Fiji Wheatfields

DESCRIPTION

Dive Site Review by Anna Clague
Photos by Andrew Simpson, Anna Clague & Lael Read

This is a dual pinnacle dive site. Both pinnacles rise from a depth of about 45m. The main pinnacle which is the bigger of the two, comes up to 5meters and the side pinnacle reaches to about 20metres. They are separated by a gap of about 10 meters at the widest point. You can easily circle each pinnacle during the course of this dive and spiralling up the deeper then the shallower Pinn is a good way to dive this site.

The smaller deeper Pinn has some beautiful Red Gorgonian Fans which, if you take your time and look closely, are home to families of glass shrimp. Both Pinns are home to many critters including nudibranchs, flat worms, leaf scorpionfish, pipefish, shrimp, crabs and many others. The Pinns are covered in hard and soft corals. The soft corals require moving water in order to ‘bloom’ to show their spectacular side. When not ‘blooming’ the soft corals can look a bit limp. If there is current running here you will always be able to find a sheltered side to the Pinns, especially the bigger one, to rest in. You will find all manner of fish here too. Anthias, coral trout, cleaner fish, anemone fish, damselfish, lionfish, trevally, grouper and if you keep an eye out to the deeper water you may see a shark or two.

Leather corals completely cover the top of the bigger Pinn giving it a look of a wheat field, hence the name. As the top of this Pinn is at 5m you can hang out here for a nice long time enjoying the view. There is a permanent mooring on the top of this Pinn so when you are ready you just follow the line up to the boat.