This is the first 100% DIVE DEDICATED charter that I have done for the Kermadecs. Because of its remoteness ( 1085km North of NZ) the need for a hardy vessel (and experienced skippers) is essential.

Please read the Risks/Diving Isolated areas. It is imperritive that you know exactly what you are getting yourself into. We will be steaming for 2.5 days to get to Raoul and the same on the way back. Once you are on the boat, you are on it for 2 weeks!!!

The Flightless is a 98 ton, 26m long 6m beam ex navy vessel. So its built for challenging diving environments! Its large enough to comfortably live in the open ocean, but small enough to dive off directly. This has huge advantages.

for dive and we will be planning as much diving as we can over the course of the trip ( obviously weather pending). If you have a hunger for adventure and the need to explore places that are rarely dived then the Kermadecs are the place for you.

PLEASE call me on 027 2782250 so I can talk to you about the trip in more detail. If you want to know logistical details, costs etc etc then click the link above. These islands will blow your mind.

The Vessel - Flightless that we will be using.

Lonely outposts in the southwest pacific this isolated group of islands are the summits of huge undersea volcanoes situated along the western edge of the Kermadec trench, protruding above the ocean.

The Islands have an unique assemblage of subtropical and temperate species, testimony to the process of evolution arriving from climate and isolation. Both the plant and bird communities have been heavily modified by people who attempted to make a living from these islands, but a conservation program is restoring the island, the goats and rats have been removed and many introduced plants controlled.

The marine ecosystem which is protected by an extensive Marine Reserve is unique in the world and offers amazing dive opportunities. Because of its location far from the main shipping routes it is one of the more difficult places in the world to get to. Our annual expedition provides an opportunity to explore the island and dive in the marine reserve.

Click on this map to take you to an awesome site detailing the Kermadecs! It truly is a magnificent place!

Marine Ecology:

The marine areas surrounding the Kermadecs are the only true example of sub-tropical waters in New Zealand, and are sufficiently far away from the mainland to have escaped heavy commercial fishing. Because of the great depth of water surrounding the islands, the area around the Kermadecs shallower than 200m extends (on average) only approximately 2km from the shore line.

The marine biota has strong tropical elements, and provides a link between the Indo-Pacific province and the New Zealand region. It is so different from the rest of New Zealand as to require separate status at a major bio geographic level.

Marine algae number 165 species, with red algae making up over half of the total species listed. The seaweeds found around the Kermadecs are characteristically of small size, with most plants 15cm in height. Several algal genera show warm water affinities.

The marine communities are important for their special populations (including the endemic giant limpet (Patella kermadecensis), and the spotted black groper (Epinephalus daemelii), interesting absences (many of the tropical herbivorous fish, most of the larger brown algae), populations of species at their geographic limits (corals and crown of thorn starfish). Marine reptiles which only straggle to the mainland, such as seasnakes and green turtles, are present around the islands.

With a total marine area of 4,300,000 square kilometres, New Zealand has one of the world’s largest Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) – 15 times the New Zealand land mass. The Kermadec region represents around 15% of this marine environment.

The seabed around the islands is extremely deep. Almost all of it descends to over 1,000 metres and more than a third of it to over 5,000 metres. And the Kermadec – Tonga trench plunges more than 10 kilometres beneath the ocean’s surface – about five times deeper than the Grand Canyon.

The Kermadec Arc is the longest under water volcanic arc on the planet. More than 50 submarine volcanoes extend along the 2,500 km collision zone between the Pacific and Australian tectonic plates.  The largest volcanic islands of the Kermadec region - Raoul, Macauley, Curtis, Cheeseman and L’Esperance - are the only uninhabited subtropical island group in the Southern Hemisphere

It is estimated as many as 35 species of dolphin and whale - including the blue whale, fin and sei whales - migrate through the Kermadec region on their seasonal journeys between the tropics and cooler waters around New Zealand. A survey in 2009 recorded more than 100 humpback whales off Raoul Island in a single day.

Of about 350 species of seabirds worldwide, 39 are found in the Kermadec region, ranging from tiny storm petrels to large wandering albatrosses. Some are found only in the this region, while others – many from mainland New Zealand and our subantarctic islands – forage for food or migrate through. Up to 6 million seabirds breed on the Kermadec Islands each year.

Three of the world’s seven sea turtle species are found in the Kermadecs: hawksbill, leatherback and green. These species regularly wander through the region en route south from their mainly tropical habitats. All are considered endangered or critically endangered.

Of the 1339 species of fish known in the New Zealand EEZ, 431 of them (32%) occur along the Kermadec Ridge and Trench. But large areas of the Kermadecs– particularly those below depths of 600 metres – are virtually unexplored and it is highly likely that future surveys will reveal new and rare species.

The Census of Marine Life (the gold standard for measuring ocean biodiversity) published in 2010, estimated there were more than 230,000 species in our oceans. But the 10-year global study by 360 scientists warned of mass extinctions.

The Kermadec region is unusual for its mix of tropical and temperate species of crustaceans (crayfish, crabs, prawns and shrimps). Altogether, 88 species of crustacean are known here, of which 17 are known only in the Kermadecs. Some are new to science and some are specialised for Kermadec habitats – for example, two species of ‘vent crabs’ have adapted to survive one of the harshest environments imaginable, including searing temperatures, high acidity and toxic chemicals.

The Kermadecs have a unique population of tiny sea anemone-like animals known as bryozoans. Of 256 species identified so far, at least 38 are endemic and many are new to science. Some are ‘living fossils’, present in the oceans since the time of the dinosaurs tens of millions of years ago.

