Welcome
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www.seathings.co.nz
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Recent Adventures....
Updated July 2009.
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Click image to check out'My Tasmania and Melbourne Adventure'
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Click image to check out'The AMAZING WHANGAREI HARBOUR' |
Click image to check out the'Abbey Caves Adventures' |
Click image to check out'Passage Island Sponges' |
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Click any of the following for 'Old Adventures'. 'Poor Knights Adventure Christmas 08'
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Where:
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Tasmania/ Melbourne Australia | ||
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How:
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Time off following a Dive Medic Course in Tasmania | ||
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When:
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July 2009 | ||
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Formations
at King Solomons Cave, Northern Tasmania. Formations at King Solomons Cave, Northern Tasmania.
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Bay of Fires, East Coast, Tasmania.
Bay of Fires, East Coast, Tasmania. |
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Bay of Fires, East Coast, Tasmania.
Bicheno, East Coast, Tasmania. |
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Wineglass Bay, Freycinet National Park, Tasmania.
Wineglass Bay, Freycinet National Park, Tasmania. |
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Big Belly Seahorse, Bicheno, Tasmania.
Cowfish, Bicheno, Tasmania. |
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Wandering Anemone, Bicheno, Tasmania.
Urchin, Bicheno, Tasmania. |
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Leafy Seadragon, Bicheno, Tasmania.
Yellow Sponges |
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Leafy Seadragon, Bicheno, Tasmania.
Pencil Urchin, Bicheno, Tasmania. |
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Jewel Anemones
Yellow Sponges |
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The Whangarei Harbour See the following for more info. Department of Conservation- Whangarei Hbr Reserves The setting up of a Marine Reserve by Kamo High School The Story of NZ Marine Reserves (including this one) in National Geographic- A good read..
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Where:
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Whangarei Harbour, Northland NZ. | ||
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How:
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On the little Seathing... | ||
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When:
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Lots of times, whenever time permits. | ||
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Stunning colonial Ascidian from a secret spot in Whangarei Harbour. Rarely seen anywhere else. It's called Sigillina sigillinoides
Very srange looking Red Colonial Ascidian, common in Whangarei Hbr. Amazing.Synoicum kuranui |
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There is a healthy population of red crays in the Harbour.
Triplefin Pair |
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Polymastia Sponge
Tube Worms. |
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Polymastia Sponge
Clown Nudibranches on Sponges and Chaetopterus worms. |
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Jewel Anemones
Yellow Sponges |
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The Whangarei Harbour See the following for more info. Department of Conservation- Whangarei Hbr Reserves The setting up of a Marine Reserve by Kamo High School The Story of NZ Marine Reserves (including this one) in National Geographic- A good read..
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Where:
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Motukaroro- Passage Island Sponge Gardens- Whangarei Harbour | ||
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How:
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On the little Seathing... | ||
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When:
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January 2009 | ||
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Passage Island is located in a high current area, providing an excellent habitat for abundant sponge garden.
Golf Ball Sponges- Tethya sp. |
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Callyspongia ramosa.
Callyspongia latituba and Tethya. Jewel Anemones Corynactis |
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Jewel Anemones- Corynactis
Yellow Sponge and Ancorina. |
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Yellow Sponges.
Callyspongia ramosa and yellow sponges.. |
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Ancorina, Polymastia.
Callyspongia ramosa |
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Callyspongia ramosa
Ancorina and Gem Nudibranch Dendrodoris denisoni |
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Yellow Sponges (to be Id'd)
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The Motikaroro Marine Reserve is situated in the Whangarei Harbour in Northland. It has many drawcards including a high abundance of juvenile fish, seahorses and resident reef fish but by far the most impressive feature of the area is the amazing sponge life. The best sponges are on the deepest side of the island. Beware of strong currents. See the following for more info. Department of Conservation- Whangarei Hbr Reserves The setting up of a Marine Reserve by Kamo High School The Story of NZ Marine Reserves (including this one) in National Geographic- A good read..
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Click here to go back to the top of the page.
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Where:
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Abbey Caves- Whangarei | ||
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How:
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Just down the road, about 15 minutes from central Whangarei. | ||
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When:
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Whenever we have friends to show around. | ||
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Abbey Caves are about 15 minutes out of Whangarei on Abbey Caves Road. Plans of the caves are available at Whangarei Library- 'New Zealand Cave Atlas'- New Zealand Room- #551.447
'The Rock Forest' on the way to Abbey Caves. Well worth a look, nice limestone karst. |
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Weathered Limestone. The Abbey Caves consist of three caves- Organ, Middle and Ivy Cave. All are easy to access, Middle and Ivy Caves are through trips and Organ cave is in and out the same entrance.
Scramble into Organ Cave.
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Organ Cave
Ivy Cave Entrance, the most impressive of the three cave entrances. |
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The caves have good glow worm populations as well as freshwater Crayfish, Eels and Cave Weta.
Glow Worms. (Better pix coming soon, hopefully...) |
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Formations- Organ Cave
Formations- Organ Cave |
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Boulder Choke at the end of Middle Cave. It's quite a challanging climb out of Middle Cave.
Formations- Organ Cave |
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Abbey Caves are situated on private land but are open to the public at no charge. Care should be taken in the caves, the entrances can be very slippy. The caves are prone to flooding during heavy rain, they should be avoided if rain is forecasted. Make sure you have spare torches, expect to get wet.. The caves take a couple of hours to explore all three.. Check out www.wadedoak.com for an account from a caving expedition many years ago in Abbey Caves. |
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Click here to go back to the top of the page.
All Pictures were taken by Crispin Middleton
Any
suggestions let me know:
seathing@seathings.co.nz
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