Australasian snapper Pagrus auratus (or Chrysophrys auratus) is perhaps the most popular fish among the fishermen and spearfishermen in New Zealand. It is a commercially important species, both for the commercial and recreational industries. The result is in the coastal areas it is more-or-less fished out. Also the fish are very shy and keep the […]
Recently when I went for a shore dive in Goat Island marine reserve, I did not swim toward the island, but a bit to the left from it. After a relatively long swim the usual flat rocky reef ended suddenly. It was replaced by a flat sandy bottom with these rocky pinnacles. The visibility was […]
This is what I really love: To lay on the ground and peek into the forest. To watch the small inhabitants living in the shadows of the trees. To admire the sun rays penetrating the tree tops. All of that in the fairy-tale country only a few metres under the ocean surface.
Thorntail stingray (long-tail stingray) Dasyatis thetidis on sandy bottom at the edge of rocky reef. I am not sure how rare/common these species are around the New Zealand coast, I meet 20+ eagle rays per one stingray. An observation: When I meet an eagle ray, it gets scared pretty easily and flies away. With stingrays it’s […]
Fish pictures not showing the fish’ faces or with fish turning away from the camera are usually not received very well. I believe they can be all right. It all depends on many factors. E.g. if it is obvious the fish got scared by me, it cannot help the picture. On the other hand if […]
I am saying late summer but it’s actually autumn already. My last visit to Goat Island proved to be very fruitful. I did not swim across the channel to the island, but followed the coast to the right side of the beach. As you can see from the pictures the terrain varies a lot. You can […]