Dive Procedure
The Dive Master will be in charge at all times, he will report directly to the Expedition Leader. Before the dive, divers will be briefed by the divemaster on relevant information, level of experience required and safety precautions for the dive. All divers dive as members of dive buddy teams, this usually means a minimum of two divers diving together. All dives will be planned conservatively allowing a significant margin of safety at all times, and at the discretion of the Divemaster/ Expedition Leader.

Qualifications required
Each diver participating in scuba diving with Heritage Expeditions must be trained and certified as a scuba diver, with proof of certification beyond entry level, by recognized scuba training organization. Prior to going on an expedition, it is the responsibility of the client diver to ensure that adequate training and experience is gained. As a guide divers should have 50 logged dives and be an Advance Diver or higher (equivalent qualifications accepted). A current fitness to dive is also required from a Medical Practitioner and all divers will be required to sign a Divers Release form.

Equipment required
Heritage Expeditions provides air tanks (compressor on board), weight belts are not supplied but weights are available onboard. A Naiad semi-rigid inflatable or similar will be used as the dive tender and will have a safety driver. Divers will be expected to provide the following equipment - gauges/ regulator/ octopus, wetsuit (a 5mm wetsuit should be more than adequate), mask, snorkel, fins, accessories such as gloves, booties, dive knife, etc. A dive log and a dive computer are highly recommended.

Environmental
The Kermadec Islands are located on the boundary between temperate and tropical marine environments, with an assemblage of unique and often fragile organisms. The islands and surrounding waters were made a marine reserve in 1990, the collection or intentional disturbance of any marine organisms is strictly prohibited, while diving every care should be taken to minimize any disturbance to the marine environment.

Potential Dive Locations

Raoul Island

• A. Dougall Rock
Located offshore from D'Arcy Point on the southern side of the island, here the bottom of the plummets to around 300 metres, the natural up welling of currents ensures a rich concentration of marine life. Colourful marine life covers the rock while fish reminiscent of the tropics hide in crevices, further out Galapagos sharks cruise inquisitively.

• B. Fishing Rock Area

• C. Meyer Island Area
The western side of Meyer island is usually sheltered and provides some excellent diving and snorkelling opportunities along its entire coastline. The shore has a range of habitats which provides homes for a variety of corals and fishes, fish often encountered include demoiselles, blue maomao, striped boarfish and giant gropers along with Galapagos sharks.

• D. Boat Cove Area
There are a number of reefs and rocks around this part of the island which is generally sheltered from the prevailing weather. Snorkelling and diving there are opportunities to encounter giant groper and schools of pelagic fish. Due to its location on the shady side of the island this area does not have corals which occur in other parts of the island.

• E. Herald Islets and Chanter Islands
Located on the 50m depth contour, with shallow diving on their western sides and deeper diving on their eastern sides, there are a number of diving opportunities. The area has a range of small sessile animals living on rock faces, superb grouper encounters and a wide range of fish life living amongst broken rock areas.

Other dive locations
Our diving opportunities will not be limited to these sites, we will spend time exploring this infrequently dived region for new and exciting dive sites.

Macauley Island
Macauley Island is an extinct volcano of relatively hard rock, there are several potential dive sites around the island depending on weather and sea conditions. There are records of good amounts of both pelagic and inshore species from divers who have dived at Macauley.