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.

Rosehill Intermediate School

A visit to Echinoderm Reef with 15 students was successful with finds of sea hares, clown nudibranchs, crabs, flatworms and much more. Then off we went snorkelling, but unfortunately the swell had risen and reduced visibility.

Te Hihi School

December 1st we took students from Te Hihi School snorkelling. Visibility was really good and sea conditions calm. The students were very good snorkellers. We saw plenty of jellyfish, snapper, drummer, leatherjackets and so much more.

Otamarakau School

November 30th a lovely group of students from Otamarakau School came snorkelling with us. Perfect sea conditions with clear, calm water and sunshine. Lots of non-stinging jellyfish floating everywhere. Fed on by leatherjackets and some snapper. Saw one eagle ray.

Birkdale Intermediate School

Students visited the Goat Island Marine Reserve on November 22nd. They met at Goat Island Dive for their snorkelling equipment. Discover Goat Island instructors, Tony and Jenny Enderby then took them snorkelling. Good calm sea conditions and nice clear water. It was a thrill for everyone when a small pod of bottlenose dolphins came through the reserve.Discover Goat Island.

Singapore group

Saturday November 20th 45 students from Singapore visited Goat Island where they took a trip on the glass bottom boat. We then showed them the marine life on the rocky shore and after lunch they did transects on Echinoderm Reef. The weather wasn't looking good but turned out beautiful. Discover Goat Island

Whangaparaoa College

Calm seas and good underwater visibility for snorkelling at Goat Island today. Not much sun though. Huge numbers of snapper seen, plus parore, goatfish, red moki and marblefish. Some very big crayfish around Shag Rock. The students were guided by Discover Goat Island As usual we met up at the Goat Island Dive shop, next to the Sawmill Cafe in Leigh, to collect the snorkelling equipment.

Birkdale Primary School

A perfect day for snorkelling in the Goat Island Marine Reserve. Students saw snapper, red moki, eaglerays, goatfish, blue maomao, parore and more. Calm, clear and sunny conditions. Some awesome parents accompanied us in the water! The juniors visited the rocky shore where they were guided by a biologist. They saw sea hares, nudibranchs, crabs, kina, seastars and a variety of other marine life.

Kaiaua School

Another perfect day to bring a school group snorkelling at Goat Island. Calm, clear water and plenty of fish to see. One very large jellyfish, but we stayed away from it! Large snapper and red moki, plus the usual other fish.