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The Aquarium - This shallow setting with The Terrace (Franko Maps North) - This soft takes an experienced eye to recognize these
a variety of small corals and a profusion of distant dive barrel has a narrow spur-and- relics because they are now heavily encrusted
small reef fishes. The maximum depth is 12 groove sponges system with an abundance of with corals and sponges.
feet (3.6 meters) and excellent for the last dive soft corals, barrel sponges, and tube sponge. West Point Wall (Franko Maps South) - This
of the day. Big coral heads and outcrops start The top of the wall averages about l0m (33’) is the second of the wall dives on the south-
at a depth of 35 feet (11 meters) and stretch depth. and then takes a sheer drop. The wall west corner of the atoll. Two coral ridges,
down to 60 feet (18 meters). These coral for- is covered with high sponges, black coral, each 35 to 40 feet (11 - 12 m) long, protrude
mations are large and wide with mountain- and gorgonian fans. Look close and you horizontally from the vertical reef wall. They
ous star coral being the most prevalent. Tun- might find a white spotted toadfish. are 65 feet (20 m) apart and both ridges can
nels, arches, nooks and swim-throughs make The Zoo - An excellent photography site and be visited during a single dive. Several large
this a fascinating dive site. home to numerous nurse sharks, spotted ea- fish shoals, as well as some pelagics, are
The Corral - Drift dives situated at the south- gle rays and hawksbill turtles. seen here, but they are not as plentiful as on
ern tip of the atoll reef. The currents provide Three Amigos - Spurs that thin out to a flat- the eastern coast. Nevertheless, the coral is
a natural concentration of food which ac- ter reef. Look for eagle rays over the wall and crowned with a good display of gorgonians
counts for the greater number of fish shoals abundant reef fish on top. and the dive site is memorable for the strik-
and pelagic life. The Corral has a constant Triple Anchors (Franko Maps South) - is ing coral compositions which are very differ-
depth of 90 feet (27 meters). just south along the western reef line from ent from elsewhere.
The Elbow (Franko Maps South) – This is Blue Creek. Its bottom topography and coral
an advanced dive located at Tirneffe’s most formations are typical of this side of Turn-
southern point along the reef, which crests at effe Atoll, with coral stacks scattered across
24 meters (80 feet). The northward current a broad, gently sloping reef. Among the
flows at two knots, so relax and enjoy the coral are scattered remnants of an early 18th
ride. Pelagics seen here include dog snapper, century vessel, including a few artifacts and
horse-eye jacks, permits, Atlantic spadefish, three anchors, which give the site its name.
sharks, and sometimes a pod of dolphins. The three anchors occur along a NW/SE line
The canyons are filled with huge gorgonians over a distance of several hundred yards.
fans, with turtles, groupers, and balloonfish. Two large anchors are cemented into the reef
in an upright position and a smaller one lies
in the sand among the coral formations. It
