Marine NZ

Hi I am Rob or as most of my friends know me as NEMES1S a nickname that dates back beyond somes memory of my actual name.
I am a qualified Scuba diver from Wellingtons rugged South Coast,we are really blessed in Wellington with at least 50 fabulous and interesting shore dives.
I belong to the NIGHTDIVERS99 Crew of avid divers we regularly train and dive in various locations in Wellington and in NZ in general.I am also affiliated with Splash Gordons also on Wellingtons South Coast.

In Wellington we are extra lucky to have a brand new marine reserve open here on our fabulous coastline called the Taputeranga Marine Reserve,the surge in marine life even a few months later was obvious to myself and other regular divers.
It will provide a fabulous environment for the next generation to enjoy the undersea creatures,and the increase in creature and fish life is exiting to say the least.

Taputeranga Marine reserve

http://i525.photobucket.com/albums/cc333/NEMES1SDIVE/IMG_3961.jpg

Another marine reserve I particularly enjoy diving is the Poor Knights Island off the coast of Tutukaka,its a fabulous place for divers to explore.The reserve is so full of life and sea creatures its like swimming through a full colour 3D book of animals,from the smallest Triplefin to the largest of Stingrays.
Its truly a place of fantastic traquility and peace,slowly finning through the incredible blue waters with only the sound of the bubbles exiting the exhaust tee of your regulator its an undersea paradise.

The only way to truly capture the image of such place is to visit it and take a piece of the Knights away in your heart,and you will surely thirst to return there for more of that elixir of tranquility.

Pic of me in the underwater realm

http://i525.photobucket.com/albums/cc333/NEMES1SDIVE/Rob.jpg

Hi Rob,

Welcome to MarineNZ! You are so lucky to live in Wellington!! Did you dive the area before the marine reserve was established there and if so, what kinds of differences have you observed? Has the community been supportive of it so far?

DiveDiva - 18 February 2009 10:23 AM

Hi Rob,

Welcome to MarineNZ! You are so lucky to live in Wellington!! Did you dive the area before the marine reserve was established there and if so, what kinds of differences have you observed? Has the community been supportive of it so far?

Thanks for the welcome DD,
Yes I have been diving on the South coast and Wellington harbour since 1987 and the drop in fish life in the Harbour alone has been drastic,we now never see large schools of Kahawai anymore...this was common place...I put this down to Commercial trawlers however which have absolutely smashed fish stocks to smithereens,Dolphins used to be also quite common in Evans Bay now with no food they are just not there anymore...its very sad...even more so that its us that’s destroying the fish life...as usual its all about $$$

The South Coast has always been relatively bountiful but there has definitely been a sizable decline and the Taputeranga Reserve was just in time I think.
Attitude of Divers and Snorkelers is a huge issue as well,understanding the damage done outside the reserve by taking the maximum allowable Crayfish per day and the impact that has most don’t realise,its all about education,hell I had no idea about how BAD the state of NZ was until I started to attend courses and talk with those directly involved,even though I could see the damage I had no idea we were well past the point of safely replenishing stocks!!!

I was horrified to hear of the damage commercial fishing had done to decimate the Orange Roughy and wondered why they are not available in shops and now everything was Hoki....It was beyond my conception that we could be so stupid as to almost wipe out the Orange Roughy and then move onto the next fish...the Hoki...its just madness…
With this understanding I can educate others to some extent as I have been by my friend’s and fellow divers.
A fellow diver Pete has always given me a great deal of insight and information to this cause,Pete has dived Wellington a great deal more than I have and has seen more of the damage and has a greater understanding of the impact this has had on our environment.

As for community support you would be surprised as to just how engaged in the issue the locals are,we have often heard that locals have called in possible poachers or divers with catch-bags and had DOC/MOF/M-fish waiting for them on their arrival back at the beach....which is fantastic....Owhiro Bay and Island Bay folk definitely take the marine environment seriously.

Ahh yes, the Orange Roughy.
I can see that emerging as something that will haunt the Fishing Industry (like the Blue Devil Fish haunts the Spearos) very soon, if not already.

Kia ora Rob
Hey just wanted to let you know about the Experiencing Marine Reserves programme in Wellington, I am the national director, but our local coordinators are always keen for more supporters
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Experiencing-Marine-Reserves-Wellington/295351185669?ref=ts

Hi Rob,
Always looking for keen people to get involved with the EMR programme down here in Wellington! We have been steadily growing for the last three years and we expanded last year to include a teenage youth group as well as the younger kids this year.  Hopeing to develop something for adults in the future too and input from a long term diver in the area is always appreciated!

Best fishes

Jade

Scuba diving is my dream...The underwater creatures have attracted me very much...I am a student of a Marine college and want to be a efficient diver. Movie Theater TX is very famous. Don’t miss Movie Theater Houston.

For this purpose i need tips and techniques of diving…

Thanks...