Page 470 - Melanesia
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THE ELBOW (Uepi): A sheer wall dropping to by shrimp, diverse fish-life and a huge array of rally, the resident sharks (Blacktips, Whitetips,
well over 600 meters covered with hard and soft other invertebrates. Greys and - deeper down - Silvertips) patrol to
corals. Keep an eye seaward as you are bound keep an eye on their ‘larder’. Turn your back on
to see a variety of fish swim by including eagle THE LIGHTHOUSE (Munda): is a wall dive that the passing parade and you’ll see masses of
rays, tuna, barracuda, king trevally, darts, and of drops straight down to 65 meters. There are barrel sponges, beautiful soft corals and fans,
course the chance of hammerheads. An outside huge numbers of gorgonians and soft corals populated by an array of colorful and hard-to-
corner of Uepi Island where the wall is covered that adorn the wall. Known for a variety of sharks find critters such as nudibranches, molluscs and
with luxuriant gorgonian fans. Grey whaler patrolling the wall. crustaceans. Keep half on eye out on the blue
sharks, schools of trevally and barracuda are water, though, as migrating Hammerheads can
common. Often sighted are spotted eagle rays, TOA MARU (Gizo): a Japanese transport ship sunk pass by!
turtles, tuna, kingfish and white tip reef sharks. off Gizo during World War II. The deepest point
Seasonally common are the scalloped ham- of the wreck is by the stern, which rest in 130 USS AARON WARD (Florida Islands): Destroyer
merhead sharks or maybe a great hammerhead. feet of water, however the top of the wreck can is only for the very experienced diver. Mortally
They come with the cold water, usually from be reached at a depth of 40 feet. The contents wounded by Japanese aircraft on April 7th 1943
June to November, but can appear anytime. of the ship’s 6 cargo holds include saki bottles, she limped as far as Tinete point where she went
After spending some time at the point the rest of ammunition clips, and a tank. However since the down in 53 meters – 74 meters of water with
the dive is spent exploring the numerous over- sinking the ship has been salvaged removing 27 of her crew. This impressive wreck is sitting
hangs, cracks, crevices and swim-throughs of the some of the cargo, and the ship’s propeller. upright and intact on the sandy bottom. Possess-
area. “Flashing scallops” or file shells can be seen ing an extensive arsenal of big guns, this is one
and easily photographed and it is not unusual TOMBA-TUNI MUSHROOM ISLAND (Munda): awesome dive.
to find a cuttlefish along the wall. For those Dropping vertically for over 500 meters into the
who want to stop and look the walls have many waters of Blanche Channel, the point can attract
nudibranch, sponges, cleaner stations manned big schools of fish and passing pelagics. Natu-
