In 2017, various permits were given for sand extraction from the Gulf eg 2,000,000m3 of sand, including shelly gravel and three for 76,000m3 per year in the Pa-kiri area near Little Barrier Island. …cont'd overleaf

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SOUNDINGS NEWS

Maritime NZ protects Poor Knights reserve A total of 19 infringement notices were handed out last year for ships illegally entering the Poor Knights marine reserve, up from five the year before and 10 in 2015; now Maritime New Zealand has mounted a campaign against their recurrence. Fishing is prohibited in the reserve and ships longer than 45 metres are banned from the designated “area

to be avoided” which includes the Poor Knights reserve. Maritime NZ Specialist Investigator Nick Dowden says their Maritime Operations Centre actively monitors a digital geo-fence which alerts the centre to ships entering the area. Crews are then contacted by maritime radio and instructed that they must leave by the shortest and safest route.

Mr Dowden says “We take transgressions against the environment very seriously. He says the offenders are generally the operators of visiting cargo ships, which navigate a direct line down the east coast of Northland to save time and cost. “Breaches can land the operator of the vessel with a $12,000 fine and the master can be fined $2000.”

Elite divers take legal action after deep dives Six elite divers who suffered brain injuries during Australia’s deepest ever commercial dive have engaged a Perth law firm to sue for substantial damages, reported John Flint in Perth Now mid February. (Dive covered the story in our last issue – Claims deepest ever dives led to brain damage) The claim is understood to focus on why divers were pressurised very quickly causing them to feel “fried” during the dives off West Australia’s northern coast in June and July last year. Other divers are continuing to experience bizarre neurological

symptoms and may join the legal action. During the dives to depths of up to 273m, the divers experienced hallucinations, nausea, headaches and tremors as they worked to repair a pipeline on the ocean floor for Inpex Australia’s Ichthys LNG project. The very quick compression (“blow down”) schedules are at the centre of an investigation by the federal regulator, the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA).

The first three diving teams of nine men were allegedly “blown down” in eight hours, while the fourth and fifth teams were allegedly “blown down” in five hours and 20 minutes. Their union claims blow down schedules for deep saturation dives of 230-240m elsewhere in world range from 17 to 26 hours. The DOF Subsea schedule complied with US Navy schedules, but according to saturation diving experts, the faster blow downs allowed by the US Navy are for emergency situations only.

USS Lexington located The wreckage of US aircraft carrier USS Lexington sunk during World War Two has been found at the bottom of the ocean after 76 years. More than 200 crew members died when the carrier was destroyed in May 1942 during the Battle of the Coral Sea fought between American

and Japanese forces. The ship was discovered off Australia's east coast by a search team led by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. Pictures and video show the carrier appears well preserved after more than seven decades underwater.

…cont'd from page 5 Dredging for shipping brings another set of mind bogging numbers of cubic metres extracted! This is just a very small window of what’s in this very comprehensive report.

develop. It’s a very informative document.

My intention from the above numbers is to raise your awareness of what’s happening and hopefully encourage you to download the report so you can see the size of the challenges we and the marine environment face as the country continues to

We're not catching less fish, we're not milking less cows and we're certainly not building less homes. Pressure on the Gulf is increasing, and investment and infrastructure and new policy directions are not keeping pace."

6 Dive New Zealand | Dive Pacific

Finally, a couple of quotes: John Tregidga, chair of the Hauraki Gulf Forum, says:

People need to understand it is

all interconnected. Stephen Hawking, the renowned physicist who recently passed away, was regarded as possessing one of the world’s greatest minds. He said: “We are in danger of destroying ourselves by our greed and stupidity. We cannot remain looking inwards at ourselves on a small and increasingly polluted and overcrowded planet”.

Dave Moran Editor at Large

SOUNDINGS NEWS

Northland man loses prosthetic arm, Paihia divers find it Paihia man Ty-Ray White is giving a "big hand" to the divers who helped find the prosthetic arm he lost while wakeboarding in February, reports the Northern Advocate. White was wakeboarding off Te Ti Beach when he fell, and during his fall, the prosthetic on his lower left arm "slipped off". The arm made of carbon fibre did not float and he thought that could be the last he saw of it. He is reported to have said it was an "I told you so" moment for his wife Karen who only minutes earlier had reminded him he was supposed to have a form of floatation on the arm in case it fell off. Mr White admits his â&#x20AC;&#x153;she'll be right" attitude didn't pay off.

He put two pairs of divers down in different spots - one near the ski lane marker buoys and one where Mr White thought it might be. The plan was to search for half an hour and then resurface and re-assess. Right at the end of the search pattern, they were just about to give up when Adam Scanlon found it in about three and half metres of water, Craig said. The hand part of the arm was dug into the sand, but the neoprene sock on the other end meant it was floating upright.

Paihia man Ty-Ray White wake boarding near Waitangi moments before losing his prosthetic arm and later recovered by divers.

He said Scanlon was "absolutely chuffed" to make the find. He added it was the first arm the company has ever found. Mr White was born with only one

hand but says it has never held him back. But next time he will put a flotation device on the arm while in action on the water ... just in case.

Mr White, a former professional diver, thought the poor visibility in the water and current would make the arm impossible to find. But Mrs White put a post on Facebook asking for anyone who might come across the arm washed up on the beach by a stroke of coincidence to let her know. The post was spotted by Craig Johnston, owner of Paihia Dive and he decided to pop out and have a look, free of charge. Johnston said the visibility was about half a metre.

Paiha Dive instructors Richard Wales and Adam Scanlon after their successful mission. Photo: Northern Advocate

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SOUNDINGS NEWS

Wahine remembered 50 years on Nearly 70 survivors of New Zealand's worst shipwreck in modern times, as well as family of the 53 who died, have registered to attend the 50th anniversary of the Wahine disaster.

boat owners and other volunteers took to the harbour to rescue people in appalling conditions.

Along with rescuers and others involved in the disaster relief, they are coming from around New Zealand, from Australia, Thailand and the UK, said Rhys Jones, Chair of the Wahine 50 Charitable Trust formed three years ago to plan the 50th commemoration.

On land the communities of Eastbourne and Seatoun, hospital staff, police, ambulance staff, and many more were also involved. 683 passengers and crew survived.

On 10 April 1968, the Wahine hit Barrett Reef in Wellington harbour. By the time its passengers and crew were ordered to disembark,

The free public programme features a dawn service, choral tributes, a rare steam-past review on Wellingtonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s harbour, public

displays by school children, the Wellington Museum, and more. For more go to: www.wahine50.org.nz

Volunteer divers kill thousands of crown of thorns starfish Volunteer divers have killed almost 47,000 crown-of-thorns starfish on the southern Great Barrier Reef in just seven days, breaking a record in the process. Thousands of the starfish were discovered only months ago eating their way through parts of Swains

it's the most amount of starfish killed in a single trip in that time," said Mr Stobo, who donated his catamaran to the mission. Similar missions have culled up to 30,000 crown-of-thorns starfish. Queensland Parks and Wildlife detected the infestation during a

thick in some areas that they were layering on top of each other to get to the coral. Starfish were injected in the shoulder with bile salts, a job easier said than done as the divers had to contend with swells and currents. Mr Stobo said the culling trip was never going to kill all the crownof-thorns at Swains Reef, but it did show them how big the problem was. Queensland Parks and Wildlife were also part of this expedition, surveying the reef and identifying where the concentrations of starfish were.

Funding welcomed

The volunteers Photo: ABC Capricornia: Inga StĂźnzner Reef, which lies 250 km off the central Queensland coast. Gladstone charter operator Bruce Stobo led a group of 25 volunteer divers on the nine-day mission. "They tell me, unofficially, that

8 Dive New Zealand | Dive Pacific

survey in November last year, but this did not prepare the divers for what they saw. "Everyone was absolutely surprised," Mr Stobo said. Crown-of-thorns starfish were so

Mr Stobo welcomed the Federal Government's $60 million funding announcement to tackle crown-ofthorns starfish in the Great Barrier Reef and hoped some of that money would be funnelled to the southern end.

Injecting starfish 'quite hard work'

At the moment, injecting the crown-of-thorns starfish with a single shot of bile salts is the most effective method, but it is not easy. https://tinyurl.com/yadjf94h

SOUNDINGS INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Scallop sees world with hundreds of eyes (From The New York Times)

While some invertebrate eyes sense only light and dark, scientists have long suspected scallops can make out images, perhaps recognizing predators quickly enough to jet to safety. But scallop eyes, each the size of a poppy seed, are tiny and delicate and scientists have struggled to understand how they work.

Miniature mirrors made of millions of tiles But recently a team of Israeli researchers reported in the journal Science that each scallop eye contains a miniature mirror made up of millions of square tiles. The mirror reflects incoming light onto two retinas, each of which can detect different parts of the scallop’s surroundings. Our own eye has been likened to a camera using a lens to focus light on the retina. The new research suggests that scallop eyes are more akin to another kind of technology: the reflector telescope of the sort first invented by Newton and today, by astronomers gigantic reflector telescopes built to look in deep space. They also build their mirrors out of tiles. Earlier studies had hinted the scallop eye was weirdly complex, each with a lens, a pair of retinas, and a mirrorlike structure at the back. Scientists suspected that light passed through the lenses and the retinas, which are mostly transparent, bounced off the mirror, and struck the retinas on the return. But no one knew how the mirror works, or why scallops needed two retinas when other animals need only one.

Cryo-electon microscopy Using new cryo-electron microscopy,

…‘Each scallop eye is built something like the gigantic telescopes that peer into deep space, researchers report’…

Photo: Wikipedia

Inside the hinged shell of the scallop lurks a musclebound creature that’s best enjoyed seared in butter. But there’s much more to appreciate about this delicious entree: the scallop sees its world with hundreds of eyes in an array that mirrors microscopically a giant space telescope.

Benjamin A. Palmer, a researcher at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel, and his colleagues froze slices of the eyes, making it possible to inspect the tissue down to its fine molecular details. (Last October three pioneers of cryo-electron microscopy won the 2017 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.)

Two retinas

Researchers have long known that the mirror in a scallop eye is made from a molecule called guanine. It’s best known as one of the main ingredients of DNA, but in some animals guanine is packed into crystals that reflect light.

One retina can create a sharp image of what’s right in front of the eye. The other retina gives a better view of the periphery. The retina that sees the central field of view might allow scallops to quickly recognize oncoming predators, allowing them to beat a hasty retreat by swimming away.

Transparent, flat square guanine crystals Some fish have a silvery tint to their scales thanks to guanine crystals. Chameleons use guanine crystals to help them change the colour of their skin. But no one knew how guanine helped scallops to see. Dr Palmer and his colleagues discovered that scallops make a kind of guanine crystal never seen before in nature, a flat square. “We were amazed,” he said. The researchers found that the mirrors are made of twenty to thirty layers of guanine, each containing millions of squares that fit together snugly like tiles on a wall. Paradoxically, the guanine squares don’t reflect light on their own; they’re transparent. But their arrangement turns them into a collective mirror.

The model created by Dr. Palmer and his colleagues may also solve the mystery of the two retinas. The researchers found that each retina receives sharply focused light from different parts of the animal’s field of view.

Scallops may pay attention to their peripheral vision instead when they’re searching for a spot on the sea floor where they can settle down to feed. What’s more, the hundreds of eyes on a scallop all deliver signals to a single cluster of neurons, which may combine that information to create a rich picture of the outside world. Dr Palmer said that scallop eyes may provide inspirations for new inventions. There’s certainly precedent: NASA has built X-ray detectors to study black holes that mimic lobster eyes. Perhaps an artificial scallop eye could take pictures in dim seawater. But Dr Palmer is more excited by the prospect of creating materials new to engineering. His study shows that scallops have evolved a mastery over forming crystals, guiding them into shapes that researchers didn’t think possible. https://tinyurl.com/yb6vcvdf

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SOUNDINGS NEWS

Diving family wins Paralenz camera Dive magazine subs draw

which adjusts the aperture for varying depths and the light available.

here are five divers in the Willoughby family: besides Ernest, winner of the Paralenz camera, the others are his son and daughter-in-law and two grandsons.

Ernest Willoughby of Epsom, Auckland (left) is the lucky winner of the PARALENZ underwater video camera which was presented to him recently by Dive publisher Gilbert Peterson (right). The prize was in the draw for anyone subscribing to Dive magazine between October last year and January this year.

Ernest first started diving in 1968 but has been doing it mostly over the past 15 years. A favourite place is off Whangaparoa peninsula just north of Auckland where he hunts scallops. Dive Magazine reviewed the Paralenz camera, valued at nearly $1000, in Issue 159 last year, along with an interview with Paralenz co-founder Michael Trost.

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Making a splash in the fight against cancer

South Australia dive for cancer group

group of committed individuals sacrificed their pre-breakfast gym sessions, spin classes and morning tv to plunge in the ocean in February, for the noblest of causes: the fight against cancer.

The 5th annual Dive For Cancer was held again at picturesque Port Noarlunga in Adelaide. This year the event sold out in six hours - the biggest ever - attracting 130 divers and hundreds more supporters. Flippered participants were noisy and colourful as always and their efforts raised nearly $30,000 towards cancer research. As always, Mark Tozer, the driving force behind DFC, made sure there was plenty of dry land entertainment for anyone within a mile of the jetty. 10 Dive New Zealand | Dive Pacific

The Dive For Cancer auction saw more than a hundred items go under the hammer, among them a holiday, a white shark trip provided by Andrew Fox and a stunning Leafy Sea Dragon painting donated by renowned artist Miranda Peta Lloyd. Mark Tozer received an award from Padi for Outstanding Contribution to the diving community. The money raised brings the total raised in South Australia alone to more than $100,000 since the event was launched in 2014. “Every year, our footprint grows,” he said. “But I know there is a lot more to be done. And it’s wonderful to be surrounded by people who are up for the challenge.”

Mark Tozer and CEO Lincoln Size

This year Dive For Cancer events are being held in Perth, Canberra, Sydney, Queensland and New Zealand. Visit www.diveforcancer.com.au Or jump on the Facebook page.

