© 2004 Nukubati Island
Email Nukubati Island | Site Problems
Loading Image....

1. KIA REEF LOCATION

A 30 mile coral protrusion in the Great Sea Reef which surrounds the Island of Kia. This location is between nine and 25 miles from Nukubati Island. The location offers superb wall, drift, swim through, coral cave and trench diving. The abundant marine life includes pelagic and reef schools, sharks and rays. Notable sites in this location are:

FISH WALL (bottom 52m/170ft) Our northern-most dive site on the Great Sea Reef, boasting colourful species of hard corals on vertical walls. A kaleidescope of pelagic schools and sharks.

THE CUT (bottom at 42m/135ft) A spectacular natural architectural display. A drop from 3m/10ft to 13m/43ft, above an overhang covered in sponges and fans, to a canyon at 42m/135ft. Views forever.

2. RAVIRAVI PASSAGE LOCATION

A 2km/1.5ml long passage in the Great Sea Reef. This location is nine miles from Nukubati Island. The location offers abundant reef and pelagic fish life, rays, swim-throughs, coral caves, drift and shark dives. Notable sites in this location are:

FISH MARKET (bottom at 43m/140ft) A coral wall dropoff at the mouth of the passage. Clear the aisles as the large schools of barracuda, batfish, emperor fish and sharks mill around the western tip of the channel. Big schools of Red Bass cruise past.

CAVE REEF (bottom at 20m/65ft) A channel wall drift dive containing numerous swim-throughs, coral overhangs, sharks and our pet 2m/6ft stingray. Big fans , Garden Eels and schools of Stoplight Parrot Fish complete the picture.

EAGLE RAY POINT (bottom 30m/96ft) Wall dive East of Raviravi Passage. Strong current around the mouth of the channel. Schools of Red Bass, Batfish, Banded Butterfly Fish, Trumpet Fish, and Bluestriped Grunter abound with a likely sighting of Moray Eels and Turtle. Great Star Corals and Giant Anemone.

3. NASEKECI PASSAGE LOCATION

A 4km/2.5 mile passage in the Great Sea Reef. This location is 15 miles from Nukubati Island. The location offers abundant hard coral formations and reef fish varieties. Particularly noted for the large numbers of white tip reef sharks and staghorn coral gardens. Notable sites in this location are:

TWO DOGS REEF: (bottom at 20m/66ft) A channel wall drift dive featuring spectacular hard coral outcrops, staghorn coral gardens and massive organ coral formations. Large numbers of sharks regularly visit during this dive.

PUB CRAWL: (bottom at 17m/56ft) A city of freestanding coral bommies at the inside mouth of the passage. Each bommie boasts its own community of brightly coloured reef fishes. Abundant swim throughs, coral gardens, fans, plate corals and soft coral regrowth feature on this relaxing and interesting dive.

4. INNER REEFS

Surrounding Nukubati Island are several extensive inner reef systems. These systems have many expansive and beautiful gardens of soft and hard coral. Bottom is as deep as 40m/132ft but diving here is best at 15m/50ft, with the top of the systems being exposed at low tide. The following locations offer superb shallow diving:

MITIMITI’S GARDEN (bottom 10m/30ft) A shallow dive or excellent snorkelling location. A pure sea garden of soft and hard corals, Brain Corals, Black Sea Rod, Sea Plumes, and Christmas Tree Worms, inhabited by White Pipefish and Trumpet Fish. A beautiful spot.

MALANI’S REEF (bottom 17m/56ft) Drop off wall reef dive, with giant clams, Social Feather Dusters, and common Red Sea Fans, accompanied by Nassau Grouper, French Angel Fish, Red-banded Parrot Fish and Banded Coral Shrimps.

GROUPERS HEAD (bottom 20m/66ft) Wall reef dive sporting spectacular Red and Orange Sea Fans, big Black Sea Rods, Brain Corals and Branching Fire Corals with Corkscrew Anemone, Cushion Sea Stars, Giant Clams, Arrow Crabs, and Pipe Fish .