Yellow banded pirch

The Kermadecs contain one of the few shallow marine areas between mainland New Zealand and the coral reefs of the tropics. Together with the communities on Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands, which are at similar latitudes, the marine ecosystems are possible unique.

Historical Features:

Although occupation had ceased when the first Europeans visited the islands in the late 18th Century, archaeological records show that Raoul Island was settled by Polynesian seafarers, probably during the phase of expansion into the south-west Pacific about one thousand years ago. The islands may have also acted as a stopping off point on journeys between the islands to the north and New Zealand. The traditional Maori name of Rangitahua has been ascribed to Raoul Island. This may represent a European interpretation made specifically to account for an early collection of Polynesian adzes found on the island.

The absence of ethnographic records means that our understanding of the prehistory of the Kermadecs is now dependent entirely on the remaining archaeological evidence. Research and artefacts found on Raoul to date indicate that the island was occupied about the mid-14th Century, probably from the Society Islands, although Anderson (1980) has suggested two periods of occupation dating from around the 10th and the 14th Centuries. There is preliminary evidence on Raoul of material sourced from New Zealand.

There is some evidence that Polynesian occupation of Raoul may have ended as a result of volcanic eruption. Elsewhere in the Kermadecs, the presence of kiore (Rattus exulans) and charcoal (dating from the 15th Century: Johnson, pers comm.) point to Polynesian contact with Macauley Island. However, the lack of water on the island would probably have precluded long term settlement.

Polynesian settlement areas on Raoul are known to have included Low Flat and the eastern end of the Terraces, and probably Denham Bay. The inhabitants subsisted on marine mammals, muttonbirds, fishing and gardening. Crops possibly introduced by these early settlers include taro (Colocasia esculenta) and kumara (Ipomea batatas). Other Polynesian introductions included kiore, and probably candle nut tree (Aleurites molucanna) and ti (Cordyline terminalis).

The Kermadecs have had a varied history of European contact since their “rediscovery” by a British convict ship in 1788. During the first half of the 19th Century Raoul was used as a base and provisioning point for ships working the rich whaling grounds of the area. Goats were introduced to Raoul and Macauley Island prior to 1836 to provide food for these activities. Pigs were also introduced to both islands but did not thrive.

Macauley Island appears to have been burnt off during the early 19th Century, possibly in conjunction with these introductions.

From 1837 onwards there were a number of attempts to settle Raoul Island and to establish farms and crops. Although these enterprises met with little success, sheep and cattle and a number of exotic crops and adventive plants were introduced, and areas were cleared for pasture and gardens. Volcanic activity resulted in at least one evacuation from the island, in 1870.

Cats arrived on Raoul Island during the 19th Century and Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) appear to have been introduced to Raoul from the wreck of the “Columbia River” in 1921, but may have been introduced. In 1908 the first assessment of the natural history of the Kermadecs was made by W.R.B. Oliver. His recommendations included reserve protection for the island he “foretold the damage rats and goats would have on indigenous fauna and flora”.

The Kermadecs were annexed by New Zealand in 1887, and the last settlers left Raoul in 1937 when a Government party arrived to establish the radio and meteorological station on the island.

Standard CABIN (8 share) $6000.00 ea

There are 8 bunks in the forward lower hold. Not shown here but each bunk will have its own personal curtain for a little privacy.

SINGLE CABIN (2 single share) $6900.00 ea

Here you have your own personal space in a cabin. Cupboard and draw space for clothing.

SINGLE CABIN (3 single share) $6900.00 ea

This has its own ensuite with toilet. Desk, stool and fridge.

DOUBLE CABIN (1 double bed) $7800.00 ea

This is by far the best cabin in the boat. It has its own ensuite, shower, TV, desk. This is on the top deck so you also have an ocean view!!!!!

Whats Included?

Accomodation on board for the days diving

All diving

Food

Soft Drinks/Coffee etc

ALL air fills

Whats NOT Included?

You have to supply all your own gear

Oxygen is $0.04c per litre

Gear Hire (contact us for what you need)

If you need O2 for diving then this must be prearranged as we can only carry a limited amount.

Min level of training needed is Adv o/w with 50 dives. This is just so that you are comfortable in the water. This is no place for novice divers as the diving conditions, when normally fine, can become challenging.

We also need to plan our diving extremely conservatively so as to avoid Decompression problems.

You need to be physically fit and able to handle yourself independantly (not need a crane to pick you out of the water!!)

If you have ANY question about your compatibility for coming diving here PLEASE contact me and I will talk you through it.

I dont want to scare you off, but with trips like this it is really important to really understand the magnitude of such a trip. This is not for everyone and with the sheer isolation of where we are, you really need to make an informed decision on whether you want to come or not.

The biggest thing is to understand that we will be onboard a 26m vessel for 12 days out at sea. 2.5 days away from the nearest help which is NZ!!! For life threatening injuries the government will send two helicopters to come and pick you up!! So we dont want to use this unless we absolutly have to.

MEDICAL SUPPORT

I will be taking a Physician onboard with us and a fully kitted emergency medical kit. It is for your personall safety and well being.

Insurance is mandatory incase you need immediate evacuation.

We have emergency procedures in place to speed up this process but it still takes time due to the remoteness of the Kermadecsl.

While we have a Physician on board and a comprehensive emergency medic kit, there is still a lot of risk associated with diving in this remote location.

You will need to get a divers medical from your Physician before you come. Stating that you are fit to dive and are in good physical health.

We will have a sat phone for you to call home on ($2 per min)

One of the many friendly Black Spotted Grouper