Milford Deep Underwater Observatory (Visit this link)
The beauty of Fiordland on the south west of the South Island of New Zealand is well known. A vast area of sheer mountain ranges, glaciated valleys, crystal clear lakes, turbulent rivers, pristine primitive rain forest and towering waterfalls - it is nature at its best. The natural values of the region have long been recognised with the formation of the Fiordland National Park and more recently World Heritage Area status.
What is not so widely known is that the stunning beauty above the water is also duplicated below the water. The fiord contains a unique and beautiful underwater environment - there is nowhere else like it in the world. Situated in the middle of the Piopiotahi Marine Reserve, the Milford Deep Underwater Observatory opens up to everyone, with comfort and ease, this special world previously the exclusive realm of the diver.
You can see precious black coral and other brilliantly coloured corals. There are 11 legged sea stars, delicately shaped anemones, and intriguing snakestars wrapped around the black corals. Spotted and banded perch and triplefins swim among the tube worms, while sponges and underwater fauna grow outside the Observatory windows. This remarkable environment has generated much interest. It is the home of the Brachiopod, a shellfish which exists in much the same form as they did 600 million years ago and such oddities as the amazing fish like the scarlet wrasse that change sex when needed! And this domain is the glacial formed and ice water fed Milford Sound – Avalanche country.
This type of underwater world is usually only found below 40 metres - in the open sea, but the black coral is present only eight metres below the surface – how? It is due to the dark oily looking water which hides the coral just below the barren looking surface. The extremely high rainfall and watershed contributes to an abundance of fresh water which gradually makes its way out to the Tasman Sea with each tidal change.
Black coral at this depth could have been harvested for jewellery. However, after an expedition by the New Zealand government scientists, commercial cropping was banned and Harrison Cove, the site of the Observatory, has now been made into the Piopiotahi Marine Reserve, protecting all underwater marine life.
Immerse yourself in the hidden wonderland that is Milford Sound.
http://www.milforddeep.co.nz