Begin your tour by meeting the team at the Goat Island Dive and Snorkel Centre. Here, your friendly staff will get you kitted up with a mask, snorkel, fins, and a wetsuit. You will then drive in your own vehicle 2 miles (3km) to the Goat Island Marine Reserve, where you will meet with your snorkel instructor.
Learn about the history of Goat Island and the marine life you are likely to meet at New Zealand's first marine reserve. The experience starts with an introduction to using the equipment and some snorkelling and swimming techniques. Before jumping in you'll receive a full, thorough safety briefing.
Everyone will make their way to the water. The group will stay in shallow waters while getting used to the equipment and the strange sensation of breathing while looking around underwater. Once everyone is feeling confident and comfortable, the group will make their way out to sea to continue the adventure.
After the tour, you will be able to use the equipment for the remainder of the day to carry on exploring at your own pace. You will be part of a natural aquarium, with many varieties of colourful fish and marine life including blue maomao, snapper, eagle rays and stingrays, blue cod, octopus, kahawai, as well as crayfish. Sometimes dolphins or orca visit the reserve and will often play with the snorkellers.
