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More than 110 snorkellers took to the clear waters of the Whangateau Harbour on December 1 as part of a day organised by the educational group, Experiencing Marine Reserves.
The participants were given a dry land briefing, before donning their masks, fins and snorkels and heading into the water.
The divers explored the harbour in small groups with qualified supervisors, viewing cockle siphons, anemones and hairy crabs on the sand flats and big schools of yellow eyed mullet in the mangroves.
EMR Auckland coordinator Lorna Doogan said the groups with confident swimmers were able to venture over the sandstone reefs and were treated to schools of juvenile trevally, and parore and spotties hiding in the Neptune’s necklace.
“We are able to provide these free events thanks to the support of The Bobby Stafford-Bush Foundation,” Lorna says. “They encourage kaitiakitanga (guardianship) of our marine taonga (treasures) and provide an opportunity to educate the public about the importance of mangrove forests as fish nurseries and preventing coastal erosion. We also covered the cockle closure and what that marine protection means in relation to water clarity.”
The day had special significance as it was organised to celebrate the life of marine biologist Dr Roger Grace, who died in June. The Whangateau Harbour was one of Dr Grace’s favourite snorkelling spots.
Experiencing Marine Reserves will run a Goat Island Snorkel Day in March.
