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PAKU VIEWS
ISSUE 5 SPRING 2012
- Dive equipment
- Dive Courses
- Dive trips
- Air Fills
- Hire GeAr
- CylinDer testinG
- equipment serviCinG
7 The Esplanade, Paku Boat Ramp, Tairua
P:
07 864 8800
M:
021 1457 365
E:
The Magic Islands
by Alex Harris
With summer just around the corner it has never
been a better time to experience the natural
beauty of the Alderman Islands–both above and
below the water–its rich backdrop of subtropical
hills and native bush-covered cliffs and valleys
opening to warm, white sandy beaches, coves,
islands, rocky outcrops and finally, the crystal
clear blue waters of the vast Pacific Ocean.
There are many beautiful dive locations in the world,
but only a few can be regarded as truly magic. The
Alderman Islands, remnants of an ancient volcano
chain, offer interesting dive sites that vary in depth
and bottom topography. In some cases the island cliffs
continue straight down under the water’s surface.
Here the diver will find brilliant anemones, hydroids,
nudibranches, soft colourful sponges and
spiny sea urchins.
The Alderman sites offer dives suitable
for those on their first sea dive, to
the very experienced—the
ideal playground for all.
Photographers will enjoy
a wide range of photo opportunities from macro to wide
angle shooting. If photography is not your thing, put on
a pair of gloves and try your luck catching a crayfish.
These awesome dive sites consist of boulders, big and
small, cracks and crevasses, small swim-throughs and
amazing caves. Kelp and seaweeds of many colours
cover the sea floor. Below the kelp live many interesting
animals such as crayfish, packhorse crayfish, Spanish
lobsters, scorpion fish, tiny blennies, plus many species
of crab, sea shells and still more nudibranchs. You may
even spot a sea horse.
Schools of trevally and blue maomao
swim both on the surface and below
the water. In summer months, you’ll
often see large kingfish schools,
giant boar fish, john dory
and tarakihi.
A great array of other
animals inhabit these
waters–moray eels,
stingrays, wrasse,
demoiselles, porcupine
fish, snapper and many other vibrant species. At
lower depths are others such as pink maomao, golden
snapper, porae and blue moki.
Orca whales can be seen swimming in pods of between
four and eight chasing the abundant population of
stingrays. Their smaller cousins, the dolphins, are the
most common marine mammals seen, and they are
frequent and delightful visitors to divers. And on occasion,
especially during the winter months, New Zealand fur
seals reside on some of the islands and are keen players
in the water. Whatever the season, whatever your dive
expertise, enjoy the magic spell of The Alderman Islands.
Mike and Alex Harris opened Dive Zone on Main Road in
2011, and recently moved near the water into the old dive
shop building at the base of Paku. With a goal of leaving
customers with smiles on their faces, Mike says, “We are
a small shop with big service”. Open seven days, they offer
a full range of dive services and sell dive gear, run PADI
training courses, test tanks and gear, do airfills and use
local charter boats for their dive trips.
Book yours now, ring 864 8800.
A student Diver is greeted by a prolific display of sealife, a common occurrence at the Aldermans, while Dive
Zone Owner Mike Harris, holding a kina (urchin), attracts the attention of several curious fish.
Dive Zone’s “new” home is the “old” dive shop at the Paku
boat ramp. The shop now sports a new blue theme.
Photos courtesy of Mike Bhana at Big Fish Productions.