Kylee reflects on Regenerative Diving
I have always been fascinated with the moana. I think of myself as a bit of a ‘spiritual snorkeler’, where hearing the sound of my breathing while being in the water is like meditation. I have been doing this for 40 years and didn’t think it could be any better, until the opportunity came to learn how to Scuba dive.
The Waiheke Marine Project along with Ngāti Paoa ki Waiheke, have given 50 people the opportunity to complete their dive training and gain their Open Water certifications over the last 4 years. We, as island-based divers, can then get in the water and help to gather important data through the annual Kōura surveys – this is such a power way of engaging in and enabling access to an activity that is usually so hard to get started in!
I was lucky enough to join the 2024 cohort of dive trainees this year, alongside 5 others. Rob, from Epic Scuba, was our very knowledgeable teacher and the kaimahi team from WMP set us up with all the online education before our pool session at Ōtāhuhu Pool & Leisure Centre in Feb. We learned equipment set up, practiced using the scuba gear and some fun skill development in the pool, much to the interest of the local swimmers! The following week
would see us using these skills in the open water of Enclosure Bay.
Enclosure Bay is a great place to learn to scuba dive. A beach entry in a protected bay then out into a shallow open water is a perfect place to ease into before testing out the news skills. Most of us already had an intimate connecting with the moana and when a local came in as we were going out, mentioning the two bronze whaler sharks he had seen... that didn’t change anyone’s mind about getting in! If anything, it gave us hope, as it meant that yes – there is still life out there!
Scuba diving gives me the opportunity to spend more time below the surface, seeing the challenges and opportunities for ocean protection, and showing me the responsibilities we have in the ongoing regeneration of our moana. Through these experiences, I can add to my kete, tools that allow for the sharing of my observations, and hopefully inspire others to protect and conserve our taonga tuku iho.
Toitū te marae a Tāne-Mahuta, Toitū te marae a Tangaroa, Toitū te tangata. If the land is well and the sea is well, the people will thrive.
Sea you below
Kylee Matthews
Regen Diving Participant