After a long time I went for a dive to Mahurangi Harbour from the beach in Otarawao (Sullivans) Bay. Actually I did it twice; first time my camera’s strobes were flat so all the pictures turned up greenish-brownish. The main reason of the dive was to see what the fine sediments coming from the shore […]
When you ask about nudibranches living in New Zealand, the usual answer mentions Dorises like black, lemon or gem, then clowns, perhaps Jasons and Tambjas. I was so surprised when I was diving in silty Mahurangi Harbour and found a flat reef with these nudibranches crawling on brown weeds. They were everywhere, a couple of […]
Sometimes almost a miracle happens. Mahurangi Harbour near Auckland is surrounded by farmland and new housing developments on mostly clay soil. That means the fine sediments are being washed into the harbour. The water is murky, the bottom becomes muddy, all the life forms suffocate. But sometimes a miracle happens. The water gets surprisingly clear […]
Mahurangi Harbour after a week: * With working flashlights * At low tide so in very dirty water * Very sad state of the bottom observed … fine sediment everywhere, pests spreading, original fauna/flora disappearing The pictures are not of a great value, but they document the current state of Otarawao/Sullivans Bay.
Shallow diving in Mahurangi Harbour: I accidentally discharged my flashlight batteries so all the pictures are in ambient light. Also it was a rainy overcast day so there was not much ambient light either 🙂 To purchase my pictures from New Zealand waters go to the Pacific Images website.
There is a diving spot about an hour from my home. It is supposed to be a great place to meet seahorses. I saw pictures from my fellow divers proving the rumour was true. I did many dives there, yet I haven’t seen a seahorse there yet. I saw a pipefish once or twice, but […]