benthicsbelow
Benthics Below
I'm not trying to keep my head above water.
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Dear darling Natalie passed on today. She has gone to the great coral reef in the sky… or at least, her version of that.
Before she flew into the universe in a blazing trail of sparkles, I got in the water with a few friends to take some photos and muster some strength for the day.
I had no vava-voom, I couldn’t even keep up with the swimmers, so I chose to float around by the island. And I reminded myself to make every moment count, as I moved through the water looking at small, beautiful things in a healthy and willing body.
Love you Natalie me dear dear friend. Thank you for inducting me into your family - what an honour to be loved and accepted but them as one of the tribe.
Like you said to me a little while back, being in the water this year has indeed made me a different person.
And it’s 100% for the better.
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Goat Island.
Aaaaaaaand, I got back in.
The sun has been beautiful. I had to drag myself to the water, but it was totes worth it. T’was practically tropical (give or take 10 degrees). Such a buzz to have a clear day to take photos.
#sea clearly#visibility#fish photos#full frontal fish#snapper#marine reserve#ocean beauty#fish are friends#goat island#aotearoa#freediver#underwater photo
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I made a thing.
I had a crazy inspiration a few weeks back.... “what if I could make like faberge eggs... but with, like, sea eggs!!!”.
I KNOW RIGHT!!??
The theory was this:
if I can pull this off, its going to be super doops pretty.
doing an activity like this brings some of my crafty roots back into m'life and I could maybe even sell them??
focusing on such specific and delicate movements is a great outlet for my hyperactive mind
In Aotearoa we call these lil creatures kina, and y'all in other places call them sea urchins. When I'm out freediving I see lots of them in the nooks and crannies around the reef. I normally cant help but collect a few and stuff them down my wetsuit gloves in an attempt to bring them home on one piece (which is not always successful!)
I have soooo many kina shells at home now, so I decided that only way to test my theory was to order some crystal diamantés (I made sure to buy glass not plastic ;)), and get out my jewellery tools when they arrived.
At the weekend, while feeling very very tired, I finally sat down and started to experiment. The shells are sooo delicate that even a teeny bit of pressure can make them crack. However after a few fails, I finally managed to hand file every little white bump on the main rows (where the kina spines are attached to the shell) off this shell, and then carefully 'drill' a tiny hole (again with a needle file) in their place, so I could glue in the diamantés.
Did it take me a few hours? Yes, but it was worth it!
So here we are: 'Test' subject number one (shout out to all you marine enthusiasts that who got that joke btw).
Now I just need to figure out how to drill the perfect hole size so all the little sparklies sit perfectly flush against the shell.... ahhhhhhh pipe dreams.
#sea urchin#kina shell#aotearoa#ocean treasures#faberge#crafty mc craft face#new zealand#sea sparkles#diamantes#hyperfocus on the daily
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Today is the start of a new thing.
Today, (challenge day 244) I chose not to get in the ocean.
I have been tired and worn out for so so long due to ‘life n shit’ and, if I’m honest, I have not been feeling motivated or excited about the daily grind of getting in the ocean for a while now.
I always knew that it would be the ‘after winter’ that would be the most challenging. I’ve been swimming through rain, thunder, sickness in 13-15 degree temps... and the muddy grey water of the last month or so have taken my experience to a different level.
When I started this challenge (on 01/01/22) I set myself the goal of getting in the ocean everyday to remind myself why I love it. And I really, truly have achieved that ... in more ways than I could have imagined to be honest.
In January, I felt totally overwhelmed by the idea of getting in the water everyday, but I did it.
In February, I found my groove and started to get into my gopro. It wasn’t just for documenting my swims and dives, I was starting to see the beauty around me in the ocean and leaned more into capturing photos of what was there.
March was beautiful. Long sunny days and cool dips in the evenings with my friends, chatting in the water and taking photos of Arlo bombing off the old wharf. I also got inspired to take video in the water, and made my very first short film - A Day In The Reserve.
April was bonza. Kate and James took me to both the Poor Knights and to the Mokahinau Islands... both of which are just dream places for me, my heart could not have been fuller. The water was clear, I dived deep and I got to photograph ALL the things.
May was cooler, I photographed anemone covered buoys at Ti Point and also ticked off ‘Mantis Shrimp’ on my bucket list of creatures to meet. But I also started to see some of the sadness in the water with fishing bycatch and the general disregard for the ocean’s well being from the wharf fishers.
In June, I began to retreat into myself a little more, as the water became more green and my dive times got shorter. The light became more interesting and I took to photographing sea hares and invertebrates which stood out in amongst the misty water.
July was challenging. I took one of my saddest photos and my heart was sore for a while after that. I also had a couple of trips to hospital which interrupted my flow and meant that I missed some days. I chose to get back in and keep going, but it had been tough. The reserve offered a few rare days with clear vis, but the light was still so low I couldn’t get clear shots. I spent quite a bit of time in the gullies at Matheson B in the hope of getting a something on camera, but I was feeling a shift.
