Page 520 - Melanesia

INSIDE POINT: A sloping walled point at the sive, wide and long, deep-water passage with particular has ledges profuse in coral life and as-
Marovo Lagoon end of the passage, just in front prolific fish life, large fans, craggy overhangs and sociated aquarium fish and is a series of overhang
of the resorts dining-room deck. The resident sharks. Ideal for multilevel diving, with the shal- areas with sandy bottoms. The invertebrate life
gang of whaler sharks parade past and circle this low depths just as fascinating as the deeper. is prolific and the dive is most suited to people
point when the incoming or outgoing current is who want to spend time looking for small crit-
running. The adjacent richly coral covered walls MATEANA REEF: This extensive reef lies straddled ters. Many goby shrimp combos, twin spot goby,
have an endless supply of small overhangs and across a wide but shallow passage between two coral shrimps, nudibranch and invertebrates are
picture caverns to peer into. A small cove in the islands. There are millions of small reef fish living common. Ghost pipefish, sea moth and exotic
wall attracts very high concentrations of barra- all over this hard coral reef. A maze of color and nudibranchs have been found. For divers who like
cuda. Finish the dive on the reef top to spot large movement. No need to dive deep but the topog- to just look at the wall and not go deep, this dive
grouper, octopus, molluscs, tubeworms, nudi- raphy from below is impressive. Eagle rays frolic is very beautiful because of the topography, sea
branchs and holothurians and watch the colorful off the wall at mating times. fans, hard coral and fish life. Cuttlefish are often
reef fish. found and have been recorded laying eggs in this
MONGO PASSAGE: An enormous, simply breath- area. Pygmy seahorses hide out in specific sea
LANDIRI DROP-OFF AND CORAL GARDENS: A taking drop-off, featuring schooling barracuda, fans.
varied dive, which takes in a drop-off and a tour curious sharks, beautiful gorgonian fans and a
through coral gardens. It is thought to be the delightful coral garden. A renowned deep water PENQUIN REEF: an open ocean reef pinnacle
largest range of soft and hard corals to be seen passage dive half an hour from Uepi. Best with an washed by waves and home to seabirds. Beauti-
on one dive. A truly spectacular tour, with lots of incoming tide & strong currents. The mid depth ful topography and anything is possible with
smaller invertebrates, bull nose, stingrays and the wall is carpeted with a glorious, golden, soft coral. the wild life. It is hard to imagine more stunning
occasional hammerhead. Streaming fish and the outside facing wall is stun- coral formations. Huge arrays of anemones with
ning. Very varied fish life. overgrown anemone fish abound.
LUMALIHE PASSAGE: Thirty minutes from Uepi.
Lumalihe leads from the Marovo Lagoon into The NORTH LOG and South LONG: Each site has its
Slot. Best on an incoming tide. This is an impres- interest in caverns and ledges. North Log in