![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.diveski.co.nz\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/153529283_2200199076783167_4209414232222776020_o-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.diveski.co.nz\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/152347989_2200201876782887_5414562402677889311_o-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\nThursday morning our strategically packed and weighed luggage was loaded onto the chopper. Mother nature obliged with stunning panoramic vistas across the Main Divide as we travelled in style (helicopter) to our home for the next 5 days, the Tutoko II.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.diveski.co.nz\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/153079949_2200198326783242_2350527673975035208_o-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.diveski.co.nz\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/152302194_2200202180116190_750961521105783543_o-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\nThe\ndiving did not disappoint. Unique to the Fiordland sounds is a layer of tannin\nstained fresh water that sits above above the salt water. The darker fresh\nwater reduces light penetration and so deeper water species such as black coral\nare able to thrive in shallower water. After a chronologically confused\ncountdown to dive-time from Captain Dave, we splashed into the 20m visibility\nof Dusky Sound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.diveski.co.nz\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/153940710_2200196150116793_7285661882043569627_o-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.diveski.co.nz\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/152342296_2200199690116439_744760474387043855_o-1024x682.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\nWe were enthralled by the luminescent snake-star entwined black coral and dazzling displays of multi coloured sponges and anemones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some\ndivers were less enthused with the curious seven-gilled sharks. Sue theorised\nthat by turning off her torch she couldn\u2019t see the shark and so the shark\ncouldn\u2019t see her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.diveski.co.nz\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/152089699_2200195966783478_14188055198718900_o-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.diveski.co.nz\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/152712144_2200197900116618_4051553924861694818_o-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\nPeter inadvertently got particularly up close and personal with the sharks on his daily swim \u2013 who could blame the sharks for being attracted to the sight of Peter clad only in speedos and a swimming cap. While many flattened themselves against walls to shrink away from the sharks, Judy took a divergent approach and swam after them on her quest for the perfect photo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.diveski.co.nz\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/152222155_2200199806783094_2166320998926989226_o-1024x576.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe wreck of the Waikare, a passenger steamship that came to an unfortunate end in 1910, was the home of schooling telescope fish, crayfish and anemones basking in the ethereal, shimmering light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.diveski.co.nz\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/153845118_2200199156783159_29723989835676695_o-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.diveski.co.nz\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/152339820_2200199350116473_4383578518317922210_o-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\nThe tough and hardy wetsuit divers (Kevin, Mary, James and Alan) braved the 14 – 17 degree water temperatures with barely a whimper. Judy had a basic lesson in drysuit function, ascertaining that not closing the zip properly results in a flooded drysuit. Apparently it is not normal behaviour to complete a one hour dive in 14 degree temperatures while sodden wet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.diveski.co.nz\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/152465240_999785073888007_5222756302559301009_o.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.diveski.co.nz\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/153138778_2200203323449409_8389758640382621299_o-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\nThe Sea Pens in Breaksea and Doubtful Sounds captivated us. Sue emerged from every dive and pronounced \u2018that was my favourite dive ever\u2019. Sophie made friends with a photogenic shark-sized octopus and Chelydra was buzzed by elegant eagle rays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.diveski.co.nz\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/151792796_2200200410116367_5793205691873867347_o-1-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.diveski.co.nz\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/151801575_2200200780116330_2825859638497126520_o-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\nOur resident meteorologist Brian gloated over the perfect weather (that he even predicted), with mountain reflections in the glassy calm water providing for yet more photographic opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.diveski.co.nz\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/153031033_2200202050116203_2140820673940897328_o-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.diveski.co.nz\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/152710872_2200201923449549_8513172614399867099_o-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\nPaul the shoeless warrior successfully disembarked his Air New Zealand flight, rode on the chopper and completed several shore walks, all whilst barefooted. Alan & Peter\u2019s bird-watching bromance (just to clarify, we\u2019re referring to ornithological bird-watching here) developed over their fascination with the swooping albatrosses, bobbing penguins, sociable robins & melodious bird tunes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.diveski.co.nz\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/152295421_2200199613449780_5972069075114698893_o-1024x682.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.diveski.co.nz\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/151732954_2200196346783440_4777667079924737740_o-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\nAchuro kept the food coming, ever patient with a multitude of varying dietary requirements. With first breakfast, second breakfast, elevenses, lunch, afternoon tea, an entree, main dinner course and then dessert, there was little chance of starvation. Meals were supplemented with abundant, freshly caught kaimoana with Claire sacrificing her hands to the cause when she caught crays wearing only thin gloves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.diveski.co.nz\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/154953931_5099711970103312_8724541563790423693_n-768x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.diveski.co.nz\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/153659357_2200197006783374_926987007552113085_o-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\nThanks to the dive crew of Dave, Caleb and Achuro for getting us to the dive sites and keeping our tanks filled with air and our pukus full of quality kai. Cheers to Clare and Dive HQ for organising a phenomenal trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So great\nwe are heading back again in 2022 – twice!
\nIf you want to experience Fiordland for yourself please get in touch.
\nWe have 2 trips heading south on the 24th of January and 11th of February.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.diveski.co.nz\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/151751399_2200202636782811_989525987107911955_o-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A journey through Dusky, Breaksea and Doubtful Sounds in Fiordland. Twelve intrepid punters departed Level 2 Wellington for the freedoms of COVID \u2013 free, wifi \u2013 free and cellphone coverage-less Fiordland for an incomparable adventure of epic proportions. Reconvening at Queenstown airport, it was all aboard the minibus for Te Anau. Dinner at the Moose […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[66,3,4,5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2680","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-club-event","category-dive-trips","category-general-interest","category-marine-life"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diveski.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2680","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diveski.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diveski.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diveski.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diveski.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2680"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.diveski.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2680\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2683,"href":"https:\/\/www.diveski.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2680\/revisions\/2683"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diveski.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2680"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diveski.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2680"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diveski.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2680"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}