Dive Pacific for New Zealand Underwater Association

18/06/2026

Well, there's good news - and there's bad news today.

The good news: Minister Moneypants 'please don't mention the $63K travel bill I racked up for a single journey, complete with 24-hour standby limo and business class airfares' Jones' controversial and unpopular Fisheries Amendment Bill has been delayed. Note that's not 'abandoned' or 'scrapped' - he's just said the Bill could use some more 'panel beating'.

Potentially the timing of that slight understatement of good news was to try and cover over the other piece of news today - that two orca have been found dead as commercial fishing bycatch in two separate incidents in May.

Naturally, Shane Jones is calling these 'accidental captures' and has come up with various hypotheses as to how it happened - twice - including that somehow the orca were already dead when they happened to accidentally jump into two separate fishing nets - but it's OK, he says. Because 'these things happen'. Well - they do if you're using outdated set nets.

Given the size of the orca, they couldn't be recovered.

18/06/2026

Few marine lovers and underwater photographers are unaware of the incredible legacy Andy Belcher left. As part of a series paying homage to the Maketu Kiwi whose talent put him on the world stage, we've teamed up with his daughter, Ocean Mead, to tell the tales - and show the incredible photos - that Andy encountered during his lifetime.

Today's post is about the time Andy met a fish that's almost as well known as he was - Boris the Grouper. Head into the comments to read the story and see some of Andy Belcher-Legend Photography's incredible work.

12/06/2026

Show your support!

In a few weeks' time, four teams from New Zealand will travel to Turkey to represent their country at the 2026 CMAS Age Group World Underwater Hockey Champs. Their secret weapon? A cluster of them, and their coaches, all hail from the little city of Nelson, at the top of New Zealand's South Island!

The squads will compete in the Under 24 Men's, Under 24 Women's, Under 19 Men's and Under 19 Women's, under the watch of some internationally-renowned underwater hockey legends.

These fantastic athletes have a real chance of bringing home some serious metalware from the champs - a few more cups and medals to add to their already very impressive haul.

Click on the link to find out more about the teams and how they are training for the champs, and why Nelson has become the unofficial home of New Zealand underwater hockey.

Best of luck to everyone at the CMAS Champs - we're right behind you!

https://www.divepacific.co.nz/post/nelson-athletes-dominate-international-underwater-hockey-team

12/06/2026

Are we doing enough to safeguard our shellfish?

Another aquaculture company, and a freight company, have been fined for illegally moving thousands of green-lipped mussels and oysters from a controlled zone to an unaffected zone in a case brought by Ministry for Primary Industries.

Waimana Marine Limited and Solly's Freight Limited have both copped fines for the breaches - but these breaches are far from the first to happen. In fact, these fines are the third fines issued this year to companies that are putting our shellfish industry at risk.

Click on the link below in comments to find out more about the charges that were brought in Nelson District Court this week - and the ones that came before it.

Are these fines enough? How can we deter the negligent and the greedy from risking large-scale destruction?

08/06/2026

Did you know our oceans absorb around 30% of the CO2 produced by humans?

Today, June 8th, is UN World Oceans Day and we are very much here for it.

This year's theme is 'Reimagine: Beyond the world we know; a new relationship with our ocean'.

Click on the link for more on why this global mission has never been more relevant to us in New Zealand.

World Oceans Day theme focuses on a better relationship with our moana

02/06/2026

We may not have had great weather for the long weekend, but that doesn't mean there's no good news! Hawke's Bay locals and visitors
will soon be able to access a whole new world underwater, thanks to the tireless work of volunteers from LegaSea Hawkes Bay and The Twofold Bay Charitable Trust, who are turning a decommissioned trawler into an artificial reef.

Click on the link to find out more, including when the wreck will be safe to dive.

Decommissioned fishing vessel to become artificial reef in Hawke's Bay

28/05/2026

Two recent incidents involving people illegally taking kai moana has resulted in fines and home detention - but does the punishment fit the crime?

Read in the comments below to find out more, and let us know - what would you consider a fair punishment for either or both these offences?

28/05/2026

UPDATE!

Due to the incoming weather (thank you very much, long weekend weather gods 🙄, the Spearfishing New Zealand Mercury Bay Open will be held a day earlier than planned.

The event is now taking place this Saturday May 30th at Flaxmill Bay; all the details of when, where and what to bring is on the link in comments 👇

Great call from the Open team, and a solid reminder that we can't control the weather - but we can make sure we're not in the water when the conditions aren't good.

Going to be a fun one - maybe even a record or two broken!

27/05/2026

We're almost at midweek - must be time to celebrate something, right? How about kahawai!

May 28th is National Kahawai Day, and we thought we'd celebrate it with a few fun facts - and a few questions for you too 😃🐟

Click on the link in comments to see how well you know your kahawai - and if you're lucky enough to be out on the water this Wednesday, don't forget to congratulate your kahawai if you see one 😀😀

21/05/2026

Every year, lives are lost in New Zealand due to preventable drowning - and 2026 is shaping up to be a rough one.

According to data from Water Safety New Zealand, as of May 12th, 2026, there has been a total of 41 preventable drownings - 36% more than this time last year.

The data shows some pretty sobering statistics - and the biggest increase probably isn't the age demographic you think it might be.

Click on the link for more info.

https://www.divepacific.co.nz/post/drowning-statistics-on-the-increase