SOUNDINGS NEWS

Hoki fishery stock healthy for now I

n the annual assessment of New Zealand’s hoki stock last year, National Water and Atmosphere Institute (NIWA) fisheries scientist Richard O’Driscoll and his team measured 71,752 fish. Hoki is used in fish burgers, fish fingers, crumbed or battered fillets, or fresh. Commercial fishers can catch up to 150,000 tonnes of hoki during the season worth $229m in 2017. The biennial trawl survey on the Chatham Rise identifies the numbers of juvenile fish from both New Zealand hoki stocks: one that spawns on the West Coast of the South Island; the other in Cook Strait. The hoki population has undergone some large fluctuations in the last few decades. In the 2000s, the total allowable catch was drastically reduced from 250,000 to 90,000 tonnes following successive years of few younger fish appearing. Since then the quotas have gradually increased as the stock has grown and this year it is set at 150,000 tonnes. NIWA Chatham FEB 2018 · RV TANG

AROA

Rise Fish Survey 2016 vs 2018

survey

WELLINGTON

PRELIMINARY

ABUNDANCE ESTIMAT

Hake 20% more Sea perch more Lookdown dory more Spiny dogfish more

Ling 14% less Ghost sharks less

200

127 trawl survey tows in depths of 200-1300m in 34 strata

TANGAROA TRAWL SURVEY

LYTTELTON

400

600

800

1000

1200

1300

CHATHAM ISLAN

DS 1400

What was caug ht

Of 326 species or groups caught

Other animal groups

151 bony fish

Black oreo

starfish cucumbers or urchins

34 sharks or skates 28 crustaceans

13.9% Alfonsino

% of the total catch from all trawls

13 squids or octopuses Hoki

5.0%

Smooth oreo

42.5%

Spiny dogfish

Of 139 specie

4.8%

Silver warehou

3.5%

2.7%

You can choose to have HECS technology in any of our top quality NZ made drysuits

s of fish and sq

uid caught:

Maturity stage

24181

data were collect ed for & ghost sharks

3929 sharks skates

weighed

71752

Liver and gut

length measured

weighed in1883

To age fish - otilith

hoki

128

unusual or unide ntified animals collec ted for ID

s collected from

Laid out end to

end that’s 31

kms of fish mea sure

1931 hoki 974 ling 257 hake 213 black oreo 364 smooth oreo 363 orange rough y 45 violet cod

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NIWA INFOGRAPH

fish

IC · FEB 2018 ·

? 55

invertebrates

www.niwa.co.nz

Highlights • 127 successful trawl survey tows were completed at 34 different depths. • The total catch of 159.8 t comprised: hoki 42.5%, black oreo 13.9%, alfonsino 5.0%, and smooth oreo 4.8%. • 71,752 individual fish of 139 species were measured. • The average surface temperature was 17.1°c: a couple of degrees warmer than usual. • Abundance estimates for hoki suggest good recent recruitment from 2015 and 2016 year classes.

www.oceandry.co.nz

25 Station Rd, Wellsford, Auckland

info@oceandry.co.nz

Phone: 09 423 8237

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SOUNDINGS NEWS

Warmer seas a challenge for tracking whales A two-week expedition to tag blue whales in New Zealand waters for the first time almost came up empty due to warmer sea temperatures causing the animals to change their behaviour.

NIWA megafauna expert and marine ecologist Kim Goetz led an expedition recently hoping to tag up to eight blue whales to help understand their foraging and migration patterns. The tags transmit location data via satellite.

waters are around 13-16°C. But we had water temperatures of 20-22°C and we are currently in a La Niña weather pattern which is not conducive to upwelling of nutrients in the Cook Strait region,” Dr Goetz said.

The original plan was to locate and tag the whales in Cook Strait and off the coast of south Taranaki.

Upwellings occur when deep cold water rises to the surface. This water is rich in nutrients and plays an important role in the productivity of the ecosystem, which ultimately influences the movement of marine animals.

“Usually when whales are found off Taranaki, there’s a lot of upwelling going on and the

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LegaSea Update

Fisheries review demands priority

egaSea has repeated its call for an independent Commission of Inquiry into the state of fisheries management in New Zealand. In particular crayfish stocks are in crisis. Currently, crayfish in the CRA2 region from Pakiri through the Hauraki Gulf to the East Cape, are at an all-time low. At the start of the current fishing year the amount of legal crayfish in the water represented five per cent of what was available before large scale fishing.

In the Hauraki Gulf, several scientists recently described crayfish as “functionally extinct”, unable to carry out their natural function. Yet MPI has continued with its laissez faire, hands off stance. Spokesman Scott Macindoe said: “The Quota Management System is allowing industrial fishing to take place without effective governance from the Ministry that is charged with managing marine resources on behalf of all New Zealanders. “Instead, MPI has stood back while the fishery has declined to the stage where even experienced divers struggle to find even one legal crayfish in a season.”

what they believe needs to be done to save this fishery.” “Commercial fishers have doubled their cray potting effort over the past 16 years and yet they are catching fewer crays now than what they were at the beginning of the century. “By all independent measures the stock is collapsing. This isn’t about recreational and customary rights versus commercial rights, it’s about ensuring sustainability and healthy ecosystems taking priority, and it’s about protecting the resource for our kids and future generations. “We need to stop this madness in CRA2. We need a total overhaul of the Quota Management System and we need a new way to oversee New Zealand’s fisheries.” Take the survey at: www.legasea.co.nz/crayfishcrisis

Cameras on boats vital LegaSea also called on Minister of Fisheries Stuart Nash to stand firm against industry pressure to dump cameras and electronic monitoring on commercial fishing boats. It has challenged fishing industry claims that it uses best practice, and that cameras and other forms of

…“Our fisheries are a public resource we all have kaitiakitanga obligations to fulfil”.… monitoring are not required. Dave Turner, director of Fisheries Management at the Ministry for Primary Industries has been quoted saying, “We estimate that if we found the golden bullet to stop discarding, we would probably put over half of the inshore fleet out of business overnight…” This admission alone should be enough to continue with the surveillance cameras. “Fisheries Management can’t quantify the tonnages involved but we suspect they are significant to the point that they are impacting on stocks,” said Turner. While many boats are run professionally, some fishers operate illegally. They are difficult to catch because offending is easily hidden far out at sea. LegaSea spokesman Scott Macindoe said: “We know from the ‘Sea Around Us’ research that the industry dumps more fish than it lands. “We know that the industry was happy to have cameras when they were run by its own privately-held company, and we know that the industry lost the footage recorded in the early trials.

Last year 78% of survey respondents told LegaSea that the size and availability of crayfish in the CRA2 region was either decimated or close to it. There was majority support for a seasonal or total closure to rebuild crayfish stocks. In response to public pressure the then Minister brought a management review forward by a year in an acknowledgement that current management had failed. “Last year we said the situation was reaching crisis point,” Macindoe said. “Now we have the Ministry conducting a consultation process that gave the public only 18 working days to respond. “LegaSea and the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council are asking members of the public to tell the Minister just

www.divenewzealand.com 15

SOUNDINGS NEWS

Gold & Oil: The legacy and menace of the Niagara By Dave Moran, Editor-at-Large

any of you who are regular readers of Dive will be aware of the watery grave of the 159m luxury liner RMS Niagara which was a casualty of mines laid by the German Raider Orion in the Hauraki Gulf during WWII. Her sinking just north of the Mokohinau Islands in the early hours of the 18th June 1940 was the beginning of various successful attempts to salvage most of the over eight tons of gold bullion on board. For the voyage to Vancouver, Canada, it is conservatively estimated that between 9–15 tons of fuel oil was on board. The blast from the mine released tons of oil that smothered many kilometres of New Zealand’s North Island coastline, mainly from Whangarei harbour southwards. It is believed that the amount of oil on the coast was larger than what was deposited on the beaches in the Bay of Plenty when the MV Rena grounded on Astrolabe Reef, south of the city of Tauranga on 5th October 2011. Interestingly, you can still find remains of Niagara’s oil along the coast today! On the 10th February 2018 at the Mangawhai Artists Gallery, artist Nicola Everett opened to the public her year-long work titled ‘Gold & Oil – The Legacy and Menace of the Niagara’.

Nicole Everett proudly presents the truth of what an oil release will do to the living environment

Her obvious passion and commitment to bring to life what occurred 78 years ago off the coast of Mangawhai and the possible environmental ticking time bomb within the wreck can only be loudly applauded. Her work is stunningly creative and her message to her local community and the New Zealand Government was very clear! We need to act now, not wait until we have to clean up the suffocating oil deposited along our coast. Her collection of woodblock and collagraphic prints tell the story of the mines being laid, Niagara striking

16 Dive New Zealand | Dive Pacific

the mine and sinking, as well as the recovery of the gold and the death of marine and bird life as the result of the oil that was released at the sinking. The artwork that made a strong statement to those who attended was a visual representation of what you could expect from a new release of oil from the wreck.

Hanging from the ceiling over a patch of oil-impregnated sand were the real remains of birds and fish covered in black oil! Nicola is creative enough to know she needed something that really confronts people in an artistic form of what may happen.

delivered; Mike Lee the Waitemata and Gulf Ward Councillor, and Belinda Vernon from Maritime New Zealand.

Belinda Vernon from Maritime New Zealand explaining it’s all under control

Over a period of a year she had collected dead sea birds and fish skeletons from the shoreline. She then slowly dried these remains in an oven and then coated them in black bitumen which represented the Niagara’s thick smothering bunker oil. This very visual artwork clearly shows Nicola’s commitment to awakening people’s awareness of the results of an oil spill. Guests included Kaipara’s deputy mayor, Peter Wethey and author Keith Gordon, whose book, Deep Water Gold, details the history of the Niagara’s sinking, the gold recovery and the subsequent first dives by remote operated vehicles (ROVs), followed by the first modern day technical mixed gas divers exploring the wreck in 120 metres of water. Two contrasting speeches were

Mike Lee is absolutely passionate about the Gulf’s marine environment and has actively been notifying Government departments, as Keith Gordon has also over many years, re the necessity to survey the fuel tanks’ condition and the amount of fuel oil remaining in the wreck. This means being able to evaluate the possible environmental hazard that the ship’s oil represents. The response to their warnings have largely been ignored by Government departments. Belinda Vernon’s speech for me, and I’m sure others in the gathering, made it clear just how much Maritime New Zealand have their heads in the sand. Oil-free sand, of course! We were informed that they are fully capable and prepared to take care of any major oil spill from the wreck! Well, unless Maritime New Zealand has invested millions of dollars in vessels capable of containing and removing the oil since the Rena disaster, I would say “you must be dreaming!” I got the impression they are fully aware of the situation but just want it to go away. Why? My guess is money! There is a realisation that what needs to be done in the first instance is a non-intrusive investigation of the ship’s fuel tanks to calculate how much oil remains.

Councillor Mike Lee expresses his concerns re the possible environmental risk that the wreck represents This can most likely be done with a combination of ROVs and divers. Once this is done, the Government will know 100% how big the environmental threat is. What we do know 100% is the wreck is steadily decaying and it is not a matter of WILL the oil be released but WHEN. Let’s hope the Government heeds the warnings and advice from experts and opens its cheque book to have the required investigations done. As we go to press I understand that Conservation Minister the Honourable Eugenie Sage is considering a meeting with Mike Lee & Keith Gordon. The oil’s time bomb is ticking 24/7.

Nicola Everett’s art work is for sale Contact her:

nicolaeverettartist@outlook.com. Or via the Mangawhai Artists Gallery:

www.mangawhaiartists.co.nz The Mangawhai Museum has an excellent display of items recovered from the Niagara, courtesy of Keith Gordon. On display is the ship’s bell, telegraph, speed log and even a replica of the diving bell used to recover the gold. You can step inside and watch a video. A recovered mine is also on display.

Artist Nicola Everett and Keith Gordon finally meet. Keith’s book was a valuable reference tool for Nicola

The quality of the museum’s display is world class and I strongly recommend a visit.

www.divenewzealand.com 17

Photo: Phil Clayton

Freediving depth champs celebrate with records, and inclusive community

eople say freediving is about inward power, discipline and control, and this was acutely evident at Lake Taupo during the 2018 Freediving New Zealand Depth Nationals in March. Both competitive and recreational grade freedivers took part in the three day competition. Many were hoping to walk away with a strong international ranking to take to future competitions. Others, like New Zealander Ryan Hansen, are newer to competitive freediving, and though competing in the same disciplines the rules are more relaxed; they are after the experience without too much pressure. Ryan said: “Having never been to a freediving competition before, going to the depth nationals was quite daunting. However as soon as I arrived I was welcomed and put at ease. The atmosphere was supportive throughout and I learned heaps. I will definitely be back next year.” The stage set this year was at Lake Taupo boasting fresh water visibility around 15 metres and 19 degree C temperatures. The boat was anchored between Motutaiko Island and Moutere Bay to provide shelter from all but the worst weather. Competitors could enter up to

18 Dive New Zealand | Dive Pacific

three disciplines all completed with a single breath of air:

…the truly great thing about competitions such as this is the sense of community… FIM – Free Immersion. You can use the rope to propel yourself down/ up. CWT – Constant Weight, allowing the use of fins, and you must maintain a constant weight for the duration of your dive. CNF – Constant Weight without fins, with a constant weight and no fins. Competitors could choose a different discipline every day, or focus on one and submit the best for their final result. You are required to announce the discipline of your dive and nominate the depth you are attempting to reach. Day One saw almost all competitors perform faultless dives including a National Record for Zimbabwe claimed by Matthew Woods in the Constant Weight No Fins discipline. Tania Rounthwaite, the only female competing, was amongst the most successful, reaching a depth of 41 metres in Free Immersion.

Day Two and the judges again witnessed several strong performances. Competition grade competitor Phil Clayton had another successful day with a dive to 55 metres in the Constant Weight discipline. “I’m really pleased to have been successful again after missing out for a couple of years due to injury. I love the national freediving competitions, especially the depth nationals, catching up with freediving friends from all around the country.” Competition organiser Nick Rhodes believes that while it is incredible to see the competitors’ perform, the truly great part about competitions such as this is the sense of community. “We have freedivers from different parts of the world, and completely different backgrounds, all here with a shared passion for the sport,” he said. “For a sport that requires you to turn inward for strength while diving, there’s a real community vibe at competitions like this.” PADI Regional Manager, Jen Clent, agreed. “In freediving, rather than competitors feeling like they’re competing against one another, there’s a sense they are competing against themselves,” she said.

…In freediving, rather than competitors feeling like they’re competing against one another, there’s a sense they are competing against themselves…

Jack Hamilton being congratulated by fellow Auckland Freediving Club members, Anthony Hafoka and Nicky Toothill of the Safety Team on his 40m FIM dive. “It is so great to see everyone sharing one another’s successes and just as strongly, the disappointment of an early turn or a red card. “It’s really exciting to see the growth of the sport here, both competitively and recreationally, and to play a part in training more PADI Freedivers to dive safely.”

At the end of the event, first time competitor, Bryan Bailey said: "Competing was a huge amount of fun, and watching for the first time how a freediving competition was run was an education and enjoyable. I was able to put my PADI Freediving training into practice from pre dive mental rehearsal through to good technique, even reaching a PB on my CNF dive.”

Bryan Bailey smiling to the audience having had another white card for his last dive of the competition 30m FIM.

