Kōura Dive Surveys
DISCOVERY Yacht Neo
Waiheke Island, New Zealand
June 8, 2025
Leadership
Research Team
- 6 Volunteer SCUBA Divers
Project Overview
The Kōura Dive Survey, led by the Waiheke Marine Project, monitors the abundance and distribution of kōura (crayfish) around Waiheke over time, providing reliable localised data to support Ngāti Paoa, government and scientist management decisions, such as the ongoing implementation of the four-species rāhui (a protected natural area).
Duration of the Project
On going
Expedition Summary
On 8 June 2025, The International SeaKeepers Society South Pacific and volunteer SCUBA divers from the Waiheke Marine Project embarked aboard DISCOVERY Yacht Neo for a one-day data collection dive session. Six volunteer divers executed standardized transect dives at predetermined reef sites around Waiheke. Over the course of two dives, they recorded sightings of kōura—documenting location, depth, substrate, kelp cover, and visibility. In total, two kōura were observed during the dive operations. Environmental data including water temperature and visibility were also logged to contextualise the findings.
Application
Kōura are both ecologically significant and culturally valued. By engaging volunteer divers in targeted underwater surveys, this program provides vital data to inform rāhui and marine management efforts. Even with modest kōura counts, each observation supports detection of population trends, spatial usage, and ecological baseline establishment, aiding long-term conservation planning.
Locations
Waiheke Island, New Zealand
Partner Sites
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