Celebrating Seaweek
For Seaweek this year we asked our community to share their stories of connection with the moana/ocean. We loved seeing the diversity of stories from our big blue backyard.
Read the stories below:
“I love seeing big animals! Here are a few of my cool encounters in and around the moana:
- I bumped into a huge manta ray on a dive one time!
- Dove under a school of scalloped hammerheads at Cocos Island, Costa Rica!
- Helped at a turtle hatchery and got up at dawn to release the hatchlings into the water - there was even a leatherback nest!
So many cool things about the ocean!”
Check out this video montage which highlights some of the magical experiences Anthea has had in the moana!
“I had a trip to Great Barrier Island with school. It was such an amazing trip that allowed me to be deep in nature and get to experience both the ups and downs of our ocean (our boat ride back involved a big storm that made the boat float up and then drop straight back down, which wasn’t a great feeling after being given chunky pea soup for lunch!). A big part of our trip was that we had to do an expedition that involved us kayaking from our accommodation out to a small island (Wood Island I believe). The water was just so beautiful to be on, seeing aquatic wildlife swimming underneath my kayak and just enjoying how beautiful our water and country is. Once on the island we did something called coasteering, which is exploring the coast at sea level by climbing, jumping and swimming around the coast.
At the same time we were able to check out little rock pools with crabs and other sea creatures, and just take in everything this beautiful little island had to offer. Such an incredible experience and so much fun flipping off the rocks into the water.”
“I had a fun experience in the moana at Oriental Parade this summer! It was around 7pm, and I was floating in the calm warm water, staring across the harbour to the sky! When suddenly I felt something brush my wrist and wrap around it gently. I got a shock at first and lifted my arm out... a long bit of seaweed had wrapped around and formed a bracelet. I felt like a mermaid!”
“I went night diving in my favourite dive site and experienced it from a whole new perspective. Seeing the changes in behaviour, colour, and species. The light from your torch makes every scale and tone pop so intensely
Seeing the bioluminescence flare with every kick is something that will stay with me forever.”
“Running barefoot with the sound of the ocean on the beach = school holidays ”
“I loved learning to surf with my brother every summer. Core memory for sure!”
“I have always loved exploring rock pools, especially with my Grandparents. It’s so awesome that I’m now in my 3rd year of my marine bio degree and have discovered why I decided that was going to be my major.”
“I absolutely loved growing up camping near the moana. We would surf, boogie board, kayak, swim and go mud crabbing, fishing and rock pooling during the day. In the evening we would play cricket on the beach at sunset and then play board games by torchlight! The best adventures!
One year we were camping during a cyclone and had gone into town to get supplies. While we were out, the tent pole went through the tent and we got a call from friends saying to come back immediately as the road had flooded over with king tide and flooding!
We ended up getting accommodation and invited all the kids at camp over to play board games inside!”