The months of planning and organisation for the three day event paid off with a smooth run helped by having an experienced safety and medic team onsite. Head of safety Gemma O’Brien said: “We conducted many hands-on training sessions prior to the competition to ensure we were in the best form to respond to all scenarios. It was also great to see women represented in all aspects of the competition, from competitor to judge and the safety team”. Successful dives ranged from six to 55 metres across both competition and recreational grades; the competition welcomes all levels of diver, and with the rapid growth of freediving, it’s only natural more athletes will join the community of passionate freedivers. www.freediving.co.nz/freedivingnew-zealand-depth-nationals-2018 https://tinyurl.com/ydc937fs

Phil Clayton showing his tag from the bottom plate tag having successfully completed a 55m CWT dive. (Male AIDA grade Winner)

www.divenewzealand.com 19

NEW Z-330 STROBE

Solomon Islands records best-ever year for tourism SIVB look to new Munda air service and 2018 Melanesian Festival as catalysts to increase visitors

Solomon Islands Visitor Bureau team-Victor Sharan, Richard Skewes, Stella Lucas, Josefa Taumoto (CEO) and Mike Parker-Brown

igures for the first 10 months of 2017 show the Solomon Islands have enjoyed the best year ever for tourism numbers. The islands attracted 21,087 international visitors in the period, 13.4% more than in 2016. While 39% of all visitors are from Australia, the Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau (SIVB) is delighted with the ever-growing number of Kiwi arrivals which increased by over 12% for the period. SIVB CEO, Josefa ‘Jo’ Tuamoto released the figures at a luncheon reception in Auckland in March. He said Kiwi numbers were still relatively low, but their considerable effort in 2017 was starting to pay off.

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“Connecting flight schedules from Auckland to Honiara via Brisbane have never been better,” Mr Tuamoto said. And later this year Solomon Airlines will commences a direct Brisbane-Honiara-Munda schedule, thanks largely to the support of the New Zealand government which has played a major role in bringing Munda Airport up to international flight standard.

“This will have a major impact for tourism in our Western Province and particularly Munda, Gizo and the Marovo Lagoon, Mr Tuamoto said. “Add to that 2018 is the year of festivals in the Solomon Islands and New Zealanders visiting our Hapi Isles will be able to experience some of the most colourful and unique cultural celebrations to take place anywhere in the world.” As well as diving events these include spear-throwing and shell money festivals, the Roviana Lagoon Festival, fishing, and cooking events. The biggest event will be the Solomon Islands hosting of the Melanesian festival of Arts and Culture in July over two weeks. “Add to that our world-class diving and surfing, some of the best sports fishing to be had anywhere in the world, our amazing WWII history and a unique living culture, there can be absolutely no doubt whatsoever that the place to be in 2018 is the Solomon Islands,” Mr Tuamoto said. www.visitsolomons.com.sb

Solomon Airlines begin direct weekly flights from Brisbane to Munda starting April 2018

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SOUNDINGS NEWS

Tara Oceans expedition discovers over 100 million genes from the marine world

he Tara Oceans expedition (2009-2013) has collected plankton samples from the world's oceans and the creation of catalogues of species and genes on a scale never before undertaken.

And two articles just published in the journal Nature Communications, (22 and 25 January 2018) explore the role of the genes present in the plankton. Teams from the CEA, CNRS (French National Centre for Scientific Research), EMBL (European Molecular Biology Laboratory) and the French graduate school ENS, among others, have analysed the expression of over 100 million genes belonging to these complex organisms, from microscopic algae to small planktonic animals.

cycles essential for the survival of organisms, including our own. Made up of millions of different species, the complexity of plankton presents a challenge for the understanding of these flows of matter and energy on which all terrestrial life depends.

Largest gene catalogue

To address the challenge the researchers at the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Genoscopeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; have created the largest gene catalogue ever compiled for a planetary ecosystem comprising 117 million different sequences created by isolating the genes expressed in over 400 samples collected during the expedition.

Half of the genes found were previously unknown, indicating that the ocean, a marvellous breeding ground of biodiversity, harbours an enormous potential of genetic functions awaiting discovery. Plankton is made up of very different organisms, the most simple of which (bacteria, viruses) are starting to be genetically recognised. More complex organisms such as algae, parasites or microscopic animals are far less known, even though they represent the vast majority of ocean species.

We depend on it

Plankton, which is the basis of the oceanic food chain, constitutes the largest ecosystem on the planet, and ensures the proper functioning of the biogeochemical

Individual cells were sampled and preserved during the expedition, with their DNA sequenced using 'single-cell' genomics methods. Consequently, it has been possible to attribute numerous genes to very tiny organisms (less than 20 micrometres) feeding off algae and bacteria, and forming a fundamental intermediary stage in the food chain. This analysis has revealed a diversity of unexpected functions, and is an indicator of the specialisation within this compartment of the plankton.

How the oceans work?

They found that genes express themselves very differently depending on the water temperature or the concentration of nutrients in the oceanic areas studied.

Enormous variation

organisms in the environment but which, for the moment, are impossible to cultivate.

The massive DNA sequencing has enabled the observation of genes in specific ecological conditions, for example, to demonstrate that numerous organisms use different genetic responses depending on the concentration of iron in the environment and to determine the genes involved.

Role of millions of genes unknown

The study reveals the biological functions of half of the catalogue of genes obtained remains unknown, and it appears these genes express themselves first and foremost in a small number of environmental conditions.

Which genes for which life functions?

In a second article, the Tara Oceans researchers characterise the genomes of several major

It seems these small organisms are more complex than the bacteria that form most of the oceanic plankton which is only beginning to be identified. The research opens up numerous opportunities to understand oceanic ecology with the help of sentinel genes. For example the research makes it possible to study the major biogeochemical processes of the ocean based on the expression of these markers. As a consequence an understanding of the evolutionary and ecological mechanisms of the ocean ecosystem now seems within reach. The upshot is the Tara Oceans Expedition is providing major elements that describe the role of the ocean as the global climate system or 'machine'. But in order to connect these oceanic genes to global physical phenomena such as the climate, researchers still need to understand under which conditions genes will express themselves, and to which organisms they belong. The horizon is still opening up. www.embl.de/tara-oceans/start/

www.divenewzealand.com 23

Wakatobi's coral kingdom The story behind the pristine and protected reefs

ome know Wakatobi as a luxury dive resort while others refer to it as a region. It is both, but that wasn't always the case. A Swiss national Lorenz Mäder spent years searching the Indo-Pacific for just the right place to build his dream resort. When he came across a small island in the Tukang Besi archipelago of Indonesia’s Banda Sea he knew he'd found the place. The surrounding reefs were among the most dramatic and fecund he'd ever seen, and just inshore, there was a white-sand beach fronting a coconut

Lorenz Mäder, founder of Wakatobi Resort

palm grove. Here in 1995 Lorenz built his dive lodge in the style of a local Indonesian longhouse. He named his dive outpost Wakatobi, a word created by taking the first two letters of the four largest islands in the archipelago: Wangi-Wangi, Kaledupa, Tomia, and Binongko.

Ocean were falling victim to destructive fishing practices such as netting and dynamiting. Rather than quietly sitting by and hoping the local fishermen didn't damage the reefs, Lorenz negotiated an agreement designating a six kilometre section as a no-fishing zone in exchange for lease payments made directly to 17 local villages. This was the beginning of the Collaborative Reef Conservation Programme which has since been expanded to cover 20 km of reef, won numerous awards, and become a model for proactive private sector conservation.

Even as construction began, he was working on a plan that would ensure the future health of the reefs he'd come to love.

Negotiating for conservation At the time, areas of the Indian

… In 2002 the Indonesian government expanded the area … to create the Wakatobi National Park encompassing an expansive 1.39 million hectares of the Tukang Besi island group…

Warty Frogfish (Antennarius maculatus) waving his lure in hopes of catching a meal.

Photo: Walt Stearns

Remote but accessible

24 Dive New Zealand | Dive Pacific

As word of the Wakatobi Dive Resort spread through the diving and underwater photography communities a growing number of adventurous travelers began to make their way to the remote location. Initially the trip took more than 36 hours from Bali, requiring a combination of local flights, land transfers and boat rides. Over time, faster connections were created and, in 2001, a private

Photo: Didi Lotze

The Milkyway over Wakatobi

Photo: Marco Fierli

By Walt Stearns

WAKATOBI

Coral Kingdom

Photo: Walt Stearns

The shallows on either side of the jetty are loaded with small coral heads and marine life

aircraft, and with generous baggage allowances for gear and photo equipment. The resort has since undergone a litany of other enhancements and expansions. From the original longhouse, the property has grown to include a collection of 24 private

bungalows set in a beachfront coconut grove along with four luxury villas right on the shoreline; their decks present magnificent sunset views. Guests now enjoy five-star service and gourmet dining along with amenities such as personal dive guides, private boat charters, spa

Photo: Walt Stearns

airstrip, the Wakatobi Maranggo Runway, was constructed with direct charter flights established to bring guests comfortably and smoothly from Bali to Wakatobi in just two and half hours. Garuda Indonesia Airline now serves the resort with twice-weekly flights aboard a 70-seat

www.divenewzealand.com 25

Photo: Walt Stearns

Beautiful overhangs and swim-troughs are some of the highlights of Wakatobi’s wall dives

services, private beachfront dinners and a range of water sports and land-based activities. A fleet of custom (21m/70ft) dive boats depart daily to more than 40 premier sites within the resort's private marine sanctuary where underwater landscapes range from shallow reef tops to dramatic walls and pinnacles covered in luxuriant growths of sponges, and hard and soft corals. These sites are home to thousands of fish species and invertebrates. In fact, the region is known as the most bio-diverse marine environment on the planet.

Rich diversity Divers and snorkelers can experience this rich diversity right off the resort's beach - Wakatobi's House Reef has been named the world's best shore dive - and it can be accessed day and night. The reef line transitions from grass beds to a coral wall just 80m from shore stretching more than a kilometre east and west. Many guests have spent entire days exploring the House Reef, making treasured finds such as ghost pipefish, leaf scorpionfish, broadclub cuttlefish, six species of clownfish, and a plethora of unique marine

26 Dive New Zealand | Dive Pacific

creatures just metres from the resort jetty.

…Wakatobi's House Reef has been named the world's best shore dive… Lorenz's vision for Wakatobi not only set a precedent for private sector conservation initiatives, it set broader plans in motion, and actually changed the map. In 2002 the Indonesian government expanded the area created by the resort's conservation programme to create the Wakatobi National Park encompassing an expansive 1.39 million hectares of the Tukang Besi island group. Less than a year later these islands became an autonomous region and in the

process chose to adopt a new name: Wakatobi. In 2005 UNESCO listed the Wakatobi National Park as a tentative World Heritage Site which, in 2012, was eventually added to the World Network of Biosphere Reserves. Many see Lorenz as a visionary and forward thinker who initiated one of the world's largest privately-funded and managed marine protected areas. But he often attributes his motives to a more pragmatic goal. As he tells it, “You can’t pack up and move your resort when the diving is no longer good. So it’s better to do what you can to protect it to enjoy it now and in the future.” For more visit www.wakatobi.com Email office@wakatobi.com

An experience without equal “The diving and snorkelling at Wakatobi is outstanding, that’s well known. But also important is the excellent customer service of every staff member. Wakatobi can teach customer service to any industry or organization. You feel at home the first day, and it just gets better every day after that.” ~Steve and Cindy Moore

Stunning ice formation on the sea ice

www.wakatobi.com www.divenewzealand.com 27

Stingray city Return of the ‘annual’ ray aggregation Story and images Dave Abbott

Short-tail rays reach a massive size and often come extremely close to divers!

his summer has seen the return of the famous Northern Arch stingray aggregation at the Poor Knights Islands, a spectacular occurrence that has seen divers flocking to the iconic site.

When it comes to seeing stingrays underwater, it doesn’t get any more impressive than diving with the Northern Arch aggregation, something I last experienced between 1999 and 2001.

The return of the rays after nearly 18-years even made the news, and in contrast to the usual summer media reports of people being 'attacked' (read ‘stepping on them and getting 'spiked'), the coverage this year was all positive.

…The prevalent theory is that this is a meeting place for males and females to find a mate, a sort of speed dating site…

Stingrays are actually mellow creatures that tend to mind their own business, and incidents involving injuries are usually a self-defense reaction to being crowded or stepped on. Underwater, where both animal and diver can see each other, rays are a relatively safe creature to encounter, and getting close to one is usually painless and enjoyable.

28 Dive New Zealand | Dive Pacific

This is a surreal experience drifting through the middle of the narrow 40m deep archway, the silvery surface 20m above, the bottom 20m below and the whole blue space filled from top to bottom with large black stingrays stacked layer upon layer like squadrons of stealth bombers gliding back and forth. Why do they congregate there? The prevalent theory is that it is a meeting place for male and female rays to find a mate, a sort of speed

dating site! This is backed up by the number of females we see with fresh mating scars, scrapes and bite marks on their wings. Strangely though, despite diving in the Arch a lot over the peak years, and even doing several night dives hoping to film rays mating, I never saw a pair in the act. I did notice however that the rays dispersed out from the Arch at night, so perhaps mating happens out over the deep sand or reef terrain. Interestingly during mating season the teeth of mature male stingrays change shape and become sharper to aid in gripping the females during the act of copulation, a clever adaptation for a creature built like a slippery frisbee. The closest I came to seeing rays mate was while filming for ‘Our Big Blue Backyard’ in 2014 when a male was attempting to mate with an unwilling and bad-tempered female.

After being rejected the frustrated male then swam over and rubbed up against me until he realized his mistake…luckily for me! In the peak year, 1999, I witnessed upward of 70 rays stacked in the Arch on days with a good current; the summers of 2000 and 2001 were

…During mating season the teeth of mature male stingrays change shape and become sharper to aid in gripping the females during the act of copulation… also big stingray years. After 2001 however the numbers dropped off dramatically to only 10 to 15 rays at a time, then subsequently down to just

Northern Arch, beautiful from the surface but giving no hint of the spectacle underneath

5 to 10 on a good day. Until January this year with up to 30 or 40 rays back in the Arch. There are lots of theories why they have not been around in large numbers for the past 18 years. One of the favourites is that Orca scared them away after several occasions during 2001 where Orca stopped by

the Poor Knights to feed on them. They definitely left a few scared rays and a lot of ‘ray apple cores.’ But undermining this theory is that they returned to normal numbers in subsequent years everywhere else around the islands, other than in the Northern Arch. I think it is a safe bet Orca have hunted rays around

Encounter with an extremely rare white ray (not an albino) in Northern Arch nearly 20 years ago

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the ‘Knights on and off for a very long time, and the sporadic times they pass through the reserve is not enough evidence to say they drove the rays away for nearly 20 years. A more likely-factor is the disturbance caused by concentrated diver numbers visiting Northern Arch to dive with them during their aggregation period; it doesn’t take many divers blowing bubbles to turn the archway into a 40m deep spa pool with a bubble curtain from top to bottom! The rays react to bubbles quite strongly tending to move out of the arch until the bubbles thin out again. So it is possible that after a few years of this they sought somewhere else to meet up.

