reef

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Hastings Reef - Coral Gardens

Hastings Reef’s Coral Gardens are exactly what the name suggests, a sprawling, shallow showcase of hard corals. We always head for the specific entry that drops us right onto the top of the wall, where you’re immediately enveloped by branching staghorn and intricate brain corals. It feels like swimming through an ancient, miniature forest. The true stars here, for us, are the giant clams – some of them are enormous, showing off those vibrant purples and greens. Take your time near the bommies; these are home to the Reef Restoration efforts, and it’s genuinely cool to see the coral trees taking root. You’ll spot a surprising number of spotted hawkfish perched on the coral, watching you with curious eyes, and longfin bannerfish flutter past. We always find a few harlequin tuskfish digging around, their colours really pop against the reef. Visibility here averages 13m, which is good enough to appreciate the scale of the gardens. Because it’s so shallow, maxing out at 13m, it’s a lovely, relaxed dive, perfect for photographers or anyone who just wants to soak up the sheer coral density without worrying about deep stops. Go slow, keep an eye out for pipefish tucked into the crevices, and just enjoy the sun-drenched reef.