Exploring The Moana At Night
Last Christmas we bought dive lights but never tried them out so this Christmas we have used them. As we had not been out at night before into the moana we read up on safety tips and decided to ignore the one that said, "Keep an eye on the lights on shore" as there are no lights here.
Heading out our first night we timed it so that we would be out at dusk and by the time we finished it would be totally dark. We also choose a rock pool so we would not have to deal with surges while we got used to being in the dark in the water with only our head lights and torch. Of course I also had to work out how to take photos at night underwater.
If anyone is going to attempt this I recommend to start at dusk in a calm area so that you get used to the lessening light as this worked well for us.
Two nights later we headed out again and this time it was fully dark when we headed out, and this time into a gut. Wow! What a world waiting to explore! Fish sleeping, packies out and about and the eels! I saw a white eel, about 600mm long and narrow with black stiripe markings on its top fin (running from the edge to the body in lines) but as I have not worked out how to get good photos missed it, even through it spent about 5 minutes twinning around carpophyllum. We were wondering if this was a juvie of something - would you have any idea @clinton?
We also saw, what we thought may be a conger, because of the wide head poking out then retreating.
A New Zealand Piper sped past, stopped, reversed to see what we were doing, then took off again.
I so have to learn how to photograph all of these amazing creatures at night. Next week are nice lows so will be having another go and hopefully I can get photos of all the amazing creatures I have not seen and I missed these times around!
Observations
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Shield Shell (Scutus breviculus)Observer
tangatawhenuaDescription
Mid intertidal zone at night
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Crested Blenny (Parablennius laticlavius)Observer
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Even at night these keep an eye on things
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Walking Seahare (Aplysia juliana)Observer
tangatawhenuaDescription
I know this is not the smallest one - glove marks on second photo 10mm apart. Grazing in the intertidal at night.
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New Zealand Big Eye (Pempheris adspersa)Observer
tangatawhenuaDescription
Walking out to a gut to explore we spotted this swimming in the shallows. Night time
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Packhorse Rock Lobster (Sagmariasus verreauxi)Observer
tangatawhenuaDescription
One of five out and about at night
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Silver Sweep (Scorpis lineolata)Observer
tangatawhenuaDescription
Lurking in a gut at night.
Comments
Awesome - looks like you had a whole heap of fun.
oh aye @pjd1 - heaps of fun and a whole new world of critters to see - and of course a wheke :)
Oh of course - suffice to say I didn't see any around Taranaki coast!!!
Great post, TW. I'm so jealous that you are able to do this.
Happy New year @heni! Well, the next time your husband comes up these ways, come with him and bring a wetsuit then I can take you out at night if the tides are right. If they are not, we can still go out during the day - would be great fun!
Happy New year @pjd1 and whanau! You may need a Wheke Spotting 101 refresher course @pjd1 LOL
That would be great. :-)
Oh aye - will send you a photo essay on orange peeling skills once I figure out how to compress it all....
Neat post! I recently got an entry-level trail cam...didnt realise that some creatures can see the glow it emits at night when triggered. Look forward to what camera/lighting arrangement you come up with. As always, enjoy your obs.
Kia ora for that @let_wild_be_wild :)
Just back from another night dive but still playing with lighting. I turn the flash off but it is the positioning of the lights that am still working on.
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