Locally owned on Aotea / Great Barrier Island
Your local Great Barrier Island shop for bait and tackle, freedive gear, surf accessories, ding repairs and reel servicing. Stocked for the way we fish, dive and surf on the island.
A lean, well-chosen range that covers the gear islanders and visitors actually need — without the freight wait.
Medium bait range and the rigs, hooks, sinkers and traces you'll actually reach for.
Proven patterns and weights for snapper, kingfish and workups around the island.
Masks, snorkels, fins and weight belts for clean, simple freediving setups.
Wax, leashes, fins, traction pads — the essentials that ruin a session if you forget them.
Patch it yourself or drop it off — repair kits on the shelf, repair service on the bench.
A small Aotea merch range — wear it home, wear it on the water.
Quick turnarounds on the things that keep you on the water rather than waiting on the ferry.
Drop it off, get it back ready for the next swell. Honest pricing, no waiting on the mainland.
Strip, clean, lube and check — keep your reels running smoothly through the salt and sand.
Fresh braid or mono on your reel, spooled tight and ready to fish.
Nearly 30 years working with composite materials — hull repairs, structural fixes, and practical problem-solving.
Tip replacements, guide re-wraps, and general rod repairs — back in action without waiting on the mainland.
We're growing the shop in stages, keeping inventory tight and matched to what the island actually asks for. Here's where we're heading.
Combos aren't on the rack yet while we keep the opening range tight, but we can source one for you on request. We're aiming to have a selection in store from November onwards.
Hi, I'm Barry "Baz" Illingworth — owner of Baz's Salt Water Supplies Ltd, trading as Aotea Fish Dive Surf. This is our story.
Fishing, boating, and spending time on the water have been a big part of my life for as long as I can remember. Long before moving permanently to Great Barrier Island in 2021, I spent years sailing across from Tauranga on a friend's yacht, getting to know the island, its people, and the incredible waters surrounding Aotea.
My wife, Sharron, has family connections to the island that go back much further, and her two sons attended Kaitoke School before we made the move here ourselves. Great Barrier has been a cherished part of our family's story for many years.
Today, we are incredibly proud to call this unique island home.
Before launching this business, I built a career in the composites industry beginning in 1998 — nearly three decades of hands-on experience working with fibreglass and composite materials. Those skills directly support the repair services we offer, helping locals and visitors keep their equipment in good working order and on the water for longer.
Where did the name come from?
"Baz" is my lifelong nickname, and Great Barrier Island is affectionately known locally as "The Baz" — it felt like the perfect name for a business built around island life, community, and everything connected to the sea. Most people will know us through our trading name, Aotea Fish Dive Surf.
My vision is to create more than just a retail business — a welcoming place where locals, boaties, fishers, divers, surfers, and visitors can drop in, share stories, exchange knowledge, and stay connected with what's happening around the island and on the water. The door is always open for a yarn.
Owner
Barry "Baz" Illingworth
Based on island since
2021
Composites experience
Nearly 30 years (since 1998)
Company
Baz's Salt Water Supplies Ltd
Trading as Aotea Fish Dive Surf
Community first
A place to connect, share local knowledge, and hear what's on the water.
Respecting Aotea
Repairs over replacement, sustainable thinking, protecting what makes the island special.
Honest advice
We'll tell you what will actually work for your situation, not just what's on the shelf.
Come and see us on Aotea / Great Barrier Island. Local advice, the gear you actually need, and no waiting on a freight boat.
Looking for a specific reel, a service quote, or want to know what's in this week? Drop us a line and we'll come back to you.