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Log This Dive

Alung banua

Alung banua, for us, is one of those places that feels like stepping into a fish tank, only it’s 20 metres down and you’re breathing compressed air. We’ve seen a lot of healthy staghorn coral in our time, but here it just stretches out, massive fields of it, giving cover to countless little residents. Look close, and you’ll find the bluespotted shrimpgobies meticulously tending their burrows, always with their shrimp bodyguard close by. It’s a perfect spot for the macro fanatics, but honestly, even if you just enjoy drifting and taking it all in, Alung banua delivers. Our favourite find here is always the pink anemonefish. They’re just everywhere, little flashes of colour tucked into their host anemones, sometimes so curious they’ll come right up to your mask. And while the big stuff isn’t the main draw, those black sea cucumbers are surprisingly large here, just slowly munching their way across the sand patches. We’d suggest going in the morning; the light really brings out the colours of the table corals. It’s a gentle dive, generally calm, so it’s great for those who like to take their time and really explore.