Sunset
Ridge is a ridge of coral jutting straight out to sea
from the edge of the reef near Nananu-i-ra, on the northern
coast of Viti Levu fronting Bligh Water. Depth varies
from 10 feet near the barrier reef to over 100 feet furthest
out to sea.
The shallow area between bommies at the start of the dive is covered in blue, red, purple and -- especially -- sunset-orange soft coral which is found nowhere else in such profusion. At 56 ft., living in a crinoid at the tip of a gorgonia fan, is a black and orange harlequin ghost pipefish.
The area is home to many anemones and their various species of clownfish, numerous lion and scorpionfish, and unusual crabs and shrimp. The deeper part of the ridge bisects the current flow through Bligh Water and thus tends to concentrate pelagic fish.
Typically
found along the up-current face of the wall are schools
of big-eye trevally, rainbow runner, barracuda, and surgeonfish.
Also resident are a handful of whitetip reef sharks and
several gray reef sharks as well as two large bumphead
maori wrasse. Occasionally spotted are silver-tip sharks,
hawksbill and green turtles, and eagle rays.
