The Mountains to Sea Wellington community dove into an ocean of excitement during their snorkel season, making a splash with a series of memorable underwater adventures. From exploring vibrant marine ecosystems to creating a tide of awareness about ocean conservation, participants had the opportunity to dive deep into Wellington harbours, or enjoy korero with local community groups on shore, learn about rimurimu, or get hands on with a rocky shore tour!
After donning their gear and being paired up with snorkel guides, attendees dived beneath the waves. Snorkelers encountered a wealth of marine life, from the beautiful octopus to the highlight of the feedback received by the team - the humble sea cucumber! Over 560 attendees got the opportunity to jump into the world beneath the water for a marine experience. One anonymous participant stated about a snorkel at Taputeranga Marine Reserve
“It's my first time and I always watch(ed) the world under the water through documentaries and tv. It's a whole new world for me and a place I am always curious about. The experience today made my dream come true seeing the reef, blue fishes, and kelps. It's exhilarating! I will keep coming back for more. Thank you for the amazing organisation!”
Beyond the thrill of exploration, the wider Wellington community also made waves in conservation. This year other local organisations such as Places for Penguins, Kiwi Conservation Club, and Predator Free Wellington all hosted stalls raising awareness of their mahi and the impact it has on the local environment. It was a huge bonus to provide a space for korero and collaboration between these groups and the local community. With a record number of community organisations involved across the season, Tegan Ranstead, the event coordinator spoke on these highlights
“It was an absolutely awesome season with so many highlights for myself and the team! We had a record number of attendees at a single snorkel, and the most partners, and volunteers for a season, so we're super grateful to the wider Wellington community for coming down to help us out! It was awesome to have so many families and friends coming down to give snorkelling a go and explore te taiao”
“We held snorkels in two new locations this year. It was a great opportunity to expand our snorkels into new communities and reach more people than ever! We’re hoping to continue growing relationships in these communities into the future!” Says Tegan
With the Summer season under their belt, the Mountains to Sea Wellington team are looking forward to the 2025 season!
These events are brought to you in partnership with Greater Wellington Regional Council, with additional funding support from WLG Community and Environment Fund, Nuku Ora, and Water Safety New Zealand, and is organised in collaboration with Experiencing Marine Reserves- EMR.
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