In August I started to loose momentum. I was dealing with big life things on land and exhaustion was creeping in. I had the dear company of my friends in the swim pod which helped me keep moving towards the water, but it was getting harder to feel motivated to be in the ocean and some days I was not loving it at all. I kept going because, well mindset and all that. But I was questioning why I was putting myself through this, when my burnout was so deep that I couldn't feel the benefit of the dopamine and serotonin from the cold water immersion anymore. I was getting in to keep clocking up the numbers, and more often than not, it felt like a chore.
And so here we are in September. After spending a lot of days reflecting on the water and lately, more often that I’d like to admit - recoiling from it, I realised that by holding myself accountable to this rule, I am working against the very thing I set out to do. Which was to be in the water, feel fully connected and love what I am doing.
I realise that I am losing my connection to the moana by holding myself accountable, and that instead I need to honour my own tikiwātanga and transform this challenge into a next step. I reached my goal a while back, and I’m ready to move on to something new.
I have hands down taken my freediving to new depths (sorry for the pun... not punny, I know), seen exquisite things and hard things, learned to be more stealth in the water than ever before, and also how to use my gopro to just about it’s maximum ability. I have met new animals, had days with my friends that are just priceless, cried and laughed under water and made deep deep connections with people all because we share a love of the water. I have also learned how to video edit all so I can share more of what I see and am so excited about the photos I have to share, and the ones to come.
I also have plans for to restore the coastline where I dive and to work for, and with it. But for now, I am going to use this time to rest, restore and level up.
And in the meantime, I am going to sit in gratitude for the fact that I am right by the water and it is there for me whenever I feel that little sparkle and the urge to get back in. It will probably be tomorrow, haha. Lets see.
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Challenge day 243
Evening.
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Although I know this, I really I needed to hear this today.
Hello new generation of marine biologists! I need to express how important good relations with fisherman are. Some enthusiasts and students seem to get angry at fisherman often, and lay blame to them. But they are a really important source of information for research. They spend more time at sea than you or I likely do, and their livelihoods and/or passions are tied to a healthy ocean. They've likely seen things that could be very influential to potential research.
From catch records to personal anecdotes to conservation. Fisherman are a bedrock source.
Here's an example: the coelacanth was discovered to be quite alive after consulting with east African fishermen, who had been catching them for quite a bit. With their help, an ROV was able to find them in the wild.
A personal example: I recently interviewed fishermen at a local pier to gather information on sixgill sharks around Tacoma, and learned of a group of poachers that have been illegally harvesting them at the pier (they are protected in Washington State). I was able to get more information and provide it to the proper authorities. And i also know when the sixgill sharks now appear around Tacoma.
As you go out into the world and learn new things, please keep fishermen in mind. They might just clue you into something very interesting.
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Challenge day 242
Nordic Bay w / The Pod.
So tired today, but I went down to Nordic at lunch with the pod to get in the water. The vis was good but the waves were stirring everything up pretty bad. There was even a little clown nudibranch being pushed around in the wash as I swam out. (I tried to anchor it on a rock but it held my glove instead, and went straight back into the current when I removed it).
Next I passed the first few rocks where the fishermen were, so I went to take a look. I saw a live kahawai with a hook through it’s back on a live bait lure... F$%K.
Poor thing, it was clearly suffering :(
The fisherman was using a balloon (... a fucking balloon!!!) as a float. Gah, no thought for the ocean or what they leave behind. I videoed the fish struggling, because I think it’s important that people see this stuff. If I’d had my dive knife, I would have set it free.
After a whip round the rocks (which were very rough and rocky) I came back into the bay which was full of pretty sights. On my way out of the water, I spotted a baby pipefish holding onto a teeeeny piece of sea lettuce (Ulva. sp). I filmed it riding the swell with lovely curls in its back, what a little daredevil!
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Challenge day 241
A late afternoon dip, it was chilly and I shivered as I got in and then out.
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Challenge day 240 - FIRST DAY OF SPRING Y’ALL!!
You’d think that, having to see another photo of my little hobbit feet covered sand would be motivation enough to remember my camera. But somehow, I once again forgot the gopro.
In my defence, it’s been a tiring day and I’d put money on the fact that my dopamine and serotonin are low, because I am not feeling motivated to do anything AT ALL.
Still, I put out the press release for my framework after lunch, and then I popped down at tea time to mathesons and got in the water. It was silvery and glossy and there was a little bit of swell. Very pretty indeed.
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Challenge day 239
Ti Point w / The Pod. 1.8kms
I dropped Sid off at the vets super early for x-rays today. We’re ruling out anything that could be causing pain cause he’s been a bit off lately. I was expecting to have to wait around, Tanja (our vet) said it would be better to pick him up later in the day. So I just had time to race home, pick up my swim things and meet the pod for a swim. It was a small group today - Erin, Pete, MJ and Jesse and it was a great.
