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From: TSW
_: 5
Date: 28-01-10
Time: 20:55
FYI, this event went very well despite some rough weather on the crossing in the 25 gusting 35 knot winds. The area surrounding Blue Maomao arch was the selected location.
The disposable camera photography competition (the most popular category) was won by Dwane Herbert, who with his buddy Julian Hansford also won the National Spearfishing Champs 3 days later. The winner of the underwater digital competition was Darren Shields - one of NZ's most talented spearo's. These guys are exceptional freedivers with awesome skills at finding fish.
Dwane was awarded 24 species of finfish taken with 24 photo frames, although with some serious doubt about the quality of the judging - I counted 31 species from looking at his pix (indeed he deserved to win regardless of the judging!).
The PK turned on the usual selection of goodies, with longfinned boarfish, lord Howe Coralfish, 2 species of drummer, spotted black groper, bluefish, some unusual wrasses, and some single spot demoisselles all getting 'shot'. It was a challenge to get multiple species in one frame with no burleying of kina allowed - so divers resorted to dropping dead kina shells from the surface, banging on rocks, etc, to bring fish into one frame - with only limited success.
I think this was a very positive exercise as many of the spearo's who had not dived PK before, or at least for several decades, got to experience the thrill of swimming with all the big snapper and see how reserves can change things.
There's nothing like diving in a marine reserve to convince people that they are indeed a good thing.
Last changed: 28-Jan-2010