Expeditions 2004
December
Manuae Atoll voyages - a joint venture with Pacific Divers (a Rarotonga
based dive company). One big thrill was the discovery of a half-ton
giant reef grouper, the largest reef fish in the world, and the
only one we have ever seen. Link
to a happy customer.
November
Suwarrow National Park voyage to pick up the Environment Service
wardens (who are stationed on the atoll from June to November every
year). We completed a marine survey with Vince Kerr (a NZ scientist),
who discovered plenty of new species for the Cooks’
fish list.
September/October
Palmerston Island voyages for the Cook Islands Government (including
the first dentist for 10 years).
June/July
Palmyra Atoll, Northern Line Islands voyage with Natural History
New Zealand. Palmyra is US owned, and managed as a wildlife sanctuary
by Conservation International (www.ci.org) and the US Fish &
Wildlife Service (www.usfws.gov). NHNZ is a premiere natural history
production company, and they were recording footage for their “Equator”
series (www.nhnz.co.nz).
January/February
Pitcairn and Henderson Islands voyage with tourists. We departed
from Mangareva in the Gambier Islands, French Polynesia.
Expeditions 2003
November
Gambier Group small islets rat eradication in partnership with SOP-Manu.
This was funded by the French Polynesian Ministry of the Environment.
October
Pitcairn Island freight and passenger voyage for the British Administration
– now that’s a 3000 km trip in each direction from Rarotonga
– Luckily for the passengers, they were boarded at Mangareva
in the Gambier Is, French Polynesia.
September
Manuae Atoll with sports divers. Plenty of whale watching on this
voyage - their singing kept us awake at night.
August
Palmerston Island voyages to transport locals (population ca.50).
These voyages doubled as dive trips – where the sports divers
not only enjoyed the pristine underwater world of Palmerston, but
were also treated to the hospitality of this small island community.
May/June/July
Suwarrow National Park (Cook Islands) voyages for a rat eradication
project. This was a joint venture with TIS, the Cook Islands conservation
NGO & local partner of BirdLife
International. We also had sports divers aboard, who enjoyed
the underwater riches of this famous atoll.
March/April
SOP-Manu Tuamotu Expedition: US Fish & Wildlife Service and
New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade funded biological
survey of ten uninhabited Tuamotu Atolls, French Polynesia. www.manu.pf/Tuamotu.html
January/February
'Exercise Bounty Bay' British Navy led expedition to the Pitcairn
Islands. Surveying ship wrecks (including the HMS Bounty)
and a detailed marine biological survey including visits to Henderson
and Oeno Islands. www.bountybay.org.uk
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