Some Live Coral!

 

Well we finally came across some reefs with some healthy coral. Its strange because we are now much closer to the equator where you would think ocean temperature warming would be worse. Perhaps the corals here have had more time to acclimatize to the warm temperatures. The reefs we've been on seem have more wave and current action, which also might cause cooler water to rise from the depths. Either way, we're pleased.

It was fun to show up at this anchorage and catch up the catamaran 'Perry' with Matt, Jen and their two boys, Mark and Conrad. We first met Perry in the Marquesas in French Polynesia. The last time we saw them was six years ago in Tonga. We were all on a Melbourne based boat 'Miss Behaving', doing a snorkel into the underwater caves there. Their boys have grown a lot!

The first island we stopped at with good corals was Lhassa near the top of the Huvadhu Atoll. (anchor at 00*49.34N, 073*12.299E). Nice anchorage in 32 ft sand among coral bommies. It's a little rolly with a small swell making its way in from the outer reef.

Parrot fish, the ones responsible for creating much of the sand. While snorkeling you can hear them as they crunch on the coral with their tough, parrot like mouths, biting off chunks coral and algae. They grind up the inedible calcium-carbonate reef material in their guts and then excrete sand. If you've ever felt the sand between your toes on a Hawaiian beach -- that was parrot fish poop.

This is a clutch of hermit crabs having a delicious afternoon meal of a washed up coconut. Not the parrotfish poop in the background.

Everybody knows the scientific name for this fish hanging in a protective anemone: Nemo

A little better view of Nemo's home, AKA Clown Fish

Nice to see a turtle flick by.

A sting ray having a lazy ay in the parrot fish's sand (aren't you glad I didn't say poop again?)

Moorish Idol

A Swollen Phyllidia nudibranch, aout 3 inches long. Basically a good looking, underwater sea slug, or more scientifically a shelless mollusk.

Then we moved down the atoll to the small island, uninhabited island of Fulangi. The island is in the upper center, we are anchored at the red pointer and the diving reefs all along the cut on he right with the yellow line. (Anchor position 0*40.794N,073*12.072E in 44ft, sand, along with some bommies) This puts us 40 miles north of the equator.

The island from our anchor spot

Even more healthy coral. I was going to photoshop this dark green and claim it was broccoli.

Nice reefscape with lots of live coral, with Chris diving down to give you some size perspective.

Most dives we saw turtles.

This is not a great shot, but I thought it was interesting. The turtle is sitting on he bottom in about 25-30 feet of water just keeping an eye on me as I swim down.

Lots of fish, most home schooling due to the pandemic.

A white tipped reef shark swims by us for a look.. This is first one we've seen here. We usually see black-tipped reef sharks. 

He was curious and kept near us for awhile. He probably thought we were fishing and he/she might get the spoils.

Clark's Anemonefish, similar to the Clown Fish Nemo, but lives among a slightly different anemone.

I was tying to get another reefscape shot when this parrot fish jumped in front for a cameo shot.

Everyday Chris was visited by these reef squid off the back of our swimstep. 

This is Chris' transport to the reef and dinghy driver.

Paul