It was raining when got in, but Erin sang ‘swimming in the rain’ (a new version of ‘singing in the rain’) which kept us all motivated, and we also agreed that we would have coffee after as a treat. We went right out to the point and back, and I made a point of swimming the whole way (which is part of my plan to get my fitness up for summer).
There is always lots of different things to see when I follow the swim route... heaps of juvenile eleven armed star fish, a big old horse mussel and lots of mantis shrimp burrows too in some spots. I love also swimming over the colony of cockles out by the beach - you just don’t see them in those kind of numbers down by the field anymore. I was also kind of alarmed at how excited I was to see a single blue mussel on the buoy rope today. These important creatures should be in their thousands through our estuary, because they are a vital part of the ecosystem. However like the other shellfish, they have been over gathered and now there are hardly any at all.
Even with the Rahui thats been placed at Whangateau for the last few years (a Rahui is a Māori principle used to regulate or restrict human activity - in this instance, shell fish gathering - for the future well-being of the people and natural resources), this ban still hasn't been enough to see the health of the bay bounce back.
I love being in the water, but it makes me happy and sad.
There were also some cool anchor structures I hadn’t seen before and the new wharf is also coming along! All in all, a great way to spend some time today.
#ti point#new wharf#rahui#how can we replenish our shellfish?#I wish I was a magical scientist with all the money in the world to do it
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Challenge day 328
Another rough day at the bay, and I forgot the GoPro AGAIN!!! 🙄
Anyhoo, Michelle and I met for an early morning swim while Sam took Sid for a walk. We pretty much natter the whole time we’re in the water and it’s a great place to ‘talk it all out’. I also love that I get to do doggy paddle, which is probably my all time favourite stroke.
We bumped into Chris at the buoys who had brought his nephew Aidan along for his first winter swim (poor lad!). Michelle had to shoot home but Sam and I had a cup of tea with the boys on the bench and we made each other laugh which was lovely.
I’m feeling a small amount of improvement everyday, slightly less stressed and slightly less exhausted which is great. Cause spring is just around the corner… though you couldn’t tell from the water temp today!
Photo is from my evening walk with Sid, Marg and Ruby. It was a blustery eve, but refreshing.
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Challenge day 237
I casually threw my togs into the car before taking Sid for his walk this morning, incase I felt like a dip on the way back.
Of course, I forgot the GoPro.
It was brisk and I was in and out!
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Challenge day 236 (part two)
Goat Island Marine Reserve w / The Pod.
After a quick lunch stop at Leigh Eats with Jarmo, Rhana and Milo, I headed up to the reserve to go for dive two with the pod.
The sun was out and the wind had dropped - ABC bay looked glossy as, so I followed the pod up to the point to see what was mooching below the waves.
The visibility still wasn't too great, which was disappointing but there were heaps of snaps around (about 15 tailing me at one point!) and also quite a few eagle rays.
I swam all the way out to the point to see how it was looking at ‘The Gauntlet’ but the reserve seems a little beaten up by all the rough weather. There were also a surprising lack of crays in the usual spots. Hopefully, they have moved to a less surgy place to hang out.
I’m still feeling disappointed with the quality of my photos. I don’t think a light rig would make any difference when the vis is poor, and to be honest, perhaps I need to go back and look at the quality of what I was taking at the beginning of the year and see if its any worse. I have lots of thoughts about moving on from my gopro, but that would be a LOT of money and take a lot more thought and organising when planning my dives. Hmmm.
Also, a baby seal dead on the beach at the reserve. Its weaning time for NZ Fur Seals now and unfortunately a lot of them don’t make it. This little baby was less than a metre long and decomposing. I took a photo to add it to the DOC reports and maybe they will come grab it so it’s not on the beach for too much longer.
Still, I got out of the water feeling like my ribs and lungs were finally expanding, and tired enough that my nervous system had dialled down a couple of notches. Let’s hope that continues into tomorrow.
#goat island#marine reserve#freediving#goprophotography#underwaterlife#underwater photography#sea life#marine
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Challenge day 236 (part one).
Matheson Bay w / Mozilla
I had two dives today. I met Jarmo (aka Mozilla) down at the beach in the morning to take him out spearfishing. Although I’m vegetarian and don’t harvest from the sea, I respect Mo’s values about always eating what he kills and that he takes sustainable species. He’s still a young lad but makes his own spearguns - he’s a very clever dude. Today he speared a couple of small (and abundant) reef fish - a goat fish and spotty.
The water was still hazy but the Champia. sp iridescent weed was everywhere and a pretty sight to behold :)
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This post is a perfect example of the type of love letter I’m expecting my future husband to woo me with....
Fuck yeah!!
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Challenge day 235
I skipped the ‘big swim’ at Nordic and settled for an afternoon float at the bay. Hoping to get in for double dive tomorrow (with Mozilla in the morning and then with the pod later), but lets see how I go!
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