SWEETLIPS EDGE (bottom 17m/56ft) Wall reef dive. Pretty Christmas Tree Worms, Sponges, Brittle Stars, Elkhorn Corals and Common Sea Fans with Schools of darting Blue Tang Fish, and Queen Parrot Fish with the odd Blue Spotted Sting Ray slowly flying past.
5. DR KOOP’S REVIVAL
178º 51’ 6” E x 16º 18’ 3” S

Discovered and Named by: Lauren & Stephen Plutsky
Location: Great Sea Reef

Wall Dive, with drop off to 150ft. Hard coral with numerous species of fish including Big Eye Emperors, Yellow Spotted Emperors, Yellow-backed Fusilier and Trevally

6. LAUREN’S DREAM
178º 52’ 9” E x 16º 18’ 3” S

Discovered and Named by: Lauren & Stephen Plutsky
Location: Great Sea Reef

Wall Dive, with drop off to 200ft. Myriad of colourful fish including Rainbow Parrot Fish, Blue Angelfish, Banded Butterfly Fish, patrolled by good size Spanish Mackeral.

7. COOPER'S CHALLENGE
178º 54’ 4” E x 16º 18’ 7” S

Discovered and Named by: Yvo Hoppers
Location: Great Sea Reef

A 150ft drop off wall dive with interesting fish including Long Jaw Squirrel Fish, Double Header Parrot Fish and Rainbow Runners.
8. BOSTON AQUARIUM
179º 02’ 6” E x 16º 18’ 7” S

Discovered and Named by: Dick & Judy Spann & Fontaine & Judy Richardson
Location: Great Sea Reef

Pass dive of 60ft with fish species resembling a giant aquarium. Schools of Squirrel Fish under Coral Heads, with Hard and Soft Corals showing off an abundance of Rainbow Parrot Fish, Butterfly Fishes, Anemone Fish, Clown Fish, Garden Eels, Moray Eels, Surgeon Fish and Zebra Lionfish.
 
9. SCHOOL YARD
179º 02’ 6” E x 16º 18’ 7” S

Discovered and Named by: Jeff and Karen Risse
Location: Great Sea Reef

Schools of little Barracuda give the name to this pass dive of 50-60 ft. Numerous Blue Spotted Cornet Fish, Harlequin Sweetlips and Garden Eels join the Barracuda who are all coralled by White Tip Reef Sharks with a Bronze Whaler putting in an appearance. Hard and Fan Coral add extra interest.
10. EWINGS SWEETIE
179º 02’ 6” E x 16º 18’ 5” S

Discovered and Named by: John & Anne Ewing
Location: Great Sea Reef

A Pass/Drift Dive with Plate Coral and Nudibranchs. Regal Angel Fish intermingled with White Tip Reef Sharks and a Bronze Whaler showing interest.
11. FERNANDO’S HIDEAWAY
179º 02’ 4” E x 16º 18’ 5” S

Discovered and Named by: Fernando Briosos & Steve Christiansen Location: Great Sea Reef

A great coral dive with Soft, Fan, Plate and Black Corals, maximum depth of 60ft. Schools of Parrot Fish, with Christmas Tree Worms and Anenomes adding splashes of colour. White Tip Reef Sharks cruise by.
12. EWINGS’ 20
179º 02’ 5” E x 16º 17’ 5” S

Discovered and Named by: John & Anne Ewing
Location: Great Sea Reef

Wall dive with drops to 90ft. Handsome fish site with White Margin Unicorn Fish, Hump-nose Unicorn Fish, Coral groupers, Damsel Fish, some big Long-nosed Butterfly Fish, and big Trevally.
13. MHECHO CORNER
179º 3’ E x 16º 17’ 4” S

Discovered and Named by: Mindy Herman & Cindy Hochman Location: Great Sea Reef

Standing Brain Corals, Octocorals with Christmas Tree worms, Sea Whips and Common Nudibranchs. White Tip Reef Shark keeps watch.
14. MILLENIUM REEF
178º 57’ E x 16º 24’ 5” S

Named by: Chuck Heyl & Friends ­
   Millenium Island Charter 1999/2000
Location: Off Western Tip of Utelei Reef

An excellent and popular snorkelling site as well as a good shallow dive. Hard and Soft Corals in abundance, attended by Lizard Fish, Trumpet Fish, and various types of Wrasse. Priacanthus Hamrur and Caesio Teres also occur in large schools.

15. HOULIS’ CORNER
178º 58’ E x 16º 24’ S

Named by: Valerie and Terry Houlihan
Location: North Western Utelei Reef Reef

Dive maximum depth 60 feet with schools of Chub Mackerel and big Black Wire Corals. Features Clown Anemone Fish, Pipe Fish, Moorish Idol and a shy Stingray hiding under the Plate Corals. A great corner to hang out and watch the passing parade!

