Diving for Love: Celebrating 30 Years with a Paua Pearl Adventure

There are days on Arapaoa Island that are so perfect, I half-expect a movie crew to pop out from behind a bush and yell, "And that’s a wrap! Perfect take!" One of those cinematic, pinch-me days was when Simon and Sally came to celebrate their Pearl Anniversary with us at Arapawa Blue Pearls. They were full of stories, love, and laughs; it felt less like work and more like crashing someone else’s wholesome rom-com.

Behind the Scenes, At the Heart of it All

Most days, I’m tucked away behind the scenes at Arapawa Blue Pearls, keeping the wheels turning and the chaos mildly entertained. Scheduling, logistics, emails. Think of me as the behind-the-scenes wizard of organisation and checklists. You won’t catch me in a wetsuit, but if there’s a schedule to juggle or a minor crisis to quietly fix, I’m your person.

What I really love, though, is when I get to escape the land of spreadsheets and step into the real action, greeting guests, helping their day go smoothly, and soaking up all the happy vibes. I may live in a world of logistics and to-do lists, but deep down, I’m just here to make sure people leave smiling, relaxed, and maybe wondering if they can move in permanently. Whether it's pearl farm tours or paua diving New Zealand experiences, it’s always rewarding to witness guests fall in love with the magic of this place.

When Simon and Sally came for their Pearl Anniversary, it was one of those rare days when everything actually went according to plan. I briefly considered buying a lottery ticket. Honestly, it was so smooth, even the printer behaved.

A Paua Tour with Heart 

Simon and Sally flew all the way from the UK to celebrate 30 years of marriage, which, let’s be honest, is basically the platinum medal of commitment. It’s a milestone about as rare as a perfectly formed paua pearl. 

They were totally hooked, leaning in like we were revealing the secrets of the universe (which, to be fair, our bucket water system kind of is). They asked smart questions, nodded like sustainability intellectuals, and lit up with the kind of awe usually reserved for magic tricks or puppies in sunglasses. It was less of a tour and more of a wholesome sustainability fan club meeting.

Watching them vibe naturally with the farm's backstory felt like witnessing a heartwarming plot twist in a feel-good movie. It reminded me that every pearl farm tour, every paua diving New Zealand moment, isn’t just about dropping knowledge bombs, it’s about lighting little sparks of appreciation that make people go, “Whoa… I get it now.”

The Dive: Finding a Pearl, Catching a Memory

Then came the part of the day that will live rent-free in all our minds for a long time. We set up a private free dive for Simon and Sally, guided by our legendary Director, Antonia (basically the ocean’s fairy godmother). It started like a watery treasure hunt: Simon and Sally gliding through the shallows, eyes peeled for their very own paua pearl. That’s the beauty of paua diving in New Zealand; it’s part thrill and part meditation.

And then, bam! That flash of colour nestled in a shell, and their faces lit up like they'd just discovered Atlantis. That pearl wasn’t just a take-home trinket but a full-on memory nugget, sealed in saltwater magic.

Next, Antonia took Simon under her wing for the grand finale: learning to find and harvest a live paua himself: no drills, no drama, just quiet, hands-on magic. The ocean did its calming thing, Antonia did her steady-guiding thing, and Simon got that wide-eyed joy you only get when you’re doing something cool and slightly out of your comfort zone. This is what paua diving New Zealand is all about: connection, adventure, and a little ocean-born transformation.

From Ocean to Plate: The Catch becomes a feast.

Later in the day, our co-director Mike, an equal parts chef, storyteller, and paua whisperer, stepped in to show Simon how to cook his hard-earned catch. Under Mike’s watchful (and slightly amused) eye, Simon learned to clean, slice, and pan-fry paua like a pro. Then came the big moment: he and Sally tried paua for the first time.

It was a full circle, sea to sizzling pan to wide-eyed first bite. That little culinary moment turned their dive into a fully connected, ultra-personal paua pilgrimage. You could see it on their faces: this wasn’t just food, it was “whoa… we did that” on a plate. A true highlight of pearl farm tours is seeing guests try out paua, completing the experience.

“It didn’t feel like a holiday, it felt like visiting friends”

Whanaungatanga: The Ocean Between Us

Simon’s words hit deeper than your average “thanks for the tour.” They tapped into something woven into everything we do here: whanaungatanga. It’s a big word with an even bigger heart, about relationships, shared moments, kinship, and the connection that makes you feel like you’re part of the whanau, not just a visitor.

Out here on Arapaoa Island, every paua farm tour is more than just showing people around; it’s a chance to live and breathe that value. Whether we’re swapping stories, sharing kai, or just soaking up a quiet moment by the sea, we’re building bridges not just between people, cultures, and between all of us and the moana that gives us life (and delicious seafood).

Sustainability, for us, isn’t just about farming practices or pearl harvesting techniques. It’s about how we treat people, welcome them, laugh with them, and create experiences that stick with you long after the salt’s washed off your skin.

Reflections from the Shoreline

Long after Simon and Sally waved goodbye, I stood for a moment on the wharf, watching the boat pull away into the deep blues of the Marlborough Sounds. I often think that’s when the experience truly lands, not during the tour itself, but afterwards, in the quiet reflection. Paua diving New Zealand isn't just about finding pearls underwater; it’s about discovering something rare and valuable within ourselves, too.

We see it all the time on our Marlborough Sounds tours, people arriving curious and leaving transformed. Whether it’s the hushed awe during a tour, the laughter shared over a fresh paua lunch, or the quiet wonder of spotting a pod of dolphins on the way back to Picton, these moments leave lasting impressions.

For those considering tours in Picton New Zealand, our little island offers a rare kind of richness, one not found in guidebooks. Come for the pearl farm tour, stay for the connection. Come for the paua diving New Zealand thrill, leave with memories woven into the rhythm of the ocean.