94. Doubtfull Sound - Te Awaatu Channe Marine Reserve

Sheer walls to sandy bottoms. Temperate, subtropical, deep and shallow water species all exist because of the fresh water layer and the small temperate range.
There are two marine reserves inside the fiords where all life is protected. These reserves were preposed by the NZ Federation of Commercial Fisherman and established in October 1993.
The Piopiotahi Marine Reserve protects the entire northern shore of Milford Sound, the only fiord with direct road access. The reserve is a typical example of fiord ecosystems. The marine environment of Fiordland is as unique as its acclaimed landscape. Runoff from heavy rainfall on the mountains creates a permanent freshwater layer, up to 10m deep which sits above the sea water within the fiords. V 20-30m.
Divers will experience distorted vision as they descend through the boundary between these two layers. Good photography. The 14 fiords support the worlds biggest population of black coral trees, about 7 million colonies, some of them up to 200 years old. Black and red corals can be viewed at shallow depths 5-20m. They are home also to brachiopods - clam like animals which have been bypassed by evolution, remaining unchanged over 300 million years.
Although the fiords extend as deep as 400m, life peters out quickly in the gloomy depths. Approximately 160 species of fish have so far been recorded by divers within the surface 45m of the fiords. These range from typically warm water, to cool water, to relatively deepwater species. Warm water species include splendid perch and bluedot triplefin. Cool water species include copper moki, trumpeter, banded wrasse, and pigfish. Species usually confined to deep (up to 100m) water elsewhere include sandpaper fish and spiny seadragons. Bottlenose dolphins, fur seals, Fiordland crested penguins and little blue penguins are resident in the fiords.

The Te Awaatu Channel Marine Reserve protects a small unique area known as The Gut, near the eastern end of Bauza Island in Doubtful Sound. The Gut contains the highest diversity of species known in the fiords, and is one of the places where sea pens are found in diveable depths. Good photography. Currents are strong and this is a difficult dive.