Goat Island: Try Diving Experience Review

Alright, so you’re thinking about checking out the Goat Island Half Day Try Diving thing, are you? Well, you’ve come to the correct place. This review will, very much, give you the lowdown, like your pal explaining what you’re getting into. Forget stiff travel brochures. I’m just going to give you a straightforward scoop so that you know what you’re getting into before you book.

What Exactly is Goat Island?

Okay, first off, Goat Island isn’t, in a way, an island that’s roaming with goats! The actual name is Cape Rodney-Okakari Point Marine Reserve, and it’s just New Zealand’s first marine reserve. Established way back in 1975, that place has been a protected area for a surprisingly long time where marine life could bloom. Think, just a bit, of colorful fish, massive underwater forests (we’re talking about kelp!), and so many cool creatures going about their lives without too much human meddling. The spot is really known for pretty clear waters, especially, which makes it prime territory for anyone that’s even remotely interested in either diving or snorkeling. In short, very much worth your time to come explore if you, very much, love underwater adventures.

What Does the ‘Try Diving’ Experience Offer?

The ‘Try Diving’ experience, generally, is geared toward complete beginners. Never breathed underwater with equipment before? That’s, generally, totally fine! That kind of excursion is designed to, might be, get you accustomed to what scuba feels like. The tour will probably include a briefing with experienced instructors. That is, you’ll learn the very basics of diving safety. Also, just so you’re in the know, you will get accustomed to the equipment too. The dive takes place in pretty shallow waters, nearly always close to the shore, that is where it’s, clearly, calm and manageable. You will not go straight into the open ocean depths. Remember it’s for beginners. A trained instructor is with you the whole entire time. They help you sort of get comfortable.

A Step-by-Step Rundown of the Half-Day Adventure

So, what can you sort of expect, specifically, from start to finish? Here’s what your half-day could, possibly, look like:

Arrival and Briefing: You show up, possibly at the dive center, and that is, just a little, where the fun begins. A friendly instructor will, basically, sit you down and then explain the dive theory basics, show you the scuba gear, and then go over some safety things. This is the time to sort of ask any and all burning questions!
Gear Up: You’ll be assisted to fit your wetsuit, mask, fins, and the BCD (Buoyancy Control Device). It looks a bit complicated, but it’s, pretty much, pretty straightforward. The team just assists you in making sure that everything fits just properly.
Pool Session: (Sometimes) Some places will take you for a quick spin in a shallow pool so you get accustomed to breathing underwater just before you hit the actual ocean. When you feel, that, too, just a little, less awkward.
The Big Plunge: You then, seemingly, walk towards the beach, that is, in a way, right near the marine reserve. Instructors will, pretty much, help you into the water, and once you’re, might be, comfortable, you’ll then descend slowly into the shallow area.
Underwater Exploration: For around about half an hour or so, just depending, you, similarly to your guide, just tour the shallows, pointing out all kinds of underwater delights. Expect to sort of see plenty of fish and other sea creatures, that is, unless the visibility is bad.
Debrief: When the moment, seemingly, comes that you’re, alright, back on dry land, there will be a post-dive chat. So then, that is, really, just where you talk through whatever you have just, definitely, seen, ask some questions, and generally just feel really good about having had your first scuba experience.

What I Enjoyed About the Experience

I, for one, found the instructors to be especially kind and encouraging, particularly that I was feeling super nervous when I came. They make, almost, everyone feel more relaxed and confident. Even if you’re just sort of naturally a bit hesitant, they have, very much, the patience of saints. The whole entire experience was rather well-organized, to begin with, right from the pickup to the actual underwater bit. The underwater landscape at Goat Island, more or less, is, certainly, very special, that is a great introduction to anyone, in that case, just trying it out for the very first time.

Potential Downsides and Considerations

Ok, let’s very briefly keep it real. Even if, perhaps, Goat Island is stunning, it’s susceptible to those weather shifts. If you, honestly, have booked a day where visibility is bad due to weather, you, similarly to your visibility, too, won’t see a great deal. That, certainly, is often the nature of diving. Always try to find out what happens if there’s, definitely, bad weather cancellation. Moreover, because it is such a great spot, especially during weekends and holidays, Goat Island, obviously, can get very, extremely, crowded. You just may not get that serene underwater feel you sort of might be looking for.

Tips for Making the Most of Your Dive

Book Ahead: To, anyway, dodge disappointment, definitely book ahead, mostly through the peak season.
Check the Weather: It may sound really obvious, that is, always check out the marine weather forecast prior to going. If, rather, the wind and the swell look dreadful, give that trip a miss and sort of reschedule.
Bring the Essentials: Pack sunscreen, your swimwear, a towel, plus a bottle of water to, obviously, keep hydrated. If you do, similarly to you, burn quite easily, then wear a rash vest beneath the wetsuit.
Listen to Your Instructor: Hear, listen, believe. Respect the instructions. Those dudes, really, know what they’re doing, also ensuring you have a trip you can really have fun in without stressing out or something.
Relax: It’s easy to become nervous, although, attempt, clearly, to relax and just like, soak up that entire experience. After all, this may, conceivably, just be the start of, literally, something great.

Who is this Experience Ideal For?

This ‘Try Diving’ experience is just about really good if you, also, are:

A total newbie wanting to give scuba a crack.
Someone sort of not quite sure they need to get certified just yet, and you just wanna try.
People which is on a vacation and simply seek to really inject some sort of adventure inside their trip itinerary.
Anyone searching for anything pretty accessible within Auckland to just get up near the outdoors and simply experience anything.

Alternative Activities at Goat Island

Not very keen about that scuba element thing, almost? No stress! Goat Island, conceivably, has got more activities to really provide. Snorkelling will just be an apparent one: rental a kit after which simply go research the shallows with simply that snorkel. When diving or snorkeling, taking simply that trip inside that glass-bottom ship is simply that awesome approach to watch the ocean after which never get simply that feet rainy (ideal for kids, actually seniors who seem to usually are not overly stable onto simply that feet). Simply just take pleasure in hanging just in that beach! Deliver some sort of have a picnic, swim about just a little, perhaps simply hike throughout close by coast trails after which appreciate all those scenic landscape.