Regenerative Diving Programme
Regen Diving update - May 2023
Ko Kohukohunui te Maunga
Ko Tikapa te Moana
Ko Ngati Paoa te Iwi
E nga mana, e nga iwi, tena koutou katoa;
In January we eagerly welcomed 24 Divers to the Waiheke Marine Project as part of our 2023 Regen Dive program. 10 of our 2023 divers are Mana Whenua, 14 are from the Waiheke community including 2 refresher divers.
The WMP Regen dive programme was created to ensure more mana whenua and locals could participate in the many marine regeneration actions around the island, including the annual kōura dive survey. Read more here.
One of our families travels in from Ngaruawahia whilst another one of our divers travels in from Paeroa! Honestly the interest to be a part of this kaupapa (pipi) is out the gate, the sheer diversity of this cohort is wonderful, we have been so fortunate to have them all partake in this amazing kaupapa.
Before embarking on their practical skills journey, each diver must dedicate at least an hour of their own time over a 2 week period, studying and completing their online PADI homework. This is compulsory and divers must achieve an 80% pass to continue on their journey.
The next phase of their learning, divers must complete a confined water section.
The divers met with the Waiheke Dive team at the Olympic Pool in New Market to complete this part of their certification.
The final stages of the Open water program is to take all the new skills that each diver learnt in the pool, to the beautiful waters of Waiheke.
The past few months have been full of regen dive activity! We now have 15 of the 24 regen divers Padi Scuba qualified ready to join our 21 from last year. Leanne, Kaihāpai Rukuruku / our regen dive coordinator has been making sure our new divers feel welcomed and at ease with each of the steps to getting qualified.
To prepare our divers for the upcoming Kōura/Crayfish dive survey we have been running a number of confidence building dives. The focus of these is to get divers feeling happy underwater and practicing their observation and recording skills.
Some of the divers have overcome nervous hurdles, some of them were natural fish-like beings as soon as they got in the water. Some of the more confident divers have even been out there spotting Kōura already!
“As one of the fortunate divers to have recently witnessed the activity of our taonga/treasured species the Kōura, I honestly can’t wait to get back in the water and start recording just how many.” Leanne Castle- Kaihāpai rukuruku
Our divers from last year have also been busy over the season participating in Kelp Gardener sessions and helping deploy and retrieve a hydrophone placed on a local reef and observation dives.
In true WMP style we are all about relationships, therefore we have a regen divers BBQ on the 30th April. The focus of the day is for the divers to connect, share their experiences, go diving and get prepared for the upcoming kōura survey.
A huge Mihi to Waiheke Marine project and its partners, Waiheke Dive and Snorkel crew, Ngāti Paoa ki Waiheke, Olympic pool, Fullers, all our fabulous friends and supporters and of course our 2023 Regen Divers.
Toitu a Marae a Tane, toitu te marae a Tangaroa, toitu te iwi
If the land is well and the sea is well, so to, is the iwi.
Arohanui,
Leanne and Carys
Coordinators
Waiheke Marine Project acknowledges the support of Auckland Foundation and Auckland Council in making this Pipi possible.
Join the Kaupapa
Since the Future Search in 2020 and particularly since April 2021 there have been active discussions about regeneration projects that the WMP can catalyse and support. Examples are the regeneration of kōura, kelp kina and the near shore reef ecosystems generally. All of these regeneration projects will have large elements of underwater activities that are accessible only by snorkelling, free or scuba diving.
The first kōura dive survey in June 2021 demonstrated that there is a huge interest in the Auckland diving community to contribute to regeneration projects via volunteer dive time. This dive survey also demonstrated that the majority of divers came from off island and few if any were Māori or mana whenua.
With some of the WMP focus points being the Waiheke Way and commitment to Te Tiriti partnership, it behoves the WMP to take steps to build the diving capabilities and capacity of mana whenua and Waiheke locals. Improved diving abilities will then enable on-island data collection, collation, monitoring and evidence based decision making for marine care actions.
As a result of this, the Regenerative Dive programme was created and has enabled 21 mana whenua and locals to learn how to scuba dive or get their tickets refreshed.
The Programme returns in 2023 - how to join ?
We are running an expanded program again this summer 2023 so to register your interest in joining the programme click here to register your interest - before 8th December 2022
Trainees from the last intake had this to say;
“Glad to be a part of the mana whenua divers to give the programme mauri. Katiakitanga is our life so are always looking for ways to contribute ourselves, our manaakitanga.”- PADI Dive Trainee
“The ocean had provided their people for many many centuries and we need to give back. Not just on waiheke but around the gulf.”- PADI Dive Trainee
“I almost quit numerous times but Adams staff held my hand and helped me through. The reason I pushed through was for the kaupapa. I'll never forget what the scientists said about the degregations of the hauraki gulf. We all have that real love of the creatures of the water and to see for myself what is happening down there and how little kai moana is a wakeup call for all of us.”- PADI Dive Trainee