Kōura Dive Survey, a community-based monitoring programme run by the Waiheke Marine Project.
About the survey
Each year, we get volunteer divers and skippers out to survey kōura (crayfish) populations around Waiheke Island, directly supporting the rāhui laid by Ngāti Pāoa and contributing to the knowledge base that underpins their efforts to restore the health of their coastal waters. It's a meaningful, community-led kaupapa, and it only happens because of people who give their time and hearts to the moana.
How you can get involved
We're looking for:
Skippers with boats: Our skippers are the backbone of the survey, getting divers out to sites each day. We know this is a significant commitment of time, expertise, and resources, and we want to look after you. The Waiheke Marine Project contributes a set amount per diver on board, and each diver also contributes $30 toward operational costs. Skipper registrations are open beyond the general closing date. Please get in touch at any time
Scuba divers (open water or higher): Conduct underwater transects monitoring kōura abundance and broader ecological health. A fantastic way to contribute to citizen science.
Freedivers: We're running a parallel freediving strand this season using the Hauora Moana methodology, as a closed group of 20 bringing together tangata whenua and the wider community. Limited spots remain.
Key dates
The survey runs across every weekend in June, with the first weekend of July as a backup. General registration closes 3 May: register here.
Skippers, please don't let the registration deadline put you off. We'll take skipper registrations whenever, so reach out directly if you're keen.