Wetsuits were dusted off last month for the first Experiencing Marine Reserves (EMR) programme run in the Coromandel in four years.
Between Covid, cyclones, a summer of never ending easterlies and road closures, the snorkel gear has been dry.
Cue Jorja Gilmore, who came on board with local provider organisation Friends of the Te Whanganui-o-Hei Marine Reserve Trust.
“I am so excited to be able to help get the Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust’s EMR programme back up and running,” Jorja said.
The school programme, run by the non-profit trust, consists of classroom work to discuss marine biodiversity; practical snorkelling lessons; a snorkel session in a local marine environment; and an excursion to a marine protected area.
Senior students from Netherton School took part during their school camp as part of their term-long focus on water learning.
Jorja ran the two-day event alongside EMR’s national co-ordinator Lorna Doogan, taking 70 students for snorkelling sessions at the eastern end of Hahei beach, and in the Purangi Estuary at Cooks Beach.
“Both days of snorkelling couldn’t have gone any better, with the kids coming out of it with greater snorkelling abilities and a wider knowledge of both the marine and estuarine environment. There were many smiles, laughs, (happy) screams and some very tired but happy kids by the end of it, with many of them wanting to carry on their newfound snorkelling passion and wanting us to come back for a third day of snorkelling,” she said.
The programme delivery was supported by DOC Marine Rangers Marie Everth and James Blackmore.
“The best part of the day was seeing the joy and excitement on the kids’ faces after their snorkel around the reef at Hahei,” Marie said.
“To hear them chatting about the octopus they saw, snapper and other marine life really puts into perspective the effect and importance the EMR programme has in getting kids connected to the moana and the conservation of our oceans.
“We look forward to supporting Jorja in the future, enabling kids across the Coromandel to experience marine life in their backyards and hopefully inspire the next generation of ocean conservationists.”
DETAILS: Go to www.mountainstosea.org.nz for more about the programme.