…the whole blue space filled from top to bottom with large black stingrays stacked layer upon layer… Naturally with the stingray aggregation such a spectacular sight it is a major attraction for divers to the Poor Knights – myself included! It’s an event none of us want to miss, so implementing a few simple measures to minimize ‘diver disturbance’ at this one, specific dive site would help ensure the rays continue to come back year after year for us divers to enjoy.

A short-tail ray shows off his white belly in the arch

Perhaps it’s worth trying things like spreading out the timing of dive boats at the ‘Arch so there is an hour or so between dives to give the rays some ‘alone time’; encouraging divers to hang in

Long-tail rays are the other common species seen at the Poor Knights and are generally seen on sandy patches in ones and twos

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the archway entrances rather than right in the middle of the Arch; suggesting divers do this particular dive in small groups, and making people aware that freediving/ snorkeling with the rays can be just as spectacular as scuba diving with them. Actually it can be a more interactive experience than on scuba as the rays barely move aside for divers who are not blowing bubbles. Something I filmed back in1999 and 2000 and haven’t seen in this latest recurrence of the stingray aggregation at Northern Arch are the two pure white rays that used to occasionally show up amongst all the regular dark stingrays – a surreal sight! I often wonder what happened to them and whether we will ever have another white ray show up at the ‘Knights…obviously they are an extremely rare morph. Black or white, I’m crossing my fingers the rays show up in big numbers again next summer!

Stingray squadron silhouetted against the blue

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The rays at Northern Arch are Short tail rays, the largest of the three common ray species in New Zealand at up to 300kg and 2.5M across. They are viviparous meaning they give birth to live young, and feed on a variety of benthic invertebrates - shellfish, crabs etc. The other two species frequently seen by divers are Eagle rays and Long tailed rays, though there are also a number of other ray species in our waters including Skate, Torpedo (electric) rays, and in the summer months the two visiting pelagic ray species, Devil rays and Manta rays.

FIJI

Tourism Fiji moves to revitalise its dive tourism Story and photos by Mike Scotland

My buddy, Laura poses near the mast of the wreck of the Tasu Two off Waidroka resort

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ast month I was lucky to be invited to sample seven resorts in a wonderful whirlwind tour of diving and resort living. Our group of 11 from New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong and Germany met in Nadi to head off on the massive Captain Cook cruise boat early on Day One. They run four, seven and 11 day cruises with one or two dives a day. The 11 day cruise heads east to the Lau group and looks like a grand adventure!

The golden dreams of Voli Voli Our first dive - Golden Dreams at Voli Voli - was with Ra divers on the north side of Fiji and we were promised five Ghost Pipe Fish but got lucky and found eight, including one of the rare Hairy Robust Ghost Pipe fish. Voli Voli, owned by the Darling family from Christchurch, is being rebuilt to an even higher standard after cyclone Winston hit it, with more luxury family units and accommodation catering for groups of up to six in total privacy and luxury. The gardens on each Vale are very beautiful. Nick, the manager, says they are still celebrating their Excellence in Tourism award for quality accommodation.

Dreams. It’s a real knockout dive with swim throughs and caverns and walls of soft coral. Even with overcast light presenting a challenge, these stunning soft coral gardens were hypnotic; so colourful and attractive. In full sunshine this is an underwater photographer’s paradise. In the morning we dived on Rob’s Rock, and while, Gerldine and the author at the new reception at Voli Voli thankfully, I am not me was the Pygmy Sea Horse, especially OCD, there were Hippocampus severnsi, found by our fish here in the many millions. dive guide. These are identical to the Counting them would take years. H. pohntoi and this was the second Rivers of Glass fish, juvenile time I have seen one in Fiji. Damselfish covered at least 10 reefs, at 20 metres schools of trevally, two types of barracuda, a pair of Grey Reef sharks and Golden Trevally swimming around. I saw two groups of Lizardfish in aggregations, At Uprising Resort, James, the possibly mating aggregations since manager, showed us over. This is otherwise you rarely see more than where the Fijian Sevens train. Major two together. Our final dive there renovations are underway, to lift the was on the awesome Wheatfields resort to the next level. where some of the Yellow Soft Coral had been destroyed in Cyclone In the morning we dived with Winston two years ago. But the coral the Bull Sharks, hosted by Beqa walls at 19m were still bright with Adventure Divers (BAD). We met the colour of many life forms. many Bull sharks at 10m, lots of Grey Reef sharks at 15m, then Black The big highlight of this dive for tips at five metres. BAD have a

Uprising Resort at Pacific Harbour

In the morning we set off for the famous Mellow Yellow dive site with its stunning coral gardens and coral windows and where, nearby at Chile, I found a coral Window of Dreams. For keen underwater photographers, Chile is a dive to capture those stunning model photos. It has so much colour and fish life, a vivid reminder of the incredible underwater panoramas Fiji is famous for. These reefs are so beautiful and photogenic.

Wananavu Resort We took the bus to Wananavu Resort just a few kilometres away, a lovely garden resort in the shelter of a bay. Without drawing a breath, we headed out for a dive. The first was Amazing Maze, west of Nanuya Island and not far from Golden

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The beach at Wananavu

The sculpture at Pearl

well-organised mangrove restoration programme underway too, to rebuild Fiji’s fish sanctuaries.

The Pearl Resort Pearl Resort is just a few kilometres along the road, and here we stayed in the brand new wing. Sheer luxury! Outside is a massive metal sculpture of a giant Bird of Paradise about four metres tall and holding a pearl. I thought it one of the most impressive sculptures I have ever seen. There we dived with Aqua Trek Shark dive in 20m. Everyone liked this one because we had longer bottom time and the chance to have more time up close and personal with loads of Bull Sharks, Lemon Tawny Nurse and Silver Tip sharks. I am a strong advocate of shark feeding as it benefits the sharks as well as educating divers while creating a platform for a lot of invaluable scientific research. Brandon, the owner, informed us about the individual personalities of the Bulls. One, a timid girl, loves a

pat; another is a surly gruff bovver boy needing constant reprimands. The dive guides keep the sharks in check constantly and the whole operation is very safe. In fact they have maintained a perfect safety record for more than 18 years.

Waidroka Resort Back on the bus we’re off to Waidroka Resort, a beautiful garden resort with fabulous views on the

South West coast. Lorna and Andy ‘made’ us do an afternoon dive. Actually the truth is that we begged him to take us out and so they did. Canadian dive instructor Christine is very positive and enthusiastic and really good at what she does. We dived an excellent hard coral garden in the late evening light and where I flashed my torch onto Blue Damselfish to see its many shades of opalescent colour sparkling like

My buddy Laura from Melbourne with a huge Moray Eel at the Aqua Trek shark dive

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View from Waidroka

jewels. A family of eight Long Nosed Leatherjackets turned up, along with loads of Butterfly fish and other reef fish. Next day we dived the Seven Sister sand the Tasu Two wreck. Again, we were reminded this is an underwater photographer’s paradise. The walls and caverns are simply splendid, filled with whip corals, soft corals and Fan corals - a Disneyland bright cartoon in the raw. Christine had told us to look out for the jet Black Giant Anglerfish on the Tasu Two wreck which I found almost immediately, so I signalled my buddies to come in for a photo. The wreck is covered in formations of bright coral, especially on the mast.

Dive Fiesta It was a bit sad washing up the dive gear for the last time. We were off to Denarau for the formal dive fiesta meetings, but we managed to fit in

a PADI Instructors update seminar with New Zealand manager, Deb. The final day was given over to practice speed dating - we interviewed 10 dive resorts on their diving operations, and they gave us their best! Topping off the trip was a cocktail hour at the Sheraton followed by dinner, a 95 course meal of wonderful Fijian food. The dive fiesta was a great success, well organised and highly professional. A huge thankyou to Josefa Waivou and Salman Aziz from Tourism Fiji for putting on such a good show.

Excitement is coming right up close to two magnificent female Bull sharks, Carcharius leucas

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I would like to thank especially Fiji Airways, Tourism Fiji and all of the resorts that hosted us Participating resorts and hotels included: • Novotel Nadi • Voli Voli • Wananavu resort • Smugglers Cove • Uprising Resort • Beqa Adventure Dive • The Pearl and Aqua Trek Shark • Waidroko Resort, and • The Sheraton in Denarau • Fiji Airways provided the flights

Perfect dental hygiene?

Take your seat, Sir, I’ll be right with you Text by Roland Hanewald, images by Uwe Jacobs

re you aware of the questionable substances you put in your mouth every morning? Brushing your teeth is of course basic hygiene, part of the daily ritual, such as going to the john. But in most cases you fill your oral cavity with a

most unappetizing goo containing, among other stuff, palm oil derivatives, for which the world’s jungles are put to the torch, various calcium compounds to grind your enamel clean (and off), paste to keep everything pasty, chemicals to produce

Excuse me, may I? Open wide!

foam, giving the illusion something important is happening, and more essences to make everything smell and taste nice and clean, so you can imagine emerging from the experience newly born.

Lemme see… Doesn’t look too bad…

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Ah, here’s the place, let me get to it

There may be a little spot down there. Wait…

Good news! Help is standing by! There are alternatives to this chemical assault for divers! Frogmen and women can entrust their choppers to cleaner shrimp, in the certain knowledge that these tiny sanitary technicians will make their teeth shine, mopped to perfection. Even places where no toothbrush can reach will not go undetected by the pinhead eyes of these tireless wee helpers. Moreover the procedure is ecologically sound; it leaves no harmful effluents. And it is absolutely painless and costs nothing. Not a cent.

Dare devil dwarves You have probably seen these cute little critters during dives in tropical waters applying their tiny tools to the teeth of large fish like morays or groupers, without displaying the least hint of fear. They know - if shrimp can be said to ‘know’ anything - that their hosts are very happy with the treatment they get, and never think (if they can ‘think’), that their host might snap at that easy-to-get morsel at their mouths. For the shrimp a tooth it seems is a tooth. It doesn’t necessarily have to belong to a big fish. As soon as a diver flashes a grin, minus a mouthpiece of course, an eager servant will appear on the scene, attentive and fearless. Neither does the patient have to worry about the little animal getting lodged in his gullet; they won’t enter those deadly recesses even when working on a fish. Whenever the diver needs to take a gulp of air, the shrimp will politely move aside, get out of the way, and be right back afterwards. In the end the result will be a radiant smile, augmented even more by germ-killing seawater. Scientists should perhaps consider how we might transfer and resettle these useful little helpers in our bathrooms. They are very cheap to maintain and only tickle a bit.

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You see — doesn’t hurt a bit; hardly even tickles

All done. Faultlessly clean choppers!

TAHITI

Tahiti, slice of paradise Story and Images by Dave Abbott except where otherwise credited

Part I of two parts: Tahiti and Moorea For a diver, French Polynesia has it all: crystal clear blue water, loads of sparsely-inhabited islands with healthy coral reefs, vast lagoons and current-swept passes, prolific fish life, Humpback whales, and bucket-loads of sharks!

ahiti really is a slice of paradise. Sculptured mountain peaks draped in lush green jungle fall away to turquoise lagoons so clear it’s hard to believe they have water in them. Ring reefs separate white sand from the cobalt blue water just outside, the darker shade hinting at the depth of the water even this close to shore. In fact the average ocean depth throughout French Polynesia is 2900m and even the short 16 kilometre passage between Tahiti and Moorea reaches 2000m. Oceanic water so close to shore means whales cruise by in season within sight of the airport, not to mention sharks and other large pelagics. French Polynesia has 118 islands divided into six archipelagos, most with airstrips and small dive resorts, all with clear water teeming with life, and many, many sharks. The whole of the country is actually a shark sanctuary, the largest

protected area for them in the world, so it is no surprise the diving in Tahiti is some of the best I have ever experienced anywhere.

… It’s impressive enough being in the midst of 40 or 50 fastmoving sharks but the real highlight comes when the Tigers show up…

pass’ allows you to dive at any of 12 dive centres spread across seven different islands, an excellent way to get an overview of French Polynesia underwater. They have Nitrox fills at all dive centres and good quality equipment available. All the Top Dive staff I met were competent, friendly and laid-back ...one of their Tahitian skippers even played his ukulele for us in the surface intervals!

My first introduction to Tahiti was two years ago while filming for a National Geographic documentary about shark aggregations. On that trip we spent 10 days in Fakarava at one of French Polynesia’s most famous shark diving sites, filming in the Tetamanu Pass where 800 sharks congregate!

Diving the island of Tahiti

On this latest trip I was in Tahiti for two weeks, the first with one of Tahiti’s biggest dive companies, Top Dive. Their handy ‘10-dive

I had never associated Tahiti with wreck diving, and there are few wrecks here compared to other parts of the Pacific, but the ‘Catalina and

My first few dives around the ‘main island’ were within a half hour boat ride from Papeete…it was quite surreal surfacing from a dive teeming with sharks to see a plane coming in to land just overhead, or a ferry heading over to Moorea.

Catalina and cargo ship

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Photo: Etienne Menager

Moorea

Our writer Dave encounters a playful Humpback whale calf

Being approached by a grinning Lemon shark backed up by his 'evil henchmen' Cargo ship’ dive off Papeete is a must. The WWII Catalina flying boat was sunk in 1964 on a sand bottom in approximately 15m of water; 55 years later it’s still in great condition. Just a short swim away from the Catalina is an older wreck, a cargo

schooner largely rotted away, leaving just an eerie timber skeleton like the ribcage of a dinosaur. Ranging between 12 and 25m deep this wreck has good schools of fish around it and even a couple of grumpy-looking resident Stonefish, not something you want to put your hand on by mistake.

White Valley La Vallee Blanche (White Valley) is a fantastic dive that I did several times, a wide gut with a rubble and sand bottom around 16-20m depth where dozens of sharks aggregate amongst the coral bommies. The first thing you see as you descend into the valley is a ball of Yellow

You can’t beat being surrounded by sharks...rush hour in Tahiti!

40 Dive New Zealand | Dive Pacific

Photo: Anthony Berberian

Our author Dave playing with the stingrays in Moorea lagoon snapper then, as the small bait cage is lowered, a swirling ‘sharknado’ of Grey reef sharks and Blacktips forms, while Nurse sharks, Whitetips and Lemon sharks prowl the bottom. It’s impressive enough being in the midst of 40 or 50 fast-moving sharks but the real highlight comes when the Tigers show up. Big, measured and calm with subtle striped flanks,

they cruise through the smaller sharks like a truck on a Go-kart track, their broad square heads carving a path.

… the diving in Tahiti is some of the best I have ever experienced anywhere… My best Tiger shark dives came in the second week when diving with

a friend, super close encounters with a large Tiger which repeatedly came within inches of my camera, yet never felt intimidating. They are such beautiful animals!

