MAMANUCA Island

Dive sites

Barrel Head

A spectacular coral head with sheer walls dropping 40 meters. Here you'll find coral overhangs, schools of bannerfish, wrasse, and moray eels nestled in the crevasses. There is also a friendly resident white tip reef shark.

Aduha (pronounced Ahn-do-ha)

Consists of five coral pinnacles with a plethora of overhangs, caves and colorful staghorn coral. Giant gorgonians fans can be found as well as sea aenomies with resident clown fish. Both water and light conditions make it a favorite with photographers.

Picnic Point

Known for its multitudes of swaying soft coral. Starting along a 30 meter sloping wall, this drift dive brings you to the home of garden eels and sting rays. Sea cucumbers, crinoids, basket stars, swarms of schooling fish and sharks also make this site a prime night dive.

Bird Rock

A 50 meter volcanic rock wall riddled with swim- throughs and crevasses. Huge coral cod swim along the wall as well as schools of walu and trevaly. The face is covered with clusters of brightly colored nudibranchs and crayfish can also be found in the cracks and under ledges. At a depth of five meters, where the reef begins to drop, the wall is festooned with plate, brain, cabbage and mushroom coral. A safety stop is nothing short of awe inspiring.

Gotham City

Known for (three guesses) its batfish. In addition, this densely populated reef has its share of trigger fish, barracuda, surgeon fish and all manner of other schooling fish. Elkhorn and staghorn coral cover the top of the bommies as swarms of sergeant majors dodge in and out of the reef. Here one can also find egg cowries crawling on the reef and feeding on the coral. Protected from the rough seas and easily accessible, the underwater eco-system here is typcial of the Mamanucas.

North Reef

Excellent for beginners. Shallow and oval shaped, it teems with clown fish and a proponderance of coral. Also known as "The Circus", it is also quite popular with underwater photographers.

Fish Fingers

Known for its numerous underwater swim-throughs and caves which beckon the diver. Drop into a field of staghorn coral and enter a swim-through that takes you to a 30 meter wall. Tucked under the ledges are lionfish, sea whips, and brightly colored yellow sponges. Hawkbill turtles regularly visit this sight and camouflage themselves within the reef. One may also occasionally see an eagle ray that inhabits the area.

The Supermarket

Has walls extending about thirty meters, is the home of the world-renowned " Shark Encounter " hosted by shark clan member Apisai Bati. Expect to see Bronze Whalers, White Tips and an occasional Moray Eel which takes part in the feed. Schools of barrcuda, butterfly fish and moorish idols surround the area and interact with the sharks. If you are lucky you'll also see a giant hump-headed maori wrasse.

Back to top