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Avarua Passage

Avarua Passage is a real sleeper, often overlooked for the flashier outer reef sites, but we’re always keen to get in here. Dropping down from Edna’s Anchor, you follow the reef edge along a sandy channel, often feeling a gentle push towards the harbour. The coral formations here, particularly the large branching acropora, create countless hideouts. We’ve had some cracking encounters with robust scorpionfish tucked into crevices and watched moray eels peeking out from under plate corals. Our favourite time to dive Avarua Passage is early morning. That’s when you’ll often catch the Marbled Parrotfish in their mating rituals, a swirling, bumping ballet of blues and greens against the sand. Look closely for the smaller stuff too: we’ve spotted dew-drop cowries clinging to their hosts and the tiny Midget Chromis darting among the coral branches. Visibility usually holds around 25-30m, giving you a clear view of the sandy bottom where you might spot a flounder or even a sleeping Humphead Wrasse. This site is a calm, easy dive, perfect for photographers wanting to take their time with macro subjects or anyone who appreciates the subtle beauty of a healthy inner reef.