16. CHRISTMAS TREE REEF
179° 03’ E x 16° 22’ S

Named by: Mary Boardman and Richard Olsen
Location: South Eastern Side of Motuli Bawa

Appropriately named on Christmas Day 2000 this is a shallow dive/snorkelling site sporting many colourful corals, fish and Christmas Tree Worms.
17. BOUTILIER’S KNOT
179° 2’ 30” E x 16° 14’ S

Named By: Sharion and Scott Boutilier
Location: Great Sea Reef

Near Kia Island This a great dive, named on the occasion of Scott and Sharion’s wedding at Nukubati on 21/3/01. It is full of fish such as Unicorn Fish, Surgeon Fish, Threadfin Butterfly Fish with Blue Corals, Christmas tree Worms, Nudibranchs, Seas stars and feather stars. Garden Eels and White Tipped Sharks also showed.
18. THE LOUVRE
179° 3’ E x 16° 16’S

Named By: Scott and Sharion Boutilier
Location: Great Sea Reef near Kia Island

This interesting and Colourful site is reminiscent of viewing Brilliant moving works of art. Soft Corals and Acroporidae Corals are background for Eyestripe Surgeon Fish, Yellow Surgeon Fish, Spotted Unicorn Fish, Starry Rabbit Fish, Clown Trigger Fish and Black Spotted Puffer Fish with a Moorish Idol School the prize exhibit.
19. BARREL OF MONKEYS
178° 56’ E x 16° 24’ 30” S

Named by: Kent & Sondra Iveson
Location: Inner reefs west of Cakau Nacana

This shallow dive is typified by the name, surprises around every corner! Some of the surprises include sponges Haplosclerida, Petrosiidae, Hyrozoans Family, Plum Ulariidae, Stinging Lace Corals, Gigantic Sea Anemone, Soft Corals, Gorgonian Fan Corals, Red Whip Corals, Nudibranchs, Sea Slugs, brittle Stars, Painted Rock Lobsters. Squirrel Fish, Spotted Sweetlips, Indian Vagabond Butterfly Fish and Humphead Banner fish are some of the more unusual fish sighted.

20. PIPE DREAM
178° 55’ E x 16° 24’ S

Named by: Kent & Sondra Iveson
Location: Inner reefs west of Cakau Nacana

The swirling myriad of fish species makes one feel as though in a dream while experiencing this shallow dive. Banded Pipe Fish, trumpet Fish, Square Tail Grouper, Dwarf Spotted Grouper, Coral Trout, Oriental Butterfly Fish, Saddled Butterfly Fish, Regal Angel Fish, and Red Breasted Wrasse show their sequined colours while Sea Urchins, Feather Stars, Cushion Stars, Nudibranchs and Christmas Tree Worms create the backdrop for this dreamy parade.

21. LINDSEY'S LOW TIDE
178° 59’ E x 16° 26’ S

Named By: David and Cila Lindsey
Location: South Western Side of Utelei Reef

David and Cila discovered this impressive Snorkeling spot while investigating possibilities for underwater photography. Banner Fish, many species of colourful corals, and unusual large starfish provide a compact area which is ideal for low tide viewing, close to Nukubati.

22. CRUISY SUISIE
179° 01’ E x 16° 18.5’ S

Named by: Susan and Randy Farnsworth
Location: Twin Passage (Great Sea Reef)

Named by Susan for the casual and comfortable way divers can drift past the wonderful and myriad sights of this spectacular wall dive. Many species of corals and plenty of fishes to see, and for the keen sighted the possible eye to eye contact with a large Nurse Shark calmly curled around a ledge hideout. This will become a popular destination for Nukubati Divers.

23. ANEMONE POINT
178° 59’ E x 16° 22.5’ S

Named by: Jessica Steigerwald and Bill Foster
Location: Motuli Bawa

This is an excellent shallow dive and snorkeling site combined. Many beautiful Anemones and Anemone Fish give this coral pinnacle its name, but also the presence of Nudibranchs and Christmas Tree Worms make it a good site for underwater photography.
24. BLACK CAT GARDEN
179° 3’ E x 16° 21’ S

Named by: Naomi and Yuji Tanaka
Location: North Eastern Tip of Motuli Bawa

Naomi and Yuji discovered many fishy playthings at this location including Pillow, Brittle and Feather Star Fish, Ring Eyed Hawk fish, Saddle-back Butterfly Fish, Regal Angel Fish, Pigmy Sweeper, Small Toothed Cod and many Sea Cucumber. A good interesting shallow dive.