Woohooo .. Diving The Great Barrier ....

the view from the plane as it approached Claris

the island that is as opposed to the reef. Yip, we had a five day break on Great Barrier Island which lies off the east coast of Auckland. This is the same place that the BBC filmed their Castaway program, funny h0w we'd pick some place like that for our hols.

This is one of New Zealand's most remote communities with no reticulated water or electricity and about 600 permanent residents. It's a handy 30 minute flight from Auckland airport to get to this haven of tranquility.

spot the diver

On arriving at our accommodation, Lisa was repeatedly quizzed on whether she had a hair drier or not - apparently a hair dryer is the natural enemy of a baby leccie generator! It's amazing to see all the houses with solar panels on the roofs and rain water tanks, it just goes to show how with a little thought and effort we could be more self-sufficient.

Medlands beach

In true form there is an Irish pub on the island - I reckon it must be the most easterly in the world (the International Date line is only around the corner). However, also true to form, the pub was closed for refurbishments and it was the only pub on the island. It was like Hawkes Bay over Easter all over again.

Daisy Anemones

We did manage to get in a few days of diving. The first day was around a small island call Rabbit Island - a pretty average day's dive. The next day was definitely above average. Dived Outer Sunken Rock in Tryphena harbour - a pinnacle that can only be dived at slack tide due to currents. Fantastic vis at 30m and all sorts of life for Lisa to take snaps of with yet another new camera (she's killed the other one).

George the Octopus (don't ask me, that's what Lisa reckons his name is)

In fact we have a first, some video footage of an eagle ray that buzzed Lisa near the end of our first dive, here....