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Eel Garden |
The Eel
Garden takes its name from the countless garden eels that
carpet the sea floor not far from the entry point of the
dive. Though the eels are the main focus, this site has
other attractions.
Entry to
this site is through a small lagoon, which descends from
the reeftop to an exit point on the reef at about 7m.
Little more than 1.5m wide at some points, this entry
lagoon can act as a funnel for wave surge or runout from
falling tides, so divers should be prepared for a
strenuous swim.
Once outside the lagoon, a wide sandy slope leads off to
the left (north) and is covered with literally thousands
of the garden eels. Across the
sand lies a sloping reef wall with scattered coral heads
on the sand at its 18-20m base; south of the sand the reef
continues, with lots of fine coral growth but no exit
point until the Lighthouse.
There is an excellent selection of coral growth along both
reef sections, with stony and soft species, including
Acropora, plate, cabbage coral, Dendronephthya and Xeniids.
Anemones are common here.
As well as the eponymous garden eels the site boasts large
numbers of lionfish, bluespine unicorns, damsels and
basslets, parrot fish, groupers and plenty of sand gobies.
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Garden Eels
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