With a focus on education and environmentalism, the folks at Waiheke Dive and Snorkel are passionate about spreading their love for the ocean with as many people as possible.
Now, the shop's planning a new 'dry diving' hub to allow those unable to take the plunge into the deep blue themselves to get a taste of the magic of the underwater world.
The project uses virtual reality and 360-degree camera footage to recreate the undersea environment, meaning participants can experience the thrill of diving without even having to slip on a wetsuit.
Adam Whatton, the shop's co-owner and director, says he hopes the project will inspire more people to fall in love with the ocean, which will in turn move people to play a greater role in protecting it.
"There's an old saying by Jacques Cousteau – the father of scuba diving – 'people only protect what they love'," says Whatton.
"Pretty much everyone loves the ocean – it's absolutely stunning – but it's not until you get underneath that glossy surface that you can really see the amazing life that lives there and, crucially, you can really see the threats that those places are facing."
Conservation lies at the heart of Whatton's business, which has been on the island in Auckland's Hauraki Gulf for two years.
"I always laugh and joke with people and tell them that actually the business is just a front so we can do conservation work, and by taking people diving and snorkelling it just helps pay for me to do community work in the meantime."
Whatton says he had long been dreaming of a way to share the ocean's magic with people who couldn't go diving themselves, either for physical reasons or because they are uncomfortable underwater.
However, it wasn't until he heard the dive shop had received one of 11 gifts from Chorus that his dream could become a reality.
Chorus is giving out the gifts to celebrate the completion of the first, and largest, phase of its ultra-fast fibre broadband roll out (UFB1).
It's part of a plan that will see 87 percent of all homes in New Zealand have a fibre connection by 2022.
The gifts – all given to deserving charities, organisations or businesses doing meaningful work in the community – are aimed at helping the recipients make the most of their fibre connection and reach their full potential.
"Chorus has indirectly played a key role in our new project by providing the connectivity to help create 3D footage underwater around the island and then having this on VR headsets, so that people who wouldn't normally be able to get in the water for whatever reason can have an underwater experience," says Whatton.
"What we want to do is open up the ability for people to really understand how those [underwater] ecosystems work - and if we can't get them physically in the water then this is by far the next best thing."
Chorus spokesperson Steve Pettigrew says the dive shop's involvement with the community really caught the broadband wholesaler's attention.
"We're a business based around connecting communities, and giving support to those that are creating opportunity within their communities is at the heart of what we do," says Pettigrew.
"They're a great example of a business taking on a kaitiakitanga role for the benefit of the wider community and a true inspiration."
The dive shop works closely with the local community.
In 2017, they partnered with Auckland Council to work with school children on the island, taking them snorkelling and educating them about the importance of protecting our oceans. They also do clean-up dives once a month in an effort to reduce litter in the water.
"What’s so impressive about the dive shop is their passion for the protection of the marine environment and the lengths they go to spread that enthusiasm to the wider public."
Whatton says he feels "very privileged and surprised and humbled" to be included in the list of Chorus recipients and is looking forward to putting the technology to good use.
This article is created for Chorus.
