Mokohinau Islands Dive

I had the opportunity to go for a spectacular dive at the Mokohinau Islands northeast of Leigh. Piling into the charter boat early in the morning with many of the folks from the lab, this was to be a wonderful diversion from the computer. We motored out of the overcast harbour and well beyond, everyone discussing the going-ons from the weeks past and those ahead of us. After a while the islands popped up on the horizon and everyone started getting their gear ready. By this point the sun was shining and the sky was clear and blue, much like the waters below us.

Unlike the harbours and bays I was used too, the green waters were replaced by a spectacular royal blue, and as James and I slipped into the water, the clarity became a reality. At first we could see nothing, which is of course normal when jumping off the boat; at least for me. But our inability to see anything was not due to suspended sediments, marine snow, or tannins like the Bay of Fundy, but rather the simple fact that the bottom was very deep.

As we descended, out of the blue came clumps of algae appearing in the distance. Visibility had to be at least 7 metres, that is a good 4 metres better than I have ever had in the Bay of Fundy! The swaying kelp eventually gave way to groups of leatherjackets and damselfish darting among the fronds.

Beneath the fronds as they gave way, was a carpet of red, small algae that photosynthesize well in the low light under the canopy of their brown cousins. There were few mobile invertebrates, but the sessile species more than made up for it. Clumping sponges and small anemones were abound in just about every colour you could imagine. Swimming among the stipes were again the small damselfish that would swarm just about everywhere we went on these dives.

Going back up and over a ridge, we entered an urchin barren where the algae had been completely consumed. This eventually gave way to large kelp forest in the shallows which harboured shoals of fish of all shapes and sizes; damselfish, juvenile kingfish, and stingrays to name a few.

The fish were by far the amazing part of this adventure. We just don't see fish in this abundance or water clarity when we shore dive, and definitely not at home. As we made our way around the back of this small rock in the middle of the ocean, we were enveloped by fish. Jack mackerel were one of the most abundant, forming a tight ball around us as kingfish patrolled the border. Damselfish darted around, getting in front of my lens frequently, showing little fear. Trevally finally joined in, creating a shimmering sea of moving silvery bodies. The pictures hardly do it justice, and I found myself just having to put the camera down and enjoy the spectacle

After getting around back to the boat, we enjoyed lunch and went for a second dive. An underwater ridge with a ripping current going through, making us often fight for every metre we explored. The fish life was similarly spectacular, and the anemones even more so than at the first dive site. Unfortunately my camera fogged up due to a small moisture leak so no pictures from that. I thoroughly enjoyed this dive but would take a drift dive at Deer Island any day; just too much work! Back on the boat, we packed our gear and said goodbye to the "Mokes" and headed back, stopping for a brief entertainment by a pod of dolphins, playing in our wake.