reef

Log This Dive

Natacha

Natacha is a site we keep coming back to in the Loyalty Islands, and honestly, we think it’s one of the best pinnacles in the region. It’s a bit of a boat ride, about 45 minutes out into the Bayes channel, but that just means fewer crowds. The four pinnacles here are absolutely smothered in gorgonians. Not just a few, but huge, colourful fans reaching out, swaying in the current. You can actually feel the surge gently pushing you as you drift past these coral gardens. We’ve seen schools of spangled emperor and five-lined snapper so dense they almost form a wall, and the blue fusiliers are always a riot around the tops of the pinnacles. Keep an eye out into the blue for dorado flashing past. We’ve had a few encounters with tiger sharks here, usually cruising the deeper sections around 20-25m, which is always a thrill. It’s a site that suits divers who appreciate healthy coral, pelagic action, and don’t mind a bit of current to make things interesting. Definitely aim for a slack tide if you want to really spend time photographing the smaller stuff like the granular frog shells we’ve spotted tucked into crevices.