Dive Sites
Most of the dive sites are conveniently
located either right off the edge of the island or just a short boat trip
away. Rarely will you view such high concentrations of fish, sponges and
corals in such a diverse environment, ranging from coral gardens to vertical drop-offs
into 2000 metres of ocean, most within the confines of a three kilometre reef.
UEPI POINT: Charapoana Passage meets the 'Slot' at Uepi
Point. A near vertical slope coated profusely with corals - especially gorgonian
fans and colourful spiky soft corals (Nephtheidae). At 30m a peninsular juts out
before the wall steeply drops off. This provides the stage for a spectacular
procession of pelagics including schooling barracuda and sharks. Two bodies of water
(from Charapoana Passage and The Slot) meet at this point and at various times (change of
tide, high tide etc) the area becomes a hunting/feeding ground. As a result the
underwater action can be very exciting. Overhead, large schools of trevally, jacks
and fusiliers feed. Families of garden eels, an array of colourful gobies and a
diverse collection of invertebrate life inhabit the sand patches of the shallows.
CHARAPOANA DRIFT: From Uepi Point back to the Dive Shed pier,
allow yourself the courtesy of the incoming tide. The 'slot' wall curves to the
passage floor at about 50m. Large gorgonians, huge Amphora basket sponges, soft
coral trees and small hard corals cram the slope. You'll encounter schools of
trevally, rainbowrunners, barracuda and other pelagics like mackerel, tuna and sharks,
along with an abundance of reef fish including basslets, angelfish, unicornfish, surgeons,
fusiliers and the resident butterfly cods and trigger fish.
INSIDE POINT:
A steeply sloping wall at the Marovo end of Charapoana Passage. The local gang of
whaler sharks parade past and circle this point when the incoming current is
running. Coral covered walls have an endless supply of small overhangs and picture
caverns to peer into to find molluscs, tube worms and holothurians. Finish the dive
on the reef top to find the elusive octopus and watch out for the amorous box fish.
UEPI PIER: From flashing 'scallops' in a cave directly
below the pier, to 'shark bommie' in just over 30m, to a 15m wall clustered with
fans. Rated as one of the best shore dives yet, you'll see a variety of game fish
and large cow tail rays resting on the sand, whilst under continual surveillance by the
resident grey whalers. The wall is great for a night dive with common sightings of
sponge crabs, spindle cowries, basket stars, hawkfish
THE ELBOW:
A sheer wall dropping into 2000 metres of ocean with two distinct projections festooned
with hard and soft corals. Keep an eye seawards as you are bound to see a variety of
creatures swim by, including eagle rays, tuna, barracuda, king trevally, darts and of
course sharks - particularly the seasonal hammerheads.
ELBOW CAVES: Deep gutters through the reef wall, almost
totally enclosed in sections, make this dive memorable. A large school of diamond
fish hide the entrance to one cavern often with barracuda flying through for a meal.
Between the gutters, the upper wall curves inward forming ledges with abundant fans and
dripping webs of sponges. Again, keep one eye seaward for those travelling pelagics,
but be sure you don't miss the resting turtle, commonly found here.
NORTH LOG and SOUTH LOG: At times the wall seems so steep as to curve
inwards. North Log in particular has ledges profuse in coral life and associated
aquarium fish including damsels, pullers, Chaetodonts and basslets.
LANGARA GARDENS: Take a tour of the upper reef wall and swim through
the many gutters to a lagoonal garden of hard corals. A variety of anemones and
associated clown fish, damsels and cleaning shrimps to delight the photographer.
Giant Tridacna clams and bullnose rays, along with small reef sharks, cod, trout,
flutemouths, down to the smaller coral inhabitants like damsels and pullers, nudibranchs,
flatworms and other invertebrates.
DIVERS BAY: Topography similar to Langara Gardens,
although the lagoonal basin is deeper and has become a site for seasonal small manta
rays. The branching corals of the shallower waters provide a suitable habitat not
only for its marine inhabitants, but also the budding marine biologist.
LANDORO GARDENS: The inner reef has interesting topography with overhangs, tunnels and caverns to
explore. Check the hard coral species in this area and giant clams. Reef tops
are home to anemones and their resident fish. The outer reef area has hard corals,
snapper, surgeon and unicorn fish, parrots and wrasses. Look for their cleaning
stations. The ocean side of the outer reef drops off into endless depths and the
possibility of sighting large pelagics and turtles exists as for all the wall areas at
Uepi.
DIVING EXCURSIONS
These dives are some distance from Uepi and are offered as excursions. Custom
and transport fees apply as an add on to normal dive price. Because they are custom
sites they may be withdrawn at any time as possible dive sites.
DEKU DEKURU: This dive includes a series of cave and
cavern systems. Outstanding photo opportunities possible with jungle overhanging the
water. The point between the two cave areas also offers some interesting overhangs
and corals.
GENERAL STORE: This dive requires a 15 minute boat trip to a
neighbouring island and the resort must pay a custom fee to the custom owners. The
dive commences on a stunning drop off festooned with gorgonians. Large yellow
nudibrancs are common and a chance to see live triton shells. After checking out the
various depths, divers can come up to approximately 15 metres and enter a swim through
which takes them into a shallow hard coral area. The variety of corals in this area
is amazing - excellent photographic opportunities with interesting light effects.
BABATA PASSAGE and SINKHOLE/PENGUIN
REEF
These 2 dives are done together in a full day excursion. Babata Passage is very
exciting as you go down in the river through a sinkhole which opens out into a cavern and
then open reef. This can ONLY be done in calm conditions. Check the cavern for
flashing file shells.
Penguin Reef - an open ocean reef, some beautiful topography and anything is possible with
the wild life.
UEPI ISLAND DOES NOT OFFER WRECK
DIVING except for the USA P38 which
is a WWII relic (no souvenirs). This plane is situated off the airstrip at Seghe and
is in excellent condition. Great spot for soft corals and nudibranchs. Often
done as an add on to Babata Passage.
NIGHT DIVING
The safest most reliable site is Charapoana Passage area. At night a profusion of
echinoderms and other invertebrates as well as crustaceans abound in this area. For
advance night diving Uepi Point is a very exciting site, however diving it is TOTALLY
DEPENDANT upon individual divers experience and weather and diving conditions. The
dive instructor will make a decision in reference to each night dive venue.
|
