Easter break, time to discover one of Fiji's most famous reefs: the Rainbow Reef in the Somosomo Strait, between the islands of Vanua Levu and Taveuni.
The name alone sets high expectations... and it doesn't disappoint! We did six dives there: they were all different but yet all wonderful 😮
Our base for exploration was Dolphin Bay Divers, an eco-lodge in a remote location on Vanua Levu, at a short boat ride from all the main dive sites.
During our 4-day very rainy stay, we probably had around one hour of sunshine in total. Still, this was enough time to take a picture of the beach disappearing at high tide. The colours were so much brighter in the sun! ☀️
At the resort there is a nice snorkeling site, with colourful corals and fish. Apparently baby sharks and turtles are quite common, but we didn't see them while snorkeling.
On the other hand, it's Impossible to miss the resident population of brittle stars!
So, time to start our underwater explorations!
It was wonderful to see how, despite difficult weather conditions (including a tropical cyclone passing by the region), the moment we went under the sea the water was warm and the environment calm and peaceful.
This site is called the Fish Factory, we quickly understood why...
It was such an amazing experience to be surrounded by schooling bannerfish.
Fiji is often referred to as the soft coral capital of the world.
If you're fascinated by soft corals, the Rainbow Reef is definitely worth checking out.
In 4 days we saw many different coral gardens.
Each formation had its own characteristics, I could have spent hours watching them.
The different colours, sizes and shapes were just incredible.
And this is my close encounter with a couple of clownfish in their sea anemone. 🐠
Despite my very good intentions, I was under the impression that they did not appreciate my company so much... 😄
The blue starfish is always a beautiful sight, despite being quite common in Fiji waters.
And this is a black feather star on staghorn coral.
Last but not least, these were my favourite dive sites: the Cabbage Patch and the Little Cabbage Patch.
By watching the photo it should be clear where the name comes from 😉
Swimming around these huge cabbage shaped green coral formations is magical. Truly an enchanted landscape.
So, this was my first attempt to use an underwater camera and it made me realize how difficult it is to take good photos deep underwater. 🦈
This is to say that with these pictures I must have captured maximum 10% of the beauty of the reef...
...much better to go and check in person this beautiful part of the world... 😃
