Michael McFadyen's Scuba Diving - Naru Gap
To the south-east of Gizo is Naru Island. This is located on the western side of Ferguson Passage, one of the entrances to Blackett Strait (the waterway between Ghizo Island and Kolombangara Island). It is about a 20 minute run to this dive site from Gizo.
This dive starts outside the lagoon, drifting from Ferguson Passage with the incoming tide in through the small gap into the lagoon. You enter the water off the north-eastern end of the island and drop to the side of the reef which drops to over 35 metres in a steeper slope.
You start off heading north and at first the current was slightly against us. There are very large gorgonias and barrel sponges and there are some barracuda and trevally. After 10 minutes you reach the start of Naru Gap and you turn left and head west. The current has now turned to be with us and increased in strength a little.
There are now a few sharks around, a couple of whitetip reef sharks and at least two grey reef sharks. The schools of barracuda, trevally and sweetlips are quite large and we see