It was an awesome day out on the Hauraki Gulf today as we headed out to Sail Rock and Taranga Island, in the Hen and Chicks, for a couple of great dives.
Sail Rock
It was a quick 45 minute journey up from Omaha in calm seas, and we took shelter from the ocean swells on the southern side of Sail Rock for the first dive. A large pinnacle out from Mangawhai Heads plunging to 50m+.
Kitting up at Sail Rock.
The divers were meet by large stingrays and huge schools of blue mao mao once they entered the water and drifted gently along the deep walls enjoying the excellent visability. From Sail Rock we took a short trip across to Taranga Islands in the Hen and Chicks group for hot drinks and a snack before the second dive.
Taking a break at Taranga Island with Sail Rock behind in the distance.
Our second dive was on a pinnacle rising steeply from a flat white sandy bottom at 25m. Full of small caves and overhangs and adorned with colourful jewel anenomes. The highlights were encounters with large octopus, moray eels and more stingrays.
Octopus at Hen and Chicks
The wind got up a little on the return trip, but we still managed to get back to Omaha by 2pm…plenty of time for a stop at Matakana on the way home for an ice cream !
Unloading the boat at Omaha after a great days diving !