There’s no denying the excitement of an adventurous day spent out in the wide-open expanse of the moana, especially when it involves a family outing.

On this day, Julz and I had the privilege of spending time on the ocean with a beautiful family – complete with a ten-year-old boy named Patrick who had an insatiable desire to spear his first fish, and his 12-year-old sister Nelly who, despite being well-versed in marine ecosystems, was not particularly interested in getting in the water this day, mainly due to a fear of sharks. This instantly sent me into teaching mode, to help provide support to overcome her fears. Challenge accepted. So, we steamed off into the blue and pulled into one of our favourite spots, found a sheltered little bay, and anchored up to enjoy the surrounds.

Ahuahu/Great Mercury Island

Ahuahu/Great Mercury Island is a captivatingly beautiful location known for its vivid aquatic life. The clear waters of Ahuahu resemble a shallow, serene, oceanic nursery — the ideal setting for our tutorial session. Once settled into our little slice of paradise I spent some time having a good k?rero with Nelly about some of her fears and managed to get her comfortable enough to just have a swim. Meanwhile, her little bro Patrick was already in the drink, splashing about having a ball, while Mum and Dad relaxed top side with Julz. I ended up kitting Nelly out in my dive gear and we both jumped in to join Patrick for a snorkel. Once she was in she was pretty much good to go! I cracked open some kina so the fish would come in and the kids just lit up. It was so cool to see how excited it made them. They tried diving down to meet the ika and I could see they could use some support on their technique. I offered a little freediving lesson to Nelly, knowing her brother was going to be under Julz’s wing soon, and she happily agreed.

Learning the Ropes

Taking the plunge, we began with simple instructions on breathing, duck diving, and equalisation techniques. Nelly showed exceptional keenness and took feedback like a champ. After a few attempts she was easily and effectively duck diving to the bottom (it was shallow, don’t freak out), swimming around, and then back up to breathe with ease.

The viz was amazing, with the sun shining and lighting up the glistening bay, it made for the perfect learning environment. We could see everything! Initially hesitant about kina, I plucked one up and showed her. She then took it upon herself to give it a go. She dove calmly and streamlined, plucked one off and cradled it up with delight to show her prize to her parents.

Julz cracked it open, and she bravely tried it. This kotiro was impressively fearless, far surpassing my expectations. It’s tough to persuade even half my friends to taste kina, yet here was a 12-year-old willingly giving it a try. She expressed a fondness for the kaimoana, although it remained unclear whether she was genuinely enthusiastic or merely being polite.

A Stroke of Good Fortune

With every passing minute, Nelly’s prowess was unfolding spectacularly. I jumped back up on board our waka to tap Julz in and told Nelly to follow the boys to observe and practise. I was already so proud of her progress and new skills and thought that the kina was already the icing on the cake; however, while her brother was engaged in spearfishing target practice with Julz, she returned to the boat excited. Now, spearfishing was not even on the radar for Nelly, so when she came back I never expected what would unfold next.

“I saw a big black and white fish… with a funny snout” – Nelly

“Are there two?” – Renee

“Yea” – Nelly

“Are they on that weed edge over there” – Renee

“Yea” – Nelly

“OMG go get Julz and tell him there are boarfish over there!”- Renee

Nelly had no idea of the real bounty she had stumbled upon and was probably a bit shocked by my reaction. It took every bone in my body not to jump in and shoot one myself as this fish still remains unchecked on my personal species list! Boarfish are usually found on weed edges in deeper water, but this pair were in just three metres of water… just the depth we’d been practising in. This was her perfect opportunity.

A Triumph to Remember

Guided on the stalk by Julz, this perfect student dove quietly and calmly, manoeuvring her way through the kelp, aimed the speargun, and fired a perfect shot. On her first-ever freediving attempt, and first time ever even holding a speargun, she managed to secure a coveted boarfish! This triumphant feat left us astounded and filled me with pride. I couldn’t stop repeating how epic this achievement was, trying to convince her that this wasn’t just any fish for a first-time spearo! And she found it herself! I was so pumped for her.

Guided by patient teachers, the active learner’s calm traits seemed to naturally fit the ocean environment. This day was truly magical. Afterward, we received a photo of the dinner the family prepared using their catch. Clearly, we had introduced a new fan to the world of ocean freediving and kaimoana gathering.

Passing on the Torch

In retrospect, becoming a freediving instructor has been an incredibly rewarding experience for me. Coupling my skills with Julz’s extensive spearfishing knowledge, we hope to continue providing a safe and educational space for more ocean enthusiasts. The sight of new faces emerging from the water with their first catches will undoubtedly bring more joy in the coming summer.

We cherish such encounters as they remind us of the deep connections we can form with the ocean. Nelly’s story stands as a testament to the transformative power of the Moana: turning a hesitant observer into an enthusiastic participant in just one day.

September 2023 - Renee Taylor
New Zealand Fishing News Magazine.
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