Niue was the first tropical island I ever dived and it still holds a special place in my heart. I remember being blown away by the diversity of fish life and the unreal colours.
Niue’s great limestone water filter
Swimming in Niue’s clear waters.
Unnervingly-friendly banded sea snakes
Richie, Sally and I spent the morning diving and photographing fish alongside one of Niue’s most recognisable marine inhabitants, the banded sea snake. These sea snakes are unnervingly friendly to begin with but you soon get used to working with them swimming in, over and around you. Richie could not get over the fact they had their forked tongues out underwater as they ‘tasted’ for the small reef fish they prey on.
Swimming alongside one of Niue’s most recognisable marine inhabitants, the banded sea snake.
Collecting urchins and seaweeds
Our second dive of the day involved collecting urchins and seaweeds which Sally, Tom and I then spent the afternoon pressing and preserving for identification and DNA analysis.
Shifting winds
The wind has shifted and may turn for the worse, so tonight we up anchor, wave good bye to Niue and head to the Va’vau island group in Tonga.
By Irene Middleton
