The 3 day trip leading up to Xmas-Eve was full of great diving. Northern Arch was really busy - full of Trevally, Golden Snapper, Pink Maomao and a few Stingrays cruising on by. The wall and point had the usual school of snapper hanging around and the walls are covered in Nudibranch action. Middle Arch too had plenty of Stingrays around and there was even a sighting of a Hapuka!? Strangely enough I'm convinced that I've seen a couple at Tie-Dye Arch too. Tie-Dye was fantasic - the vis outside the Arch was maybe 10m, but once inside it opened up to 25m+. All the schools of fish were clear to see and the Stingrays were, again, gathering in fairly large numbers. Lobsters were hiding in the cracks at 18m and there were several pairs of Lord Howe Coral Fish hanging out on the walls. The final dive was at Sugarloaf and the school of Kingfish are once again out at the point (although not as large as previously - maybe it's just the time of year!?).
Now, I'm generally not the biggest chearleader for night dives, but on the previous trip one of the guests had really raved about it and this time one of them needed a buddy. So I thought, 'Yeah, why not.' I'm so glad I did - what started out as a 'maybe 30min dive?' ended up nearer 50 and only really stopped because strobes were starting to fail! On entering Blue Maomao Arch I spotted a couple of Verco's hanging nicely on the wall - I can see them during the day I thought. Onwards, and under the overhang I spotted a Janolus Ignis - if they are out already there will be loads to photograph. At first nothing! Then scanning the bryzoans I spotted something small - a Janolus Eximus (not Mokohinau!). Fantastic, never managed to get a photo before. Turning left I saw something that looked out of place - a Nudibranch I'd never seen before - extra fantastic!! Further along I spotted each of the same once again - and then loads of Janolus Ignis. Pointing some of them out to my buddy I spotted a flat white nudi that I'd seen last summer, but not managed to get a decent photo. This time I managed to get all 4 OK - YAY!! If anyone has any idea what the other 2 are let me know. These are the things that the Night Knights have to offer!!
