Toku Mapihi Maurea Kura Kaupapa Maori School

Students from Hamilton arrived in Leigh to stay at the Omaha Marae and enjoy the activities in the area. They were all very good at the snorkelling and saw some huge snapper plus other fishes.  The parents and teachers who helped did a wonderful job too.

Bethlehem College

We guided a small group of lovely girls at the marine reserve. They are staying at the Goat Island Camp and enjoying all the various activities of the area including the Marine Discovery Centre. Although the water cool was still quite cool it was clear. Saw numerous banded wrasse, snapper, red moki, spotties and small schools of kahawaii. All managed the snorkelling and had a great time.

Birkdale Intermediate School

Today 26 students came snorkelling with us at Goat Island. They were very enthusiastic and stayed in the water for ages. We saw snapper, red moki, spotties, a large short-tailed stingray and several eagle rays. Water is warming up and with the sunshine it felt like a nice summery day.

Summer's Here

Broad Squid

At last the air temperature and the sea temperature have warmed up. Visibility at Goat Island today was awesome. I guided a small group from Germany and Norway. We saw the usual fish like snapper, spotties, red moki plus a big school of Jack Mackerel. We looked for rays but orca had visited early in the morning and we saw none. Some very small broad squid glowed in the sunlight near the ecklonia kelp.

Whangaparaoa College

25 International students came snorkelling at Goat Island. Tide was very low but all managed the activity with no problems. Some very big snapper came around and there were several eagle rays in the shallows. Water still a bit cooler than usual for this time of year.

Labour Weekend Snorkels

Tony guided five lovely ladies on a snorkelling experience. Visibility wasn't the best, there were still plenty of fish to see and a few eaglerays resting on the sand.  Water still a bit on a cool side, but wearing a wetsuit meant they could stayed in for 45 mins.

Guided Snorkel Experience

From Labour Weekend onwards we are again starting our guided snorkelling experiences at the famous Goat Island Marine Reserve. Email if you'd like more information. No experience is necessary! snorkel@discovergoatisland.co.nz

Winter Break

We will begin the guided snorkelling tours later in October when the weather warms up again. If you haven't tried snorkelling yet, then we will show you what to do and will guide you off the beach at the Goat Island Marine Reserve. Add it to your bucket list and don't worry if you can't swim as we give you a wetsuit to wear and take a safety flotation board with us.

April snorkelling

Learn to snorkel safely!

We are still be doing guided snorkelling experiences at Goat Island during April, although the weather has been very changeable. Water is still warmer than December. Days available are Friday, Saturday and Sunday until the end of April, weather permitting of course. You can book now at Goat Island Dive to learn with us, but hurry as numbers each day are limited!
April 15th the water was calm and we guided 3 adults and 3 children. There were a lot of big and small snapper around including the famous Monkeyface who we have seen at Goat Island since 1993 and he was already a very large fish back then.
The snorkelling experiences will start again in late October. 

Otamatea High School

Red moki at Goat Island

Today we guided a small group of students from Otamatea High, at Goat Island. Conditions were very calm, sunny and visibility improving. We saw snapper of all sizes, leatherjackets, piper, big and small red moki and more. The students were great at snorkelling and all gained their PADI snorkelling certificate.

Diocesan School for Girls

Leatherjacket

Today 20 lovely students from Dio came snorkelling at the Goat Island Marine Reserve. They were all very good snorkellers, many going down to the sea floor easily. The water was clear and calm with hundreds of harmless little chain salps in the water. Fishes seen include snapper, piper, red moki, spotties, sweep, leatherjackets, kahawai and trevally.

Snorkelling Conditions

Piper

Amazing snorkelling conditions the last two days. Visibility awesome. Guided visitors from New York, Christchurch, Australia, Denmark and England. We saw several giant boarfish, lots of snapper (some huge ones) piper, goatfish, red moki, kahawai, silver drummer etc etc etc. With the sun shining the water seems much warmer than 20 degC.
www.discovergoatisland.co.nz

Pinehurst School

Fun, fun, fun!

Lovely sea conditions and visibility for taking 25 students from Pinehurst School, snorkelling at Goat Island. Saw plenty of snapper, red moki, leatherjackets, silver drummer and much more.
www.discovergoatisland.co.nz

Stanley Bay School

Red Moki

A wonderful day with Stanley Bay Primary School students. We snorkelled and snorkelled and snorkelled. Then we went and explored the rocky shore. Calm seas, good visibility and so much to see. Absolutely fabulous! Thanks to the great parents who had time off work to help.

New Book on Fishes

Our new book called Know Your New Zealand Fishes and published by New Holland is now out. Ask your local book shop for a copy or email the authors for a copy.
Learn more about the most common fishes you are likely to see around New Zealand from Stewart Island to Northland. Text is accompanied by excellent colour photographs.

February 2012

Beautiful weather for the start of the month. Ideal to visit Goat island and learn to snorkel. Our guided trip includes a talk about the marine reserve and its creation and changes. Learn about the marine life you will see in New Zealand's best coastal marine reserve - just an hour north of Auckland City.
Safety is our priority and even if you cannot swim, you will learn how easy it is to float while wearing a wetsuit. We also take safety boards for snorkellers to use if needed. Gain confidence, learn to breathe through a snorkel and see the amazing underwater life.

Excellent snorkelling conditions

It's been a good month for snorkelling and diving - off and on. No stingers seen at all, just loads of chain salps which are absolutely harmless. We've taken plenty of people out on a guided snorkelling experience and water is warm on these sunny days - around 20degC.
Book early for your snorkelling experience as numbers are limited each day. If you've never tried, then now is the time! Look forward to seeing you at Goat Island.

NZ HERALD FEATURE

Dionne Christian featured a range of water sports including snorkelling at Goat Island with Jenny. Read all about it at the link below.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10777122

January 2012

Welcome to 2012. This is the year that you can learn to snorkel at the Goat Island Marine Reserve, just north of Auckland City. The PADI Guided Snorkelling Experience is scheduled everyday at 10.30am, weather and sea conditions permitting. Book now by calling Goat Island Dive on 0800 348 369. All snorkelling equipment is supplied and included in the cost.