Great Astrolabe Reef: Difference between revisions
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== Location == |
== Location == |
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The Great Astrolabe Reef is located in Fiji and surrounds the fourth largest island, Kadavu Island which is approximately 65 km in length. |
The Great Astrolabe Reef is located in Fiji and surrounds the fourth largest island, Kadavu Island which is approximately 65 km in length. Kadavu Island is located approximately 100 km south of Viti Levu, the main island of Fiji where Nadi (international airport location) and Suva (capital city of Fiji) are located. |
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== Description == |
== Description == |
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Revision as of 01:33, 2 April 2010
Location
The Great Astrolabe Reef is located in Fiji and surrounds the fourth largest island, Kadavu Island which is approximately 65 km in length. Kadavu Island is located approximately 100 km south of Viti Levu, the main island of Fiji where Nadi (international airport location) and Suva (capital city of Fiji) are located.
Description
The Great Astrolabe Reef is one of the largest barrier reefs in the world and encompasses Kadavu Island, Ono Island and other small islands within a natural protective lagoon.
The reef itself is predominantly located along the southern coast of Kadavu Island and arks north around Ono Island and further north to Buliya.
Highlights
Buliya is famous for it's Manta Ray snorkelling and is very much a highlight of travelling to Kadavu Island and Ono Island.
Importance
This reef is very important in that due to it having many channels leading from extremely deep water into shallow lagoons it is a breeding ground for many of the large billfish (marlin) species, Sharks, Tuna, Giant Trevally, Mahi-Mahi (dolphinfish) and Snapper.
Water Temperature
The temperature of the water on the Great Astrolabe Reef varies from approximately 25 degrees Celsius to 32 degrees Celsius making it an ideal place for snorkelling and diving.
Scuba Diving
The Great Astrolabe Reef is one of the greatest locations in the world to experience marine life and coral diversity in that it is relatively unspoilt due to its distance from dense population.
Visibility
The average visibility underwater is 25 metres with visibility increasing to up to 40 metres on clear, windless days.
Marine Protection
Parts of the Great Astrolabe Reef are protected from fishing and require entry fees such as Naiqoro Passage, one of the main passage-ways of the Great Astrolabe Reef. This is due to the location itself being one of the main thoroughfares for large fish.
Accommodation
There are quite a few resorts on Kadavu Island and a few on Ono Island that offer reasonably priced accommodation. Some of these are Waisalima Beach Resort & Dive Centre, Kenia Beach Resort, Tiliva Resort, Mai Dive, Matana Beach Resort (Dive Kadavu), Matava Eco-Resort, Papageno and Nagigia.