Raki Raki: Fiji's Soft Coral Paradise

Alex Mustard · Issue 19, Jun/Jul 2004 · pp. 21–27

Products mentioned: Canon AE1P, Sigma 28mm, Tussey T300 dome port, AquaSea 140 strobe, Fuji Velvia, Canon 50mm macro, Nikonos III, Fujichrome Provia, Sigma 15mm, Sigma 90mm macro, Canon T-70

21 We began our descent from the dive boat to a shallow reef-top only eight metres below. This shallow reef was actually the top of a huge coral-encrusted pinnacle, rising vertically out of much deeper water. As we arrived, a pair of mackerel swooped in and began attacking a massive school of fusiliers that were sheltering around the top of the pinnacle, scattering the school in nervous fright. Waiting for our dive companions to descend, we began exploring the shallow edge of the reef and quickly realised how rich this pinnacle was. A riot of coloured soft corals in bright pink, fiery-orange and blood- red lined the edge. Orange basslet fish danced above the soft corals and a big grand- daddy lionfish hovered gracefully along the edge. All this and we had only just left the surface! This dive at ‘Golden Dreams’ was to be one of our favourites and is just one of dozens of sites that are d…