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Pue Coral Gardens

Pue Coral Gardens, just east of Ngatipa, is one of those spots that just makes us smile. It's a proper coral showcase, dominated by these enormous porites bommies, some of them ancient, towering up from the seafloor. We love drifting over the sandy patches between them, keeping an eye out for honeycomb filefish trying to blend in, or a shy slender maori wrasse darting into the coral. The depth here is perfect for a long, relaxed dive, maxing out at 20m. Visibility often stretches out to 25m, letting you appreciate the sheer scale of the hard coral formations. Keep an eye out for greenfish flitting around the staghorn coral. There are a few small swim-throughs too, nothing too challenging, but a nice little extra to explore. You’ll spot Christmas tree worms everywhere, pulling back instantly if you get too close, and we’ve seen some seriously massive pineapple sea cucumbers here. It’s a beautifully calm dive, ideal for photographers or anyone who just wants to soak in the health of a vibrant reef.