On June the 10th I had the opportunity to go out with EMR to the Mokohinau islands (Moks) on Eco Warrior, the Moks is a cool place filled with holes caves and arches just waiting to be explored. We had calm blue sky sunny weather, and some clear water snorkeling. The trip was full of laughter and fun, a nice break from working in the office on images. Somewhat apprehensive with getting into the June waters, not too cold at 17 degrees in my 5mm Wettie wetsuit, which was OK, wasn’t too cold, It's amazing how good these Wettie wetsuits are for keeping warm, almost no cold water leaks were felt. Worst was getting out of the water and the second snorkel of the day was a little chilly. Altho that didn’t stop the younger folk, stripping off wetsuits and jumping and splashing in the water after the last snorkel. The underwater scenery was magnificent, well except the kina barrens which continue to be ever-present, with bare rocky bottoms that should be covered in kelp. In amongst the images is one image of myself underwater, a very rare picture, not too many of those images kicking around, the pic was taken by Lorna Doogan, she works for EMR and is becoming a really good underwater photographer. EMR runs a great program of snorkeling events around New Zealand, check it out and see what they do. https://www.emr.org.nz/

My second trip to Taranaki with my oldest son Matthew, we did Fanthams Peak track in late February, stayed one night in Syme Hut on Fantham Peak, amazing place for photography, lucked out with clear skies for astro photography and amazing dawn colours & sunsets. My son hiked up the scree slope to the top of Mt Taranaki, while I wisely stayed at Fantham Peak.

My second trip to Tongaporutu beach, the first time it was with grey skies and a rising tide. This trip we had clear weather and a very low tide at sunset. The beach was fabulous, could easily become one of my favourite west coast beaches with archways, tunnels, caves, interesting rocks & boulders scattered about, still did not to get to explore the whole beach before the tide returned.

My first trip to Tongaporutu beach, unfortunately on a heavy overcast day, the tide was on the march in and our time on the beach was shortened by heavy rain, had to hide in a cave until the rain stopped. Amazing beach for photography.

This was our first trip to Taranaki, we did a 2 day hike on Pouakai track with my son Ryan in October 2019. What a fabulous time we had, from misty days to clear blue skies and blasting winds and torrential rain on our last day walking back down to the carpark. Want to go back again when the weather is good.

One of our favourite Hauraki Gulf locations to explore with a camera. A wild place with few secure anchorages. The only downside to the Mokohinau islands is the sea urchin barrens, these have grown hugely in the last five years, and the loss of large schools of pelagic fish. We do a lot of snorkelling, and every fish seemed to be so scared off us, and tare off, when compared with snorkelling in the fantastic Poor Knights Marines reserve.

Arid islands is another favourite location if we can get an anchorage in Boat Cove, a small deep cove that is sheltered in South Westerly winds. The visibility here is quite variable from a 3 metres to 20 metres. This location does not have the large sea urchin barrens that Mokohinau islands have, but still lacks in large schools of fish that use to be here in the late 70's when I first dived this location.

In winter we did a photo shoot on the Umukarikari Track in Kaimanawa Ranges with my eldest son Matthew, had fabulous weather, the track is quite hard and steep for an old fella like me carrying too much camera gear. The views across the volcanic plateau were breath taking.