December 2011

Conditions at Goat Island had improved with calm, clear water and we were busy taking lots of snorkellers out again. But then the rain came. However it now looks like clearing early in the New Year. Water has warmed a little and sun will shine again soon! Be prepared and book your snorkelling experience.
Pohutukawa trees flowering all around the coast and looking very beautiful.

November 2011

Carl and Aly Wilson

We have guided lots of people on a Snorkelling Experience at Goat Island.
November 17th we took 24 international students snorkelling in beautiful conditions at Goat Island. Many had never snorkelled before but learnt very quickly. www.discovergoatisland.co.nz
Have also had quite a few visitors staying in our bed and breakfast room - lovely couples from Scotland, Ireland, Italy as well as from Auckland.
November 29th and Tony snorkelled with 5 very playful bottlenose dolphins, close to the beach at Goat Island. 

October 2011

October 21st Jenny guided 2 people out snorkelling and had 4 bottlenose dolphins - awesome! October 20th Tony took Katie and Sophie snorkelling. They also had some great little digital waterproof cameras purchased from Goat Island Dive and Snorkel, to record the event. Well done girls and what a perfect day! Brancott Estate were the sponsors. October 7th Jenny took 2 snorkellers out and were accompanied by 2 bottlenose dolphins. Summer is definitely on its way and water warming up. Learn how to snorkel. www.discovergoatisland.co.nz

September 2011

Tony guided these lovely Irish girls, teaching them to snorkel at Goat Island.There were lots of eagle rays around as the orca had visited that morning. We also guided 4 Indian men snorkelling at Goat Island.  Good sea conditions and starting to warm up. Plenty of fishes around as usual. A great experience for these visitors who were new to snorkelling. More information on www.discovergoatisland.co.nz

Snorkelling Experience

PADI Snorkelling experiences will be starting again in September. Price includes all snorkelling equipment hire, experienced guide, PADI certificate and Fish ID card. We will teach you to snorkel and guide you over the best rocky reefs at the Goat Island Marine Reserve. Bookings are essential and depends on having good sea and weather conditions. (minimum of 2 people needed).
SCHOOL GROUPS of 20 or more students are offered a special price which includes all snorkelling equipment, experienced guides, safety boards and Fish ID cards.

Onehunga High School

Fifteen students and two teachers came snorkelling at Goat Island. Lovely, calm and sunny and the best day for a while. Clear water and plenty of fish to see including eagle rays. Water now around 18 degC - not bad for May!

Rosehill Intermediate School

After several postponements because of the weather, Rosehill students ended up with a beautiful day at Goat Island to go snorkelling. April and the water temperature is still 20degC. It was also warm and clear. Lots of snapper, leatherjackets, mackerel, red moki and even a giant boarfish. Summer is not over and there is still time to Discover Goat Island.

Mission Heights Junior College

After several postponements students from Mission Heights finally came snorkelling with us at Goat Island. Water was calm and clear and a lovely warm 20degC. Fish life was good with snapper, bluecod, piper, eaglerays, goatfish, spotties and much more seen. Many students snorkelled for the first time every and did extremely well.

Manurewa Central School

Very nice conditions for guiding students from Manurewa Central School at Goat Island on March 11th. We saw the usual snapper, trevally, leatherjackets, red moki, blue maomao, sweep, eagle rays plus much more. Contact us if you want to bring your school snorkelling www.discovergoatisland.co.nz

Perfect snorkelling conditions!

This could be you! The conditions at Goat Island have been perfect for snorkelling. Calm, clear water, plenty of fish, loads of sunshine and good tides. See you at the beach!
If you have never snorkelled before or if you can't swim book onto a Guided Snorkelling Experience by phoning Goat Island Dive on 0800 348 369.

Stanley Bay Primary School

For the third year in a row we have guided students from Stanley Bay in the marine reserve. Sea conditions were great, sun was shining and visibility improved as the day went on. Students saw big snapper, piper, eaglerays, goatfish, blue maomao and lots more fish. They also discovered the animals living on the rocky shore including crabs, kina, seaweed, chitons and limpets.

PADI SNORKELLING CERTIFICATE

Tony and Jenny Enderby take snorkelling courses at Goat Island, every day weather permitting. No experience is necessary. You are taught how to snorkel and can gain a PADI snorkeling certificate plus receive a free fish ID guide. Bookings are essential and can be done by phoning Goat Island Dive on 0800 348 369 to book. A minimum of 2 people are required. A special rate is applicable for schools and groups over 20.

Scout Venturers

We guided a group of scout venturers at Goat Island where conditions were the best for the past few weeks. Very dirty water close in, but once out further it was like a curtain had been lifted and the visibility improved dramatically! Numerous snapper, blue maomao, sweep, silver drummer, leatherjackets and much more all around. Hundreds of very small jellyfish coming through the current down the channel. Wetsuits mostly protected us from their minute stinging tentacles. Water very warm and calm! All gained their PADI snorkelling certificate.

Pinehurst School

Students from Pinehurst School, Albany snorkelled with us at Goat Island and achieved their PADI snorkelling certificate. We saw plenty of fish life including snapper, blue maomao, rays, parore, kelpfish and spotties. After lunch we explored Echinoderm rocky reef at low tide where we saw octopus, trumpet shells, crabs, shield shells, kina and much more.

Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Te Kura Kokiri

We took students from Te Kura Kokiri in Tauranga snorkelling at Goat Island late on February 1st. Visibility now improved after storm and nice and calm. Plenty of snapper, parore and goatfish to see. The students were all very good snorkellers and thoroughly enjoyed the break in their journey north. They all sang a song about Poi afterwards.

Summer Snorkelling Courses

Over summer, snorkelling courses are being run (weather permitting) at Goat Island. Bookings are essential. If you haven't tried it yet, why not have a go?
Tony & Jenny Enderby are Goat Island's most experienced snorkel guides and their priority is to keep you safe while teaching you how to snorkel. No experience is necessary. At the end of your course you will gain a PADI snorkelling certificate. Meet at the Goat Island Dive Shop in Leigh at 11am where you will receive your equipment - wetsuit, mask, snorkel and fins. Then it's off to the beach to learn to snorkel safely while enjoying seeing fish in a natural environment. The activity takes around 2 hours (up to an hour in the water). CONTACT US ABOUT OUR SPECIAL PRICE FOR SCHOOL GROUPS. Phone Goat Island Dive now on 0800 348 369 to book onto a snorkelling course.