Trip Report : Skirts in Scuba

Saturday morning arrived in all its chilliness and things started slowly in our room at the Tutukaka Coast Motor Lodge, however as we didnt need to be at the boat until a very very respectable 9am, we stopped in at Schnappa Rock for bagels and fresh coffee.
Once 9am rolled around, we rocked on down to the boat and loaded up our gear – and watched the boys arrive in their skirts.

Kent made a real entrance in his kilt, and sporran (and gumboats), both Noel and Marty looked stunning (but like they had raided Jo’s wardrobe) and Francois modelled a gorgeous lime green pant suit that was really something to behold!

Heading out to the islands, the sea was not quite glass but it was a pretty fast trip.  We were all rather excited as there was no wind and no swell and gear was being put together even before we reached the islands.

We headed over to the eastern side and up to Barren Arch.
Noel thought it might have been nice and sheltered in that area and it was – but Calypso was also there.
Seeing as we had something in the range of 50 dives sites to choose from, we headed out of there and down the island chain to Matts Crack.  I was so excited!  One of my favourite sites and not one that we get to do very often.Marcia and Anna had hardly finished getting their gear on before they headed over the side and off on their dive.
The boys followed quickly which left Alex and I to split our new divers in two groups and get them ready and in, weight checked and settled to start our descents.

Once me and my group had completed our weight checks, we headed over to the wall to drop down.
We got down to about 6m but Madelines tank had a leak in it – something pretty spectacular – she lost 50 bar in about 3 mins so I sent her back to the boat and Frenchman Alex and I continued on without her.  Kent would bring her down later.The frenchman and I overtook Oompy Alex and her group to head into the long cave first.  I cant even remember too much of the dive and I think it is because I was thinking about lunch.

Once you are inside the cave and you reach the little turn to the right, you are pretty much in the dark and it can be rather barren.
Things to look out for are crayfish – and when there are lots of fish in the cave, there are LOTS of fish.  Today there were a reasonable number – quite a few large red moki as well as blue maomao and leather jackets.  The walls and rocks still have a lot of small clown nudibranchs on them and there are some egg rosettes to find which means the nudibranchs are still finding each other and they are still copulating.  At the outer end of the cave, there were some large variable nudibranchs and to my absolute delight, when I swapped Alex for Madeline from Kent and we came out of the cave again, I was able to show her my little blue eyed triplefins (from my logo) in the flesh.

This is all I have to say …….

For the second dive, we headed off somewhere a little easier for the newer divers.
Somewhere that never disappoints. Somewhere that changes within minutes. Somewhere that hides most of its glory just out of the normal swim past. glance. Somewhere that I have dived nearly 20 times. One of my favourite sites – Blue Maomao Arch.

Madeline and Juliet and I jumped over together and took our cameras for a nice long dip in the arch.
Down one side and out the swim through and then turning around and heading back into the arch.
One side was completely covered in Maomao, the other side in Demoiselles.
Variable nudibranchs were everywhere and even a Cadlina Willani.

I think (I hope) that Madeline really enjoyed this dive.
The first dive of the day was actually her first ocean dive.  We had to complete her open water in the lake due to the weather conditions.  I think that there is a smile on her face in this photograph.  In fact, I happen to know that she spent most of teh dive with a silly grin on her face and kept needing to clear the water from her mask.

Getting back on the boat and before I was even out of my drysuit, there was a glass of Lindauer Blanc de Blanc in my hand.
We puttered through the Arches whilst frantic conversations about what we had seen and how great the visibility was before making our way back into Tutukaka.
We had the standard debrief session at the Fishing Club and Jo now has some extremely interesting photos on her camera.
A brilliant day out with Yukon – thank you Noel and Jo. We will be running our trip trip in a few months.

For some of us it didnt quite end there – we headed up to Headquarters a la Yukon to finish off the leftovers for dinner.
And leftover wine too. I think thats why I was terribly fuzzy yesterday morning.