Students from Parua Bay School donned wetsuits, snorkels and masks taking up much of their faces as part of a marine education programme.
The junior students spent last Thursday snorkeling at Whangarei Harbour Marine Reserve at Reotahi, where they had the chance to spot baby leatherjacks, eagle rays, sea stars, triplefins, sponges, squid eggs, and grey mullet.
The day was organised by Experiencing Marine Reserves, a marine education programme based on experiential learning of marine conservation.
EMR co-ordinator Harriet Thomas said the organisation had a new set of wetsuits specifically for Year 1-3 students.
"Engaging with the ocean is a valuable experience for children, especially here in Northland, and encourages those children to become kaitiakitanga, 'guardians' of our environment," Ms Thomas said.
The Whangarei Harbour Marine Reserve was established eight years ago and continues to evolve as a no-take sanctuary. In 2002 Northland was the first place EMR was introduced in the country, though it is now in seven regions.
It had since guided snorkel experiences in marine reserves involving 19,200 students.
-Experiencing Marine Reserves will host a number of free community guided snorkel day events at the reserve at Reotahi over the summer. The first is on January 10. Check out www.emr.org.nz.