Page 87 - Melanesia

ell known dive sites include Side Streets (soft corals and arpet Cove – Usually you descend to a the Japanese fishing

W gorgonian fans), Caesar’s Rocks (coral heads and swim- C boat that sunk in 1994. The wreck sits upright, entirely intact
throughs) and Frigate Pass, a 48km (30 mile) wall with pelagic in water ranging in depth from about 20 to 30 meters. As you make

fish, including whitetip reef sharks. For those who love the really your way around the wreck you will see it is covered in encrust-

big creatures there’s also the chance to participate in an awe- ing sponges and soft corals. Lionfish move slowly within the more

some shark dive outside of the lagoon - this area is home to the sheltered parts of the ship. Only a few kicks from the wreck is the

bull shark and most months of the year you can encounter more wall which forms part of the main reef. Hard corals, soft corals and

than 10 of these creatures plus many more shark species on one sea fans are plentiful. Bright anemonefish, dartfish and bpygmy

dive. Lagoon is surrounded for over 190 miles of coral reefs. The wrasses are in great numbers. There are many and varied scorpion-

water in the Lagoon is consistently warm (78-80 degrees), has mild fish wafting passively with the movement of the water.

currents, and visibility that is typically over 100 feet. With experi- F antasea - When there is little or no current you drop down to a
enced Dive Masters that have grown up diving these waters, your coral ridge with crinoids, whip corals, bubble corals and gorgo-
chances of seeing the unique marine life that Fiji offers is great.

The Dive Masters are enthusiastic to show off the amazing colors nian sea fans. The spot is nicknamed Big Fan Alley. The fans grow

of the soft corals in neon yellow, orange, red, pink, white, purple on both sides of the channel. Garden eels inhabit the sandy floor

and more. Tropical fish are abundant with clown fish, lion fish, leaf nearby. Sea life includes lionfish, blue-lined snapper, nudibranchs,

scorpion fish, blue ribbon eels, ghost pipefish, seahorses and the flat worms, grey damselfish, achilles tang, fire dartfish, anthias and

occasional pelagics. fairy basslets. Sea anemones with clark’s clownfish are present.

C aesar’s Rocks - You descend onto a collection of bommies S even Sisters - is said to be a site with seven easily discernible
dotted in soft corals. It is the diversity of colors that will strike pinnacles, but it is not an easy task to identify exactly where
you first here as pinks, reds and oranges all fill your view. Large the seven start and end. Can be done as a drift dive if current is
gorgonians provide hiding places for hawkfish, trumpetfish and a present. Shrimp, gobies, sea anemones, crinoids, basslets and
wide variety of sea life. Small schools of tuna, sea turtles and an anthias.
occasional manta ray add to the excitement.