The perimeter of this platform reef is an
extremely steep wall around which turtles, sharks and other pelagic
fish roam. Acropora and Porites were the dominant
coral genera, although hard coral diversity was quite high in
some places. Overall the corals appeared healthy but a few notable
conditions were observed. The divers noticed fish predation on the
corals such as bite marks and scratches. Bleaching was observed on
Pachyseris at about 10-13 meters depth, and white band
disease was observed on a small table Acropora at about 15
meters depth.
On the second dive, a 15 foot-tall pillar was
encountered. It is assumed that it was part of a post for a reef
marker. It was almost square but the edges had eroded and now had
soft coral overgrowth.
The fish life on this reef was incredible. Large
schools of rainbow runner (~50), trevally (~150), big-eye tuna
(~30), and bumphead parrotfish (~25) swam by the divers. Napoleon
wrasses were observed on this reef. Apart
from the many small reef fish, a huge potato cod was sighted.
White-tip, black-tip and grey reef sharks were all present on this
reef as well.
A hawksbill sea turtle was observed on each of
the dives. The turtle sighted on the first dive was about 50 cm
carapace length.
Eight giant clams reside on this reef. One of
them was a meter long while the others were between 20-50 cm. Only
one sea cucumber was sighted on this reef, while no green snails,
trochus snails, or crown of thorns were observed. Other invert
observations include many diadem sea urchins, a few
nudibranchs, and a high diversity of soft corals, barrel sponges,
tunicates, hydroids and crinoids.
The visibility was quite good, about 30 m, and
there was an outgoing tide of about 1.5 knots.
This reef is also a platform reef surrounded by a
steep wall. There was not a high live hard coral coverage on this
site. Less than 5% of the wall contained live hard coral, which
seemed to grow in patches rather than evenly across the wall. On the
shallow portion of the wall Porites was the dominant coral
genus, while Montipora was the most abundant genus on the
deeper section of the wall. There were also many small Tubastrea
colonies on the wall between 20-30 meters depth. Bleaching was
observed on Pachyseris at about 12 meters depth, and white
band disease was observed on an Acropora colony. Sea fans and
a diverse array of soft corals covered the wall, along with a high
concentration of Halimeda algae.
Many sharks were seen at this site. On the
first dive 10-15 sharks were sighted, while on the second two small
white-tip reef sharks and one small grey reef shark were seen. Large
schools of fish were also present including a school of about 20
huge dog tooth tuna, and 30 large bump head parrotfish. Throughout
one dive about eight Napoleon wrasse were sighted. Other interesting
fish encounters included a manta ray and two large moray eels.
Additionally, two hawksbill turtles were seen on this reef.
Between the two dives, 12 sea cucumbers
were observed, most of which were low-value species. Three giant
clams were sighted; one was about 20 cm in length while the other
two were about 30 cm in length. Oysters were abundant, attached to
the steep coral wall.
The visibility was good, and there was a slight
current running out of the lagoon.
This dive took place on the second bommie west of
dive site B. The weather was rough which enabled us only one dive on
this site. The live hard coral coverage was low and occurred in
patches, but soft corals and oysters covered the wall. Many small
reef fish were present along with a school of about 20 small
barracuda on the sandy bottom adjacent to the reef. Two turtles were
also sighted, one green and one hawksbill. Only two low value sea
cucumbers and three giant clams were observed on this reef.
The divers enjoyed this reef.
hat it was part of a post for a reef
marker. It was almost square but the edges had eroded and now had
soft coral overgrowth. 
se was observed on an Acropora colony. Sea fans and
a diverse array of soft corals covered the wall, along with a high
concentration of Halimeda algae.