Page 394 - Melanesia
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MILLION DOLLAR POINT: This fascinating dive shows you coral encrusted plate coral galore. The reef extends to the edges of three main walls that
war equipment as well as a small island trader and the salvage vessel the drop down from 5 meters to 35 meters. Along the sheer walls of these
El Retiro. There is easy access from both shore and boat and the excellent massive bombies divers can enjoy the clear water with visibility ranging
marine life and coral growth warrants a visit. After WWII, hundreds of tons from 20 meters – 40 meters and take in the schools of fish swimming past,
of US equipment were dumped here - from bulldozers and aero engines along with the fan coral growing from the wall. This dive is fantastic as it
to trucks and jeeps. After the war, American efforts to sell the equipment holds such vast varieties of coral, and rock formations along with a great
were unsuccessful - so rather than give it to the then Condominium gov- biodiversity.
ernment, the Americans dumped the lot. Max depth: 40 meters.
PULON REEF: This is an excellent opportunity to dive a virgin reef only
MV HENRY BOONEAUD: This local trader was scuttled in 1989 and is awash recently discovered and dived. The dive is started on the south side of
with marine life and colorful coral. This is an easy penetration wreck dive Tangoa Island where you will follow the wall along and swim through a
where the visibility is 30 - 40 meters. There are plenty of soft corals and series of small caves and swim throughs or spend your time cruising over
sharks to be seen and the artificial reef provides a haven for flashlight fish, the plate coral fields. Then head along the wall and take in the beautiful
which are abundant during night dives. Max depth: 45 meters topography in about 10m-20m of water with visibility ranging from 20
meters – 40 meters. Schools of bump head Parrot fish and giant Trevally
NASIISE REEF: One of our newly scouted reefs, Nasiise is a gem, swim along are commonly seen here.
the top of the reef and find yourself lost in fields of plate coral and schools
of fish, or head down some of the many sand bottom gullies with walls RATARATA REEF: Ratarata Reef is most definitely a photographer’s paradise.
of soft coral and plate coral rising up around you. Nasiise spreads itself This vein of reef pops up two to three hundred meters offshore rising from
over 300m and is filled with life. Turtles, White Tip Reef Sharks, Barracuda, 45m up to 3m of depth. Ratarata has plenty to see, frequented by schools
Golden Trevally, Giant Trevally and Dog Tooth Tuna frequent this spot. of Rainbow Runners, Barracuda’s, Trevally, Green Sea & Hawksbeak Turtles,
Bump Head Parrotfish and Napoleon Maori Rash are sometimes to be countless Parrotfish and Reef Sharks and in the shallows lots of macro life
found feeding in the shallows. Depth is varying from 5 meters - 20 meters is to be found. Open to the sea, this reef is abundant in fish life and stun-
with visibility ranging from 20 meters - 40 meters. ning hard and soft coral, stag horn, plate, brain, and fan coral can be found
on the sea side of the majestic bombies. A dive not to be missed with
NATONG WALL: This is a very different type of reef with stag horn and stunning visibility normally ranging from 20 meters – 40 meters.
