One of the best things about running a paddleboard and kayak rental business at Palm Beach is getting to spend so much time on the water. And on days like today, when the sun is out, the wind is light, and the ocean is calling—it’s impossible to resist.
I grabbed my kayak, mask, and snorkel and set off from Palm Beach, aiming for Nani Island, a little rocky islet just off the coast. The paddle out was cruisy, the water was calm, and within minutes I was pulling up onto the small pebble beach on the island’s sheltered side.
After securing my kayak, I slipped on my snorkel gear and headed for the channel between Nani and the mainland. Straight away, I spotted some big snapper lurking beneath me, cruising slowly through the deeper water. I hovered above them for a while, watching as they glided effortlessly through the channel.
Then—out of nowhere—a huge school of anchovies appeared, moving in perfect synchrony. Within seconds, the calm turned into chaos as a group of kahawai launched an attack, slicing through the baitfish like torpedoes. Seagulls screamed from above, diving in to snatch their share of the feast. It was one of those unreal moments where you feel like you’re inside a nature documentary.
After floating there, taking it all in, I swam back to the beach, dried off in the sun, and got ready for the short paddle home. As always, Nani Island delivered—a little slice of adventure, just a stone’s throw from Palm Beach.
If you’re keen to check it out for yourself, come see us at WATSUP Waiheke—we’ll get you set up with a kayak or paddleboard, and you can head out on your own mission. Who knows what you’ll see out there?
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