On the northern tip of Lizard Island is a protected bay fringed in coral
growth. Two mooring buoys provide easy access to the diving and snorkeling
in the bay.
Many corals line the rocky outcroppings of the bay. Also, many large coral
bommies are found immediately off the beach and extend down to a depth of
eight meters.
Many diverse corals grow in the bay forming massive boulders. Branching
Acropora, Echinopora, Stylophora and submassive Porites make up
the majority of the corals. The corals appear generally healthy. However,
filamentous algae is advancing on the edges of many of the colonies,
trapping sediment and slowly killing the corals.
Crown of thorns damage is also apparent on some corals - several crown of
thorns seastars were seen during our time there. The area appears to
be recovering from a major crown-of-thorn epidemic a couple of years ago.
Some of the starfish are still present.
New coral colonies appear to be
recruiting on the skeletons of recently dead corals showing signs of
recovery.
Many reef fish were seen on the reef. An abundance of damselfish hover
above all the coral bommies and schools of passing fusiliers are a common
sight. There is a strong presence of coral cods in the region. Few adults
are seen swimming off the reef, but many small juveniles are found
throughout the reef. One large Barramundi Cod was seen under a ledge. This
protected species is becoming a rare sight in the Pacific.
This is a well known dive site at Lizard Island. Although we did not
encounter other dive operations here during our dives there
is the feeling that the area is frequently visited. This is particularly
evident by the behavior of the fish populations observed. Large schools of
barracuda were encountered during all dives, together with schools of
trevally, mackerel, batfish and fusiliers.
When there is the sound of a passing
boat engine these schools come together and circle around as if they are
waiting to be fed. We also found that you can get very close to many fish
that would normally be more easily frightened by divers.
Divers:Carol,
Stacey, Sharman, Starrlight, Katie, Paul
The snake pit lives up to its name and is home to a population of sea snakes
that all divers encountered on these dives. Some divers sighted more than
ten snakes on one dive. Their motion through the water is graceful and
smooth; their paddle-like tails allow them to explore the reef with
ease. They seemed quite curious as they approached and followed the divers
along the reef. Although poisonous, overall they were docile.
The reef is made up of bommies surrounded by sand bottom. Acropora
was the dominant coral genus, but mountains of Diploastrea held a
strong presence. The hard coral coverage was about 5-10%. Soft corals were
abundant throughout the reef and included mushroom leather corals, lobed
leather corals, palm corals, and sea fans. Soft coral coverage was about
15-20%. Large barrel sponges and encrusting sponges were also present.
The snake pit reef is visited by populations of large fish including
trevally, spanish mackerel, and barracuda. The reef fish were abundant and
lively. Large batfish, triggerfish, groupers of all sizes, parrotfish and
many others swam in and out of the bommies, hiding under crevices and
feeding. White-tip reef sharks and sting rays were also sighted.
Giant clams, tunicates, crinoids, sea stars and anemones added to the color
and life of the reef. The snake pit reef seems to have a healthy sea
cucumber population; they were sighted all over the reef and on the sandy
bottom between bommies.
These dives were exciting due to the sea snake encounters, large game fish,
sharks, and rays, and lovely due to the healthy conditions of the reef, reef
fish and invertebrates.
On the northern tip of Lizard Island is a protected bay fringed in coral
growth. Two mooring buoys provide easy access to the diving and snorkeling
in the bay. 
New coral colonies appear to be
recruiting on the skeletons of recently dead corals showing signs of
recovery.
This is a well known dive site at Lizard Island. Although we did not
encounter other dive operations here during our dives there
is the feeling that the area is frequently visited. This is particularly
evident by the behavior of the fish populations observed. Large schools of
barracuda were encountered during all dives, together with schools of
trevally, mackerel, batfish and fusiliers. 
The snake pit lives up to its name and is home to a population of sea snakes
that all divers encountered on these dives. Some divers sighted more than
ten snakes on one dive. Their motion through the water is graceful and
smooth; their paddle-like tails allow them to explore the reef with
ease. They seemed quite curious as they approached and followed the divers
along the reef. Although poisonous, overall they were docile.
The snake pit reef is visited by populations of large fish including
trevally, spanish mackerel, and barracuda. The reef fish were abundant and
lively. Large batfish, triggerfish, groupers of all sizes, parrotfish and
many others swam in and out of the bommies, hiding under crevices and
feeding. White-tip reef sharks and sting rays were also sighted.