Moorea Moorea may only be a short 45 min trip from Papeete on the fast ferry but it is quite different to Tahiti, wilder, feeling more ‘Tahitian’ and

This near-intact Catalina Flying Boat has been lying on the bottom since 1964

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Photo: Etienne Menager

Big, bold, and beautifully marked, a Tahitian Tiger shark less French. It has no main town just a series of small villages spread along the one main road circumnavigating the island. The scenery is stunning and Moorea is one of the best places to encounter Humpback whales over the ‘winter’ months; most dives come with a backdrop of whale-song.

seven big Lemon sharks circling me like a pack of dogs looking for a snack!

Whales, turtles and Lemon sharks

Another great thing to do while in Moorea is snorkel with the Stingrays and Blacktip sharks in the crystal clear lagoon. It’s only a couple of metres deep but you are quickly surrounded by 20 or 30 friendly rays looking for a handout. They offer

I had some unforgettable free-dives with whales off Moorea, both with solo ‘singing’ males, and with females and calves. Humpbacks calves are often very curious and it’s very special to have an animal weighing several tons come over to ‘play’! There is also some nice reef diving around Moorea with turtles very common. I saw two or three on nearly every dive, and loved the way they peered around like bleary eyed old men that have just woken up. One of the best dives in Moorea though was the Lemon Shark Hole which, no surprise, is famous for its Lemon sharks. I really enjoyed diving with them; there is something about their twin dorsal fins, cold cat eyes and fixed toothy grin that gives them a sneaky look. Staying behind with the sharks to film while the group went off, I ended up with

42 Dive New Zealand | Dive Pacific

… Humpbacks calves are often very curious and it’s very special to have an animal weighing several tons come over to ‘play’…

great photo opportunities, especially to get that iconic half-and-half shot of a stingray with tropical forest behind. Although sorry to leave Moorea I was also excited about what was next on the agenda, flying to Rangiroa in the Tuamoto’s to dive the famous Tiputa Pass with its roaring current. I will cover that in the next article, along with Fakarava’s famous ‘walls of sharks,’ more Tiger shark encounters, and free-diving with the whales!

etting there: Air Tahiti Nui is the national airline and has a direct flight from Auckland G to Papeete which takes 5 hours, just enough to watch a couple of movies and have a nice meal. My flight with Air Tahiti Nui was one of the best ever: amazing food, super friendly staff, and very roomy comfortable seats. If you fly a lot you know that is a big deal. One of the great things about Air Tahiti Nui (and a policy I would love to see all airlines adopt) is that on top of the normal baggage allowance, you can check-in an additional dive bag up to 23kg free of charge. This is a huge advantage for dive travellers because, as you may know, keeping dive gear, camera and other equipment under 23kg is next to impossible. The airline also has a partnership with Tahiti's domestic carrier, Air Tahiti, and consequently can offer the best value flights to those smaller islands dive destinations within the archipelago. This year is the airline's 20th anniversary, and in November they are introducing a new fleet of B787 Dreamliners. I am really looking forward to my next trip to French Polynesia with Air Tahiti Nui!

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BACK IN THE DAY With this issue Dive magazine is launching a new column, on what diving used to be like, back in the day. And to give it a strong kick off, with this edition we’re running two items, both about and from New Zealand diving legend, explorer, pioneer, writer, author and photographer, Wade Doak. On this page is a reprint of a notice that appeared in Wade’s magazine in 1968; overleaf there’s Wade’s account of what it was like to be photographer underwater back in the day. An extract from Wade Doak’s magazine DIVE South Pacific Underwater Issue Volume 8, # 5 Year - 1968

Elingamite Treasure Coin Sets

in sets of three denominations: shillings, florin and half crown.

In an illustrated folder depicting the history of this famous shipwreck and their bullion recovered, the coins are presented

These sterling silver English coins all bear signs of their long immersion, part of a reef of coins estimated to weigh 1½ tons, still buried within the wreck 150 feet down. The souvenir sets cost

limited number of treasure coins recovered by the ‘Elingamite’ Syndicate divers in 1968 is offered for sale.

$10.00 post free in New Zealand (overseas add 50 cents). Cheques, money orders etc, should be made out to the: ’Elingamite’ Syndicate C/- Dive Mag. Also available is Wade Doak’s book, The Elingamite and her treasure. $3.50 plus postage.

Similar to the original 1968 certificate but with one coin. This was offered by John Pettit who was on the original expedition when people bought his book Treasure Below (2008).

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BACK IN THE DAY DIVING IN RETROSPECT

Major Paper Nautilus invasion captures photographer By Wade Doak All photos by Wade Doak taken in the 1970â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s on film

ack in the seventies and armed with a commission from National Geographic I met a squadron of Paper Nautilus swimming in a cul de sac by the Northern Arch (at the Poor Knights). They just started to wobble and didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t flee. Others, at the Pinnacles, were nestled among the rocks, squirting babies out of their syphons. I had a camera orgy. (see images on these pages). I began taking undersea photos with a Rolleimarin in the late fifties up in New Caledonia. Today my ancient, 40-odd year old image archive consists of two and a quarter inches square (6x6 cm) pictures taken on something we called 'film.' I used an expensive Rolleiflex twin lens reflex camera in a tough and heavy Hans Hass Rolleimarin housing made of thick metal and I had to crank the film forward after each shot. On each dive, and I worked to around 200 feet, I could expose only one dozen images. I lit them by exploding magnesium wire coiled

46 Dive New Zealand | Dive Pacific

Doug Meredith caught two nautilus at once. When pursued, they flee rapidly but once cornered among the rocks they give themselves up, just wobbling erratically as if overcome with terror. in a small glass bulb with a pulse of high voltage electricity from a capacitor powered by a battery. Then I had to replace the flash bulb.

Quite expensive and maddening having to wait for the film to be processed. It was sent away and returned by parcel post in

In a grotto at three metres, on the side of a steep undersea cliff face, the female nautilus rests while releasing her young. Eggs within the shell case are hatching and the tiny live nautili are being jetted out into the surrounding water, with each pulsation of the female argonaut’s siphon. packages that sometimes went missing… Making duplicates for publishing was another problem… Expensive for good quality dupes and you risked total mail loss of your very best, most precious best shots. A real dilemma. And it happened… My mate Jerry lost forty rolls. But I illustrated the first ever

undersea books on New Zealand fishes and marine invertebrates with images made this way. And illustrated our adventures aboard R.V. 'El Torito' in the South Pacific and my books about encounters with dolphins and whales. But ahhhh - the digital age: you can now take hundreds of pictures (or video) on a single dive with a

tiny plastic GoPro digital camera not much bigger than a match box and review them for success on the spot. Then you come home and enjoy a slideshow (or movies) on a big TV screen, print them out, or send them per satellite to friends around the globe. Softies!

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Christmas Island A gift that keeps on giving for divers

our first sight of Christmas Island will likely be from the plane - steep volcanic slopes bedecked with lush green foliage rising from a turquoise sea. You can tell it’s going to be special even from this height, but it’s at sea level you’ll quickly find the wildlife and the scenery, above and below water, is something else again. While Christmas Island is famous for the mass migration of millions of red land crabs moving en masse from the forest to the ocean once a year it has plenty of other marine action to sink your claws into. Christmas Island is the top of an extinct, steep sided volcano that rises 6,000m from the sea floor located 360km south of Java in the Indian Ocean, 10° south of the equator, with abundant sunshine and nutrient-rich up-wellings. Steep-sided walls are covered in pristine coral reefs down to 20 to 30m where great gorgonian sea fans take over. Conditions like this are perfect for all kinds of fish; from the smallest to the

48 Dive New Zealand | Dive Pacific

largest, the whale shark. Christmas Island boasts about 650 identified species.

…On the near-vertical walls, the fusiliers stream up and down in search of plankton, and in the pocillopora coral heads, humbugs and hawkfish play hide and seek with divers… The coral reefs are home to great shoals of herbivores, and parrotfish, surgeons and unicornfish working their way along the corals on every dive. On the near-vertical walls, the fusiliers stream up and down in search of plankton, and in the pocillopora coral heads, humbugs and hawkfish play hide and seek with divers. Dive sites are all the way around the island; not all are steep walls. Some bays have shallow reefs sloping down to the drop-off. In sheltered areas feather stars congregate creating small and colourful meadows, and it’s here that turtles are often found

Cove Rock Photo: William Patino

resting. Giant morays hiding amongst the corals and rocks keep watch, as wrasse, rabbitfish and titan triggers cruise by. Christmas Island has its share of caverns and caves easily explored by divers who can surface inside the caverns to see great stalactites hanging above them. There is no urban pollution from the island; being 300km from any neighbour means the waters are exceptionally clear. It is often possible to see reef sharks and eagle rays patrolling 20m below. Being steep-sided allows deep water pelagics to come in close to the shoreline where divers are often treated to some exceptional, though often brief, encounters with ocean going manta rays, scalloped Hammerhead sharks and whale sharks. This occurs particularly towards the end of the annual red crab migration when the abundance of crab larvae in the water attracts them to the island. At the surface, the local pod of spinner

GUADALCANAL CHRISTMAS ISLAND

dolphins seem to recognise the sound of the dive boat’s engine and will come over to play for a while in its bow wave, usually hanging around long enough for you to grab a mask and snorkel and join them in the water. Even snorkelling from the beach in Flying Fish Cove it’s possible to count 60 species of marine life in 60 minutes.

…Being steep-sided allows deep water pelagics to come in close to where divers are often treated to some exceptional encounters with ocean going manta rays, scalloped Hammerhead sharks and whale sharks… Christmas Island can be dived year round as the waters are warm (26-29°C), there’s very little current, and there’s always a lee shore somewhere if the wind is blowing.

Signature dive sites Spend a few days on the island and you are bound to visit these signature dive sites.

Frigatebird Photo: Yvonne McKenzie

Perpendicular Wall Perpendicular Wall falls away almost vertically a few metres from the surface with corals leaning out as far as they can to catch the sunlight. Large gorgonians extend at right angles to the wall to catch as much as they can from passing currents, in a riot of colour teeming with fusiliers which seem to take great pleasure in vertically schooling up and down the

wall while the other reef fish travel horizontally along it. The dive starts under an overhang with fantastic sea fans then falls away towards the north-west tip of the island. The wall literally teems with life: great coral and shoals of fish both small and big. Keep your eye out in the blue; whalesharks, hammerheads, reef sharks and other pelagics love

Reef Photo: Tobias Friedrich

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Thundercliff Photo: Tobias Friedrich

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Whaleshark Photo: Kirsty Faulkner

Perpendicular Wall as much as divers!!

Thundercliff Cave In fact there’s more than just one cave; it’s a system of caves you can follow deep inside the island. But most divers visit the first two: a big open chamber with stunning blue light streaming through the entrance; and a second cave beyond and accessible via the first. Surfacing within the air-filled cavern, stalagmites and stalactites cast silhouettes on the walls. A rocky platform serves as a handy exit point - divers can remove their gear and walk back through the underground cave following a brackish water stream where, after 50m, there’s a pool of water and, turning off the torchlight, a milky way of light is revealed. Lantern fish create a spectacular light show making it appear as if the night sky is being reflected upside down. Returning to the cave entrance, the

Manta Photo: Steve Fraser

sun’s rays are filtering through the iridescent blue of the Indian Ocean and framed by the cave’s sweepers which call the cave entrance home. Outside there is a flatter reef at about 12m with lots of the usual reef suspects: leatherjackets, several

…Flying Fish Cove rates as one of the best shore dives in the world, and one you can easily do on your own…

Flying Fish Cove Christmas Island’s Flying Fish Cove rates as one of the best shore dives in the world, and one you can easily do on your own, with a tank rented from one of the local dive operators. And it’s more or less in the centre of town. Step into the turquoise water from the beach of the boat ramp, and within a few metres you are surrounded by

pristine coral gardens. Or for a more adventurous dive, drop in at night. Jump off the end of the jetty, and follow the sand patch out until you hit the drop off. Turn left and work your way along the reef down the drop off to about 18m. After 20 minutes work your way back along the reef until you reach the sandy floor, then turn sharp right towards the shore line, working your way back along the sandy shallows and navigating back to the jetty, which at night, is lit up like airport landing lights to guide you back in.

Getting there: Virgin Australia fly to Christmas Island from Perth twice a week. A Garuda Charter service flies from Jakarta every Saturday. Diving: Two full service operators: ExtraDivers Christmas Island, and Wet’n’Dry Adventures – booking ahead is essential Water temperature: 27°C or more When to go: The diving is great all year round. The dry season is April – November Currency: Australian Dollar. EFTPOS facilities are available but it's a good idea to bring some cash. A Westpac bank is available during business hours Accommodation: The Sunset is mid-range and has a lovely ocean front swimming pool – www.thesunset.cx Cocos Padang Lodge is a set of self-contained units great for groups – www.cocospadanglodge.cx Travel Insurance: This is one destination travel insurance is highly recommended Further information: www.christmas.net.au

www.divenewzealand.com 51

GEARBAG

OLYMPIC PRO DIVER 300 METRE SWISS MADE MOVEMENT WATCH

Olympic dive watches set standard Two models in stock, the 200m water resistant model 2741 priced at $199, and the 300m water resistant unit 28534 “Pro Diver” at $399. Their 316L marine grade stainless steel cases feature one-way rotating bezels, extra thick mineral glasses, screw-down crowns and luminous dials. Inside the Olympic dive watches you will find a high quality Swiss designed Ronda watch movement, and they are completed with a silicon rubber strap that provides greater comfort, durability and the strength required for a tough diving conditions. STAINLESS STEEL CASE, SWISS MADE RONDA MOVEMENT, P.U. SILICON STRAP, LUMINOUS DIAL & HANDS, SCREW DOWN CROWN, DAY & DATE, ONE WAY ROTATING BEZEL, 300 METRES WATER RESISTANT.

www.olympicwatch.com Newer for longer!

Nauticam housing for Nikon D850 Camera

SWISS WATCHES

Both still and video photographers will appreciate the outstanding specifications of the D850. It is fast becoming the choice of serious underwater photographers. The Nauticam NA-D850 is the latest release in the world's finest line of underwater camera housings. Nauticam is the market leader in ergonomics, build quality, and reliability. Built on a foundation of innovative product design and modern manufacturing technology, NA-D850 is the ultimate accessory for the exciting new Nikon D850 camera. Depth rated to: 100m

Price: $6249.00

Comes with full manufactures warranty and New Zealand back-up service Trade enquiries welcome p: 09 521 0684 e: info@seatech.co.nz w: www.seatech.co.nz

Fantasea housing for Sunny Sony a6500 and a6300 cameras Price: $1450.00 Comes with full manufactures warranty and New Zealand backup service

• Depth rated to 60m/200 feet • Made from durable injection moulded Polycarbonate • Access to all essential camera controls and functions with clearly labelled controls • Shock resistant • Double O-ring protection for a perfect watertight seal • M16 port for a variety of connections, including HDMI, vacuum valve or electronic strobe triggering • Double fibre optic cable port • Removable anti-glare hood for the LCD screen • Moisture Detector and Alarm • Interchangeable lens port and lens gear accessories are available, allowing for the use of a wide range of lenses • Additional optional housing accessories are available Prices current till 31st May 2018

Trade enquiries welcome.

www.seatech.co.nz

52 Dive New Zealand | Dive Pacific

All products come with full manufacturer’s warranties & New Zealand back-up service

New Zero-Gravity BC system launched In January Atlantis launched their Zero-Gravity BC System, a stylish buoyancy compensator that combines a fully adjustable gravity harness with a 14kg (30 lb) lift Zero wing to create a versatile buoyancy compensator suitable for any environment. Features include: • Gravity harness & Zero wing, sold separately or as a unit. • Rugged 1000 denier construction. • The internal air cell is coated with “TPU” (Thermal Poly Urethane) to improve strength and durability. • Gravity harness has two tank straps which can accommodate up to 4 weight trim pockets (sold separately). • Fully adjustable shoulder & chest straps for custom fit. • Integrated padded back pack for extra comfort. • Sternum strap for improved fitting. (removable). • 30 lb (14kg) lift capacity. • Fitted with 5 stainless steel D-Rings. • Non-Fade solution dyed materials helping the BC look newer for longer! DIVING IS OUR PASSION TOO Available in 3 sizes: SIZE Small Medium Large HEIGHT 160-177cm 172- 185cm 175-195cm WEIGHT 60-85kg 75-95kg 90-115kg

Complete BC SRP: $745 Available from all Atlantis dealers https://www.splash.co.nz/dealers or phone 09 475 0071

Specialist Orcatorch’s top seller ORCATORCH Technology Ltd has been making high performance dive torches and other LED flashlights since 2006. For instance a top seller, the D550, is a palmsized diving light with a max output of 1000 lumens, superb colour rendition, and a max runtime up to two hours. It qualifies for both recreational diving as a primary light and deep diving as a backup light.

www.orcatorch.com

New Mercury 150hp Pro XS Four Stroke Outboard Mercury Marine has created a new 150 Pro XS FourStroke to maintain its reputation for superior hole shot, top-end speed, and durability, claiming the engine is the quickest, lightest and most advanced high output outboard in its class. It weighs 207kgs, 9kgs lighter than the nearest competitor, and displaces 3.0L, the largest displacement in the 150hp category, plus several other advantages. Mercury has also expanded its V6 FourStroke and SeaPro outboards with an unveiling at the 2018 Miami International Boat Show,.New engines include 175hp, 200hp and 225hp FourStroke outboards and a V6 200hp SeaPro commercial outboard. All four are built on Mercury’s new 3.4 litre V6 platform, lightweight and fuel efficient.

www.mercurymarine.com

www.divenewzealand.com 53

GEARBAG Drone control and live streaming now a reality Raymarine’s AXIOM Pro owners can now control a UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle or drone) direct from their MFD while live streaming video and high quality still photos from the air. Or they can instruct the drone to hold station, altitude and direction from the boat while it is underway, to circle for an all-round birds-eye view, or head off into the distance to see whether a flock of birds are taking part in a nearby work-up. The new technology is expected to be available this autumn and on display at the Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show in Auckland in May.

www.lusty-blundell.co.nz

BigBlue TL4500P - LED Tech Light • Lumen light levels: 450, 1125, 2250 & 4500 lumens • Burn Time: 20 hrs @ level 1; 8 hrs @ 2; 4 hrs @ 3; 2 hrs @ 4 • Aluminium alloy, anti-corrosive anodized • Rechargeable Li-Ion Battery Pack • Double o-ring sealed • Light Beam: 10 degrees • Colour Temperature: 6500K • 100 Meters tested • Size: (Head) Dia. 72 x L. 88.3 mm (Canister) Dia. 55 x L. 181.5 mm • Switching System: Push-button with battery indicator • Tempered optical glass • Lantern handle & Hand glove Comes with full manufactures warranty and New Zealand back-up service Price: 530.00 All Sea Tech products comes with full manufactures warranty and New Zealand back-up service.

Prices current till 31st May 2018

Trade enquiries welcome.

www.seatech.co.nz

All products come with full manufacturer’s warranties & New Zealand back-up service

Navico and Garmin resolve patent disputes

The maritime industry joins digital age

Navico, parent company to the Lowrance®, Simrad® and B&G® brands and Garmin International have announced an end to a three-year-long legal dispute relating to sonar and auto guidance patents. The resolution includes guidelines for the future cross licensing of technologies for the benefit of both of our customers. For more visit our website.

Martek Marine advises their SeaCell system, a robust and reliable 4G based, 20Mbps high speed internet system for up to 20km at sea, is now available. Its airtime costs are reported as massively cheaper than VSAT. One captain said it is ‘The best internet system I’ve seen on a ship.’ As well as making monitoring, security and inventory systems more reliable, it can also transmit live footage in hazardous situations.

www.navico.com

54 Dive New Zealand | Dive Pacific

www.garmin.com

www.martek-marine.com

SPECIESFOCUS

The grey moray eel ~Gymnothorax nubilus

By Paul Caiger

Moray eels are a very diverse family of fishes found worldwide in tropical and temperate locations, and in New Zealand there have been at least 12 recorded species though only five are common. The grey moray is usually found north of East Cape in New Zealand, and mostly around the offshore islands, indicating its tropical origins. They are also found in the subtropical islands north of the country: the Kermadec, Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands. The grey moray possesses – a characteristic of all morays – large fanglike (canine) teeth, and a scale less bodies covered in mucus. Of the several rows of teeth, some are hinged to allow them to fold backwards; which can also lock vertical to hold prey trying to escape. The vicious reputation in grey morays is undeserved - they don’t react unless provoked - and is largely due to their wide gape and exposed teeth. In actuality, the opening and closing of their mouth is required to oxygenate their gills, though to humans this may look like they are baring their fangs aggressively. Their gill openings are reduced to small, hardly visible pores. Like other eels and primitive fishes, the grey morays possess a lengthy, pelagic leptocephalus larval stage. However, little is known about the biology and life history of these eels.

Most morays are nocturnal in behavior though the grey moray is reasonably active during the daytime and is seen far more often out in the open than other species of both morays and other eels in general. They are also frequently seen draped around kelp and sponges, rather than in holes and crevices like all other morays. The grey is also the

most slender of the morays found in New Zealand. Grey morays are generally carnivores, mostly eating crustaceans and cephalopods though they will readily eat small, slow or sick fish they can catch, and they are known to be scavengers, also being found in crayfish pots.

The grey moray eel ~Gymnothorax nubilus

1 Gymnothorax refers to ‘naked-body’, in

5 Most likely encountered around offshore islands

2 Several rows of canine teeth, some that are

6 Possess a unique black strip through the eye. 7 One of the smaller morays, attaining a size of

reference to their absence of scales. hinged.

3 Seeming aggression is actually them oxygenating their gills.

he most daytime-active moray in New Zealand T waters.

in the northeast of New Zealand.

about one metre.

8 Shares holes with other species of moray, but unlikely with other grey morays.

www.divenewzealand.com 55

INCIDENT INSIGHTS By DAN Asia-Pacific

WITH THE DIVERS ALERT NETWORK (DANAP]

Novice diver continues diving despite ear pain By DAN's Brian Wake Since my very first dive a year and a half ago I've always had trouble equalising my left ear and I can equalise it only by swallowing

n my recent trip to Cozumel I was participating in the first dive of a planned seven-dive series over four days. During the descent, I had difficulty equalising, and between 6m-9m I felt pain in my left ear for a few seconds to a minute. I halted my descent and told the divemaster about my problem. I ascended a bit and equalised my ear pressure by swallowing. When my ear felt normal, I continued my descent.

Photo credit: Stephen Fink

56 Dive New Zealand | Dive Pacific

At about 4.5m I experienced the same problem again. I stopped, ascended and tried to equalise. Suddenly I heard a loud "explosion" in my left ear followed by strong pain, dizziness and nausea lasting for about one minute.

…Suddenly I heard a loud "explosion" in my left ear followed by strong pain, dizziness and nausea……

Symptoms disappeared almost as suddenly as they appeared, and I completed my dive without problems. After completing one more dive and returning to shore I started feeling very dizzy; this lasted until the next day. For three days I also had blurred vision when reading. I experienced mild pain in that left ear occasionally during the following days. It felt like I was very drunk.

Immediately after the first dive I told my divemaster about the equalising problem and the symptoms I experienced, but no one suggested that I abstain from diving for a while. I continued diving as scheduled without any other problems. However, the mild pain in my left ear remained until the end of the trip. I decided to consult a doctor to be sure I could fly back home. He found middle-ear barotrauma and a bacterial infection of my left ear. There was no discharge from the ear. I received one shot of corticosteroid, antibiotics for five days, Advil for pain, nasal decongestant in tablets and nasal spray.

…After completing one more dive and returning to shore I started feeling very dizzy… For three days I also had blurred vision when reading… It felt like I was very drunk…

When I was back home I saw a doctor skilled in dive medicine 16 days after that ear explosion event. She said some blood was still visible behind the eardrum, but the otitis had healed. Six weeks later I saw the doctor again, and she declared that my ear was completely healed — no more barotrauma. She checked my ears, did a couple of tests and told me that I could dive again. Since then I have dived 14 times in cold water at depths between 7.5m – 20m. I still have some difficulties equalising that ear, which has always been the case, but no recurring of symptoms.

Insights provided by DAN Asia-Pacific Founder, John Lippmann Failure to adequately equalise the ears results in ear barotrauma (pressure injury), which is a common diving injury. This is often apparent by a feeling of pressure, soon followed by pain, during descent, or sometimes ascent. If the pressure is not equalised, swelling and bleeding of the lining within the ear will occur, which helps to equalise the pressure and relieve the pain, although this can often lead to infection. In some cases, the eardrum can rupture and, in very severe cases, delicate membranes within the inner ear can tear, enabling fluid to leak from the inner ear and creating the potential to damage this delicate organ, possibly affecting hearing and balance. Bubbles from decompression can also form in or around the inner ear and so disrupt its function - inner ear decompression illness. In addition, a variety of other non-diving-related conditions affecting the ear can cause symptoms in divers during or after a dive.

Signs and symptoms associated with inner ear dysfunction may include hearing loss, vertigo (spinning), dizziness, ringing or other ear sounds (tinnitus), nausea and vomiting. While symptoms of barotrauma vary, rarely does a diver experience a loud explosion as this diver described. An inner ear barotrauma …Bubbles from or decompression illness decompression can also needs to be managed form in or around the swiftly and appropriinner ear and so disrupt ately to minimise the its function - inner ear potential for permadecompression illness… nent injury. As such, any diver with these signs or symptoms after diving should refrain from any further diving and promptly call a DAN-supported diving emergency hotline (www.danap.org/emergency.php). The doctor or medic will take a thorough history including the dive profile, the mode of equalisation, any equalisation issues, and the time of onset and progression of symptoms so a suitable course of action can be determined.

DAN AP has launched a new blog, where we discuss topical diving health and safety issues. Visit: daninsider.org and follow us on Facebook by searching DAN Asia Pacific. Need more information? Send DAN AP an email (info@danap.org) or call +61-3-9886 9166

Not yet a DAN member? Join at danap.org Engage with DAN on Facebook for insights into various dive-related safety and medical issues. DAN Dive Safety 8x6cm Dive Log NZ Search ‘DAN Asia Pacific’ or scan here.

dive safety A diver collapses after a dive. He urgently needs oxygen.

20/5/15

12:46 PM

begins with me.

Do you know Pantoneto Colorsdo? Version what Contact DAN: the Specialists CMYK Version www.danap.org

in Oxygen & First Aid Training and Equipment.

www.divenewzealand.com 57

Pag

DIVEMEDICINE

Who should have dive medicals? Professor Simon Mitchell. University of Auckland.

Most people who have trained as a recreational diver in recent years probably did not have a diving medical consultation with a doctor prior to their training course. Most would tell you that they completed a health screening questionnaire and if they did not tick yes to any of the questions, they were allowed to continue with their course without further medical input. Some who did answer one of the questions in the affirmative would have had to see a doctor for a more careful look at the potential problem identified by the positive answer.

hose simple scenarios relate to one of

whereas if they ticked yes to anything

to the things the doctor found. In short, in

the most controversial diving medical

then they had to go and discuss the matter

around 3000 candidates the questionnaire

issues of modern times: who should have a

with a doctor. A predictable response from

did not fail to detect anything important

diving medical consultation with a doctor?

cynics held that this proposal would fail

that the doctor subsequently found in any

It was not that long ago when everyone

because divers could lie about their medical

candidate. A similar study conducted in

undertaking a diving course was compelled

conditions on a questionnaire. While this is

Australia was slightly less encouraging.

to see a doctor for a diving medical prior

true, it is equally true that they could lie to

In that study, 1000 candidates completed

to starting the course. On the face of it this

a doctor in a face to face medical too, and

the questionnaire, then saw the doctor.

seems like a sensible conservative strategy.

in most relevant diseases the examination

Just under 700 of them ticked no to all the

It was widely assumed that the medical

component of the dive medical would not

questions, and under a questionnaire only

would be sure to pick up any relevant

pick up the problem.

system would therefore have been allowed

medical conditions, and that this would

to proceed to diver training without seeing

make diving safer. In fact, neither assump-

a doctor. Of these 700, 9 failed the medical

tion is necessarily true. The vast majority of routine recreational diving medicals conducted under this system essentially represented fit and well diver candidates getting “signed off” by a doctor, with no relevant medical problems being discovered. In many respects this

…A diver who starts at the age of 35 could quite conceivably still be diving at 55 having never interacted with the medical system at all over that period. In some people that will be fine, but in some it will not…

when they saw the doctor. The reasons for some of the fails were somewhat tenuous (such as ear clearing issues which would almost certainly have been picked up on the course itself). Nevertheless, the message is reasonably clear: under a screening questionnaire system some candidates with problems that might have been detected in a full medical will sneak

represented a waste of medical resources,

through.

and a waste of time for diving candidates. It was true that occasionally important

Somewhat ironically, given that they are

medical conditions were discovered during

a conservative litigious society, it was the

I should probably state right now that I

these diving medical consultations, but this

Americans who first instituted a system in

favour the screening questionnaire system

was uncommon. Moreover, it was noted

which divers answering no to all questions

in recreational diving. I think that it is a

that in the vast majority of circumstances

on a screening questionnaire could proceed

better use of an expensive and overworked

it was the questions on the screening

to diver training without a medical by a

resource (our general practitioner popula-

questionnaire that the candidate filled out

doctor. The idea was widely considered

tion – especially those with some training

for the doctor that detected the problem,

heretic at first. But based on the sort of

in diving medicine). It means that those

rather than any examination or test that

logic I have articulated above, different

diver candidates who do go for a full

the doctor did.

countries started to adopt this system.

medical with a doctor have a specific

Australia and New Zealand were among

reason for doing so (a positive answer on

the last, and it is still controversial here.

the screening questionnaire). This gives

It was observations of this nature that led

the medical consultation more focus and is

to the idea of just using a questionnaire

more interesting for everyone involved.

as the initial screen for diving candidates,

Over the years evidence has accumulated

with the assumption that important

that screening questionnaires work fairly

relevant medical problems would be

well. One study in the UK, conducted while

Changing course slightly, arguably the

detected by a well-constructed screening

they were still requiring all diver candi-

biggest failing of the recreational diver

questionnaire. Thus, if the candidate

dates to have a medical with a doctor,

medical system has nothing to do with the

ticked “no” to every question then they

compared the responses on the question-

questionnaire vs full medical debate for

were allowed to proceed with the course,

naire (completed before seeing the doctor)

entry level diving candidates. Rather, it is

58 Dive New Zealand | Dive Pacific

the fact that unlike occupational divers, there is no system that

Wherever I am diving, I take DAN with me.

ensures ongoing health surveillance for aging divers. A diver who starts at the age of 35 could quite conceivably still be diving at 55 having never interacted with the medical system at all over that period. In some people that will be fine, but in some it will not. Recent research by DAN in America has shown that 28% of diving fatalities have a cardiac event (like a “heart attack”) as the disabling injury. This tends to be true of older divers, and it is worth remembering that the hazards associated with suffering a disabling medical event underwater are much greater than on land. If you are a diver who has not seen your doctor for a while, particularly if you are over 45 (maybe 50 in women) and have risk factors such as high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, hypertension, or a strong family history of early onset coronary artery disease, then you should see your doctor. Some degree of common sense can be exercised here. For example if

…Recent research by DAN in America has shown that 28% of diving fatalities have a cardiac event (like a ‘heart attack’) as the disabling injury…

you are 53 and ran a marathon last week, then it is extremely unlikely that you have significant heart disease.

In answer to the question about “who should have recreational diving medicals?” I would suggest that someone who answers an entry level screening questionnaire positively is one. Someone returning from a diving related injury will also usually be advised to have diving a diving physician review. If a new health issue arises during a recreational diving career, then its significance in diving should be discussed with a diving doctor. Similarly, those of us who age whilst continuing to dive should take note of the increase in risk of coronary artery disease as we get older. If you are over 45 and have risk factors (see above) them it may be wise to undergo a focussed investigation of heart function and electrical activity during exercise.

…Over the years evidence has accumulated that screening questionnaires work fairly well’…

Worldwide Emergency Evacuation and Dive Injury Treatment Coverage from the experts in diving accident management.

www.danap.org/take_dan.php

www.divenewzealand.com 59

SHADES OF COLOUR PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION

Simple equipment produces stunning results By Dave Moran, Editor at Lage

he Australians keep coming, taking out three of the winning spots. Great that New Zealander Alex Stammers kept the Kiwi flag flying! Come on Kiwis let’s show our Aussie mates that we can do better in the next issue!

I think the stunning results achieved by Australian Mathew Kempton are an excellent example of what a diver who has a ‘smart’ camera in a standard housing and using the camera’s own built-in flash can achieve. Equally impressive is that Mathew has only been taking underwater images for 18 months! The current camera technology is

just mind blowing compared to what was available just a few years ago. It also reinforces that there is very little stopping a diver from taking amazing images.

housing that you can add ‘extras’ to, such as wet lens and lighting provided by a strobe or constant LED lighting. A whole new underwater world will open up to you – ENJOY!

Having an ‘artistic’ eye sure helps but that can be learnt over time given you are willing and spend TIME in the water taking numerous images. This can be challenging but it is also a heap of fun and very rewarding!

The judges and the team at Dive New Zealand/Dive Pacific magazines look forward to receiving your personal masterpieces. See: www.divenewzealand.com click on Photo Competition. It’s free to enter. You can view galleries of all the entries over www.seatech.co.nz/ blogs/shades-of-colour-photo-competition

My challenge to you is, next time you are looking at buying a camera check out the range of high spec cameras, not the $200 models but the ones getting up to $1000. Add a suitable

Thanks for taking the time to enter!

‘The Groomer’; Gold Coast Seaway, Queensland: Nikon D810 with Sea & Sea housing, Nikon 105mm lens, 2 x YS-250 pro strobes – f/18, 1/60, ISO 64.

A dvanced Category Winner:

Congratulations Andy Wingate, QLD, Australia. Andy was diving one of his favourite locations that continually presents him with amazing photographic opportunities, the Gold Coast Seaway, Queensland. Congratulations on recording the

60 60 Dive DiveNew NewZealand Zealand| |Dive DivePacific Pacific

symbiotic relationship between a shrimp and a parrotfish that required a wee facial cleansing. Andy receives an Ikelite Gift Voucher for NZ$100.

Judges’ Comments:

Pin sharp focus on the shrimp’s eyes

really make this a stunning natural history image of a shrimp grooming a parrotfish. For your info: You too can be shrimp groomed! If you lie in a rock pool our local New Zealand ‘Glass shrimp’ (Palaemon affinis) will swarm over you looking for a meal!

dvanced A Highly Commended: Congratulations Alex Stammers, New Zealand.

‘Snapper in Light’; Goat Island, New Zealand: Nikon D800 with Nauticam housing, Sigma 15mm lens, 2 x Ikelite DS-125 strobes – f/8, 1/125, ISO 2400.

We are sure Alex enjoys photographing in the Goat Island Marine reserve just north of Auckland, New Zealand. Alex commented: “During late autumn you get amazing rays of light falling in the water next to Goat Island. I just waited for a Snapper to enter the frame and took the photo. I lowered the strobe’s power so I would not blow out the subject.” Alex receives an Ikelite Gift Voucher for NZ$75.

Judges’ Comments: Great sharp focus. What make this image stand out is its lighting effects. The combination of the strobe’s flash bringing out the snapper’s reddish skin tones and the refracted bluish light from the surface and filtered green light in the background. A small amount of cropping off the bottom and the right side would have made it even more impressive.

Novice Highly Commended: Congratulations, Mathew Kempton, NSW, Australia. Well done Mathew in taking out both categories in the Novice section. As mentioned above Mathew was enjoying his diving in the waters around the Sipidan Island, Borneo when he decided to check out the amazing colourful symbiotic relationship between an anemone and a clownfish family. Mathew receives an Ikelite Gift Voucher for NZ$50.

Judges’ Comments: The ‘lighting up’ of the anemone body with a burst of light from a flash provides the anemone image with a very pleasant glow! The darker background really makes the image pop. We suggest the image could have been improved by cropping it from the bottom and sides so that you don't see the full extent of the anemone. This would also make the three fish the strongest subjects in the image.

‘Three’s a crowd’; Sipidan, Borneo: Olympus TG-4 with Olympus PT-056 housing, camera flash, housing’s diffuser. Setting, underwater macro.

www.divenewzealand.com 61

SHADES OF COLOUR PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION

‘Peek-a-boo’; Mabul Island, Borneo: Olympus TG-4 with PT-056 housing, camera flash – auto, housing’s diffuser. Setting, underwater macro.

Novice Category Winner: Congratulations, Mathew Kempton, NSW, Australia. Mathew was diving at a location that most divers have on their bucket list; the waters surrounding Sipidan, Mabul and Kapalai islands off the coast of Borneo. Although these locations are well known for their large numbers of fish and shark life there are also amazing opportunities to check out the little critters! A great result for only using a camera underwater for 18 months! Mathew receives an Ikelite Gift Voucher for NZ$75.

Thanks to all those who entered this fun competition. The judges and the team at Dive magazine look forward to receiving your photographic masterpieces in March for the April/May 2018 issue of the magazine. See: www.divenewzealand.com click on Photo Competition. It’s free to enter.

62 Dive New Zealand | Dive Pacific

Judges’ Comments: This is a brilliant image and deserves to win. A splendid example of an anemone about to capture its dinner while a clownfish looks on. One of the judges commented: “Look at the texture differences between the body and the tentacles. The body looks like a bunched-up duvet. Almost comfortable, if it weren't for the close proximity of the stinging tentacles!” The image could be slightly improved at the time of taking the image by slightly twisting it to the right so that the subjects were not so central.

A selection of notable photos entered for this edition's competition Are you a Novice Photographer? We are lookiing for more NOVICE ENTRIES for our competition page - remember it's free to enter.

Sea Tech is the official New Zealand distributor of Ikelite, Fantasea, Recsea, Inon, Bigblue, Nauticam and other leading brands of underwater photographic equipment. Visit: www.seatech.co.nz or for personal service email: info@seatech.co.nz

(A) David Haintz

(A) Alex Stammers

(A) Alexey Zaytsev

(A) Andy Wingate

(N) Stuart Loubser

(A) Dave Weeks

www.divenewzealand.com 63

DIGITALIMAGING Hans Weichselbaum www.digital-image.co.nz

Editing RAW files In the last edition of Dive we looked at the pros and cons of shooting in RAW. Most folks are fine with JPEG files, but professionals and serious amateurs demand the very best. If you read this column you are likely to have a camera with RAW capabilities, and nowadays even the high-end phones let you take RAW images! However, if you decide to go with RAW you’ll need a RAW converter to translate your shots into image files.

Which platform? Laptop or tablet?

There are plenty of RAW converters around, but I am going to use Adobe Lightroom Mobile for my demonstration. A few issues back we had a brief look at Lightroom, but mainly as a tool for archiving your photo collection, ranking your shots and synchronising your edits between laptop, tablet and phone. Yes, the latest Lightroom Mobile for tablets and phones can handle your RAW shots, and more and more people are leaving their laptops at home. Adobe has been keen on joining the tablet craze and I want to show you what you can do on that new platform. However, keep in mind that the desktop/laptop version of Lightroom is far superior, offering you heaps of additional tools. If you make money out of photography, I certainly recommend a laptop with a separate (calibrated) monitor, just to get the colours perfect. The second issue with tablets and phones is the data transfer from your camera. With wireless photo transfer still rough around the edges, you’ll need to have the right cable to connect your camera. Another problem is the limited memory capacity. RAW files love eating storage space and there’s not much on a tablet or phone. You’ll seriously need to look at cloud storage.

Adobe Lightroom CC for mobile

One of the main benefits of working with RAW files is that they allow you to utilise the entire dynamic range of your camera sensor. The original photo in Image 1 is flat looking and

64 Dive New Zealand | Dive Pacific

Image 1 - Recovering Highlight Detail from a RAW file (Samsung Galaxy S3 Tablet) badly overexposed, taken shortly after sunrise in Rarotonga. There wouldn’t have been much hope for rescue if it was taken as a JPEG, but you’ll be surprised on how much more highlight information one can tease out from a RAW file!

…Yes the latest Lightroom Mobile for tablets and phones can handle your RAW shots, and more and more people are leaving their laptops at home… When you open a RAW file on your tablet or phone you’ll get lots of options, but we are just going to look at the editing facilities. Lightroom will offer you the following groups for adjustments: Crop / Light / Colour / Effects / Detail / Optics and Geometry. On top of that you can also make local adjustments using a paintbrush or a gradient mask. Most of the tools are self-explanatory and we will only look at the some of the most important ones.

I recommend that you start with the Colour group, nail the colour temperature (if it needs adjusting) and trim the overall colour balance and saturation. It is also a good idea to have the histogram open in front of you while editing (Image 1, top left). It shows you the distribution of dark (on the left) and light areas (on the right) of the photo and how they are populated. You can see the peaks shifting while doing your editing adjustments. The histogram tells you when you start losing shadow or highlight detail. In our case you can clearly see the shadows hitting the wall on the left. This is fine because this shot does not need any shadow detail. After adjusting the colours you move down to the six sliders you’ll find under the ‘Light’ tab (Image 1). The controls are labelled as: Exposure, Contrast, Highlights, Shadows, Whites and Blacks, and I suggest you’ll go through them in the following order:

1. ‘Exposure’ should be your starting point for the overall tonal adjustment

pher the chance of being more creative. The professionals probably won’t go near them.

2. ‘Whites’ and ‘Blacks’ allow you to establish the brightest and darkest areas

Another powerful tool is the ability of masking part of your image. Image 4 shows you the linear gradient in action on a Galaxy S7 phone. I protected the foreground with a mask to increase the colour saturation of the sky without affecting the beach with the boats. You can also use a circular mask or paint with a brush.

3. A djust the ‘Highlights’ and ‘Shadows’ to your liking 4. U se ‘Contrast’ to optimise the overall contrast. In this example I pulled the ‘Whites’ slider all the way to the left to recover any detail in the highlights. In addition, I also used the ‘Curves’ command. This is a very powerful tool that allows you to seamlessly adjust the tonality from the darkest shadows to the lightest areas. This tool requires an entire article on its own, but you can learn it quite easily by pulling the whole or part of the curve up and down and see what it does to your photo. Note that you can switch to the individual colour channels; for example, you can enhance the reds in the highlights and the blues in the shadows.

The Effects Tab

Next I want to demonstrate the Effects tab (Image 2). The ‘Clarity’ slider increases the local contrast which comes handy if you want to bring out more detail in an overall flat photo.

…The main beauty of shooting in RAW is that you can confidently utilise the full potential of your camera… they allow you to utilise the entire dynamic range of your camera sensor… Image 3 - The Presets There are lots of editing options we haven’t touched on. For example, the sharpening and noise reduction adjustments in the ‘Detail’ tab – these are very important tools and merit an entire article. Then there is the ‘Optics’ tab to enable lens corrections and the ‘Geometry’ section to eliminate distortions. The main beauty of shooting in RAW is that you can confidently utilise the full potential of your camera. Also keep in mind that the RAW converter does not touch your original files – they are kept pristine; only your adjustments are stored and used to create the photo you like. And you can come back to your RAW files at any time to produce a different look!

Image 2 - The Effects Tab On the other hand, pulling the ‘Clarity’ slider to the left adds a kind of dreamy look to the image. This is often what you want in a portrait, but it also added a soft touch to my beach photo. On this tab you’ll also find a ‘Dehaze’ slider and a couple of controls to add an attractive vignette. Lightroom does offer you a vast choice of presets. Image 3 shows you the ‘Creative’ presets, but there are other groups as well, including black & white options. These are the common filters that give the amateur photogra-

Image 4 - Editing Only Part of the Image

www.divenewzealand.com 65

DIVING THE WEB Phil Bendle e: pbendle@gmail.com

Planning a trip away?. You can drag a map around to any part of the world. On the top right corner click on the wind icon to see a whole range of data. You can even select the data for sea temperatures and cloud cover. A truly interesting site. http://tiny.cc/windytv

Sven Bernet, from Switzerland, was scuba diving around an archipelago off the Cuban shore when the crocodile slid into the water from a mangrove. He remain calm and kept eye contact to decrease his chances of being attacked. http://tiny.cc/bernet

Anthony Berberian is a underwater and nature photographer working in Tahiti. Late at night, in the open ocean, Anthony dives in water more than 2,000 metres deep. His aim is to photograph tiny deep sea creatures that migrate to the surface under the cover of darkness to feed. He has been a photographer for the National Geographic and won best of the show at “Our World Underwater” 2015. In 2017 he won the underwater section in the “Wildlife Photographer of the Year”. http://tiny.cc/berberian This is a little video of people’s encounters with fish and animals. http://tiny.cc/watchout

Chris Knight is a professional photographer based in the UK. His underwater images have gained him a lot of recognition. He has been featured on live tv and his pictures have appeared in media worldwide. http://tiny.cc/chrisk

A Smithsonian Channel Video. Every year, thousands of sharks pour in to the waters around the Socorros, for a coordinated summer of feeding -- and none of the other species are safe. http://tiny.cc/channelvideo

66 Dive New Zealand | Dive Pacific

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 A to Z Diving & Cylinder Services IANZ accredited SCUBA, LPG & Industrial cylinder testing. Certified in servicing all brands of dive gear. Supplier of compressor consumables: carbon, molecular sieve, felt pads, oil, O-rings etc. Certifiers of Air & LPG Fillers. All major gases available onsite.

235 Wiroa Rd, Kerikeri. P: 021 508 707 www.atozdiving.co.nz E: andre@atozdiving.co.nz (DNZ163) B AY O F I S L A N D S , N E W Z E A L A N D

“World-class diving package” “Great diving mixed with even better accommodation, meals and hospitality” “Unbelievable value for money” [ R E C E N T T R I P A DV I S O R C U S TO M E R R E V I E W S ]

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 (DNZ161)

DNZ163

www.northlanddive.com Tel +64 9 433 66 33

NITROX

Drysuits / Wetsuits Sales and Repairs

suit repairs, seals, zips, boots, leaks Viking • Otter • Fourth Element

Regulator Servicing All brands Qualified technicians

Dive Compressors

dnz159

New and used machines Servicing all brands Consumables - Hydro panels

Dive Doctor

now at Sylvia Park Rd Unit R 20 Sylvia Park Rd Mt Wellington Auckland

(next to the Sylvia Park Mall)

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 (DNZ161)

09-530 8117 E: info@divedoctor.co.nz www.divedoctor.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 (DNZ162) Dive HQ Whangarei One of Northland’s premier dive training facilities. Highest standard instruction and equipment. With their own on-site heated training pool and classroom. Staff and instructors have extensive knowledge of diving, marine environment and diver safety. At the gateway of the beautiful Poor Knights Islands. 41 Clyde Street Whangarei Freephone: 0800 102 102 or P: 09 438 1075 E: info@divenow.co.nz www.divenow.co.nz (DNZ162) Dive! Tutukaka The Poor Knights Islands experts – professional, fun and safe – “It’s what we do” – With 5 boats, catering for all abilities; Adventure Audited, Qualmark endorsed, PADI 5 star IDC; air fills, nitrox, gear hire. Shed 7 with salt-water pool and training facilities – Behind Schnappa Rock. Marina Rd. Tutukaka, Whangarei. Open 7 days, 7am-7pm. Always someone at the end of the phone 0800 288 882. Phone: 09 4343 867 E: info@diving.co.nz www.diving.co.nz (DNZ162)

AUCKLAND / DISTRICTS New Zealand Diving Charters to the Hauraki Gulf incl marine reserves, Little & Great Barrier Islands. Also overseas trips. NZ’s leading SDI & TDI 5 star IDC & PADI with a wide selection of courses. Qualmark endorsed. Nitrox, 300bar fills, servicing & rental hire. Full selection of gear for sports & tec divers. 22 Whitaker Rd, Warkworth. P: 0800 NZDIVING. E: Neil@NZDiving.co.nz www.NZDiving.co.nz (DNZ164)

DIVE STORES / TRAVEL 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 (DNZ160) 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 (DNZ162) 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 (DNZ159) 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 gear-servicing 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 (DNZ162) 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, inc 2, 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 (DNZ165) 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 (DNZ165) Go Dive Center For All Your Diving Needs. SSI Training Facility. Authorized Mares Dealer. Servicing, Tank Fills and Trips. Come in and let us take you on a journey of discovery in the underwater world. Unit 3/30 Tironui Road, Papakura, Phone 09 298 6431 or 0210 385 940 www.godivecenter.co.nz (DNZ159)

THIS SPACE COULD BE YOURS Enquiries to: Lee Czerniak

Ph: 09 521 0684 M: 027 222 2531 advertising@DiveNewZealand.co.nz

www.divenewzealand.com 67

DIVE STORES / TRAVEL / PRODUCTS | SERVICES COROMANDEL / BAY OF PLENTY Dive Zone Whitianga Only PADI 5 Star IDC facility on the Coromandel Peninsula. 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 (DNZ159) Cathedral Cove Dive & Snorkel Half day trips – everyday through the summer at 9.30am & 1.30pm. Marine reserve or outer reef diving for new and experienced divers. Full gear hire. Individuals & groups welcome. Check out our website for a full list of dive sites and prices, or link onto our facebook page for an up-to-date weather/sea/dive report in the Hahei & Mercury Bay areas. 48 Hahei Beach Rd, Hahei Phone 0800 CCDIVE (0800 223 483) www.hahei.co.nz/diving

CENTRAL NORTH ISLAND

dnz164

Dive & Gas Gisborne's authorised Aqualung dealer with full product range. A great range of other Scuba and Snorkel gear in-store as well. 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 (DNZ162) 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, 0800 DIVE ZONE

E: info@diveshop.co.nz

www.scubadivingtauranga.co.nz

(DNZ162)

DNZ161

Dive HQ Rotorua Start your diving adventure with this PADI 5 Star training centre, your leading BOP dive & kayak shop. Showcasing a great range of quality diving, spearfishing, kayaking & water sports equipment. Filling and testing of dive cylinders, servicing of regulators and BCD’s. An IANZ certified cylinder test centre. 290 Te Ngae Rd, next to Repco. P: 07-345 3047 E: info@divehqrotorua.co.nz www.divehqrotorua.co.nz (DNZ159)

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 (DNZ163)

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 (DNZ160) Dive Kapiti Your scuba, freediving & spearfishing specialists in the heart of the Kapiti coast. Quality servicing, airfills, dive training, Kapiti Island dive & spearfishing trips and retail sales. Full range of Cressi products, our friendly staff are always happy to help! 27 Milne Drive Paraparaumu 5032. P: 04 297 0075 E: craig@divekapiti.co.nz www.divekapiti.co.nz (DNZ162) Island Bay Divers NZ’s Pro Gold Centre, Wellington’s oldest dive shop. Top brand retail, equipment hire, servicing all brands. Tanks tested within 24 hours. CMAS, NAUI & PADI training. Club dives every Saturday. Corner Reef St & The Parade, Island Bay. Summer open 7 days 9am–6pm, winter closed Tues & Wed. P: 04-383 6778, E: tim@ibdivers.co.nz, www.ibdivers.co.nz (DNZ164) 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 www.facebook.com/DiveSkiHQ (DNZ161)

ISOUTH ISLAND Dive Kaikoura is the only dive shop on the North Canterbury East Coast. Located 180kms North of Christchurch off State Highway 1 in the beautiful South Island. Specialists in having Fun, Tours, Shore Dives, Spearfishing, Air Fills, Nitrox, PADI 5 Star Courses. Servicing of all gear AND we’re a Cressi Premium Dealer! Dive Kaikoura 13 Yarmouth St, Kaikoura. 03 319 6622. www.divekaikoura.co.nz. Open October to June. Fiordland Discovery Fiordland boasts some of New Zealand’s most spectacular diving, fishing and hunting. We offer six-day, five-night private charters in the Fiords and the Tasman Sea. Be one of the first to discover Fiordland aboard our luxurious new cruise boat, the Fiordland Jewel. Multi-day cruises, private charters and individual bookings are available for diving, fishing & hunting. #Fiordlandjewel P: 0800 100 105 or +64 3 441 3322 E: hello@fiordlanddiscovery.co.nz www.fiordlanddiscovery.co.nz www.facebook.com/FiordlandDiscovery (DNZ160) 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. Group charters by arrangement. www.godive.co.nz Freephone 0800 GODIVE Email info@godive.co.nz (DNZ167)

PROFIT OR SCANDAL

our deepwater – fishery

NOVEMBER/DECEM BER 2009

MTA CON

debates contro FERENCE versial issues

CELL PHONES – the hidden killer at sea

$9.50

Ph 09 533 4336 • www.skipper.co.nz 68 Dive New Zealand | Dive Pacific

ISSUE 72

INCL. GST (NZ & AUST)

SIN INB

AY YEE, READY TO AD SERVE

WATERFRO NT BUSINESS – THE LATES T IN NEWS AND VIEWS

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More information on Dive Stores, Clubs & Travel at www.DiveNewZealand.com 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 (DNZ164)

DNZ164

Manufacturing Quality Wetsuits in New Zealand for New Zealand conditions.

www.seaquel.co.nz

sales and servicing

High Pressure Equipment NZ Ltd

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 (DNZ164)

Waikawa Dive Centre located at Waikawa Marina, Picton. Offering dive training and trips through the Marlborough Sounds. Fully-certified dive cylinder filling/testing, dive gear servicing/repairs, hire gear. Carrying a multi-brand range of diving equipment. Open 7 days during summer. Ready to take care of all your diving needs. P: 03-573-5939, F: 03-573-8241 waikawadive@xtra.co.nz www.waikawadivecentre.co.nz www.facebook.com/WaikawaDiveCentre (DNZ166) Deep Blue Diving Making diving affordable for all divers. The Deep Blue brand is well known for its value for money and has a strong company reputation for delivering quality and excellent service. Visit our website or come in and see us for a huge range of dive gear, equipment servicing, tank filling, gear hire and Padi training. 15B Byron St, Sydenham, Christchurch 8025. P: 03 332 0898 E: sales@deepbluediving.co.nz www.deepbluediving.co.nz (DNZ163)

DIVE COMPRESSOR

p h 0 9 -444

0804

Master Agents for Bauer Kompressoren in New Zealand and have been for the past 20 years. • Servicing & repairs of all compressor brands: Bauer, Poseidon, Coltri, Bristol, Brownie. and most other brands. • High pressure regulators. • High pressure pumps. • Compressor consumables and spare parts. • Customised filling panels. • Breathing air equipment.

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 (DNZ164)

New Zealand Master Agents for: BAUER KOMPRESSOREN compressors/spare parts BAUER-POSEIDON compressors and spare parts DNZ163

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 (DNZ162)

32 Parkway Drive, Mairangi Bay, Auckland. Email info@highpressure.co.nz

www.highpressure.co.nz

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 (DNZ159)

15G Porana Rd, Glenfield, Auckland wetsuits@seaquel.co.nz Tel: 09 443 2771

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 (DNZ161)

dnz164

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

www.divenewzealand.com 69

DIVE STORES / TRAVEL / PRODUCTS | SERVICES

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 (DNZ159)

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 (DNZ160)

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 (DNZ160) 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 (DNZ164) 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 (DNZ160)

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 (DNZ162) 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 (DNZ162) 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 (DNZ162) 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 (DNZ162)

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 (DNZ163)

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/dive-shops/ 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

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)

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

Dr Roger Grace ‘Why do we need no-take zones?’; ‘20 years as a Greenpeace photographer’. 021 126 5292, gracer@xtra.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 exp. globally. Photos/video: uw caves in Mexico, USA, UK, NZ, Australia. Techdive NZ/GUE NZ instructor. P: 021 614 023, www.techdivenz.com jamie@techdivenz.com Dave Moran Ching Dynasty porcelain from the Tek Sing. P: Dive New Zealand 09-521 0684, E: divenz@DiveNewZealand.co.nz

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Aimed to reach the beginner through to the advanced diver. This edition refers to local conditions and fish species of New Zealand. Sections include: equipment, diving and hunting techniques, diving situations, medical, fish id characteristics, useful contacts. A5 Soft cvr, 48 pgs, b&w, colour sections.

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Our regular Shades of Colour photo competition brings to life the wonders of the deep. Subscribers will also receive our newsletter keeping you up to date with diving news from home and around the world. Note: You are automatically included in all on-going competitions open to current, financial subscribers only. (note: not available to subscribers to the digital version.) Automatic inclusion means you agree to receive any promotional material on the competition prize/s from any of the manufacturers/distributors. [ ] DO NOT automatically include me in any subscriber only competitions.

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BOOK REVIEW

“From the first nail-biting story of up-close encounters with crocodiles to the last heart-warming description how to make Pecan and Pear Bread by first growing a pear tree, Dining with Divers had me hooked from the first dip,” reports Monica Tindall, Editor of the Yum List. It's often said that the next best thing to being underwater is being able to talk about it. And there's no better time or place for producing stimulating conversation and wonderful stories than when gathered around a kitchen table sharing good food and wine with a group of like-minded friends.

ADVERTISERS’ INDEX

In Dining with Divers Simon Pridmore and David Strike invite you to join them around their kitchen table to listen to stories and try dishes served up by a gathering of some of the great

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and the good of the scuba diving world: explorers, record-breakers, innovators, designers, entrepreneurs and raconteurs all compete for your attention and taste buds in this first volume of a unique series of diving story cookbooks. Simon and David know that divers generally love to eat but they didn’t expect to find so many that had such impressive culinary skills. The dishes their contributing divers propose vary from cookouts to curries, from Thai salad to Flemish stew, from jellied eels to vegan cupcakes - there really is something for everyone. The book mingles the recipes with personal accounts of underwater adventure ranging from shipwreck discoveries to iceberg exploration and encounters with big marine animals. Each dive is a delight, and you won’t know whether to keep the book in your kitchen or on the bedside table.

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DIVING WITH DIVERS -

Tales from the kitchen table

Paperback 270 pages: Kindle edition file size: 128638KB Published by Sandsmedia / Createspace: Sold by: Amazon Worldwide English: ASIN: B0792RPXVB: ISBN-10: 1981262024: ISBN-13: 978-19812620121 By Simon Pridmore & David Strike Simon Pridmore is the author of scuba diving books, travel books and scuba diving travel books. He lives in Bali, Indonesia but spends a lot of time exploring other places, trying to find a cure for his itchy feet. David Strike is a former diving instructor trainer and a field editor for several international diving publications, and a Fellow of The Explorers Club of New York who now lives in Australia. Contact David Strike: strikinc1@optusnet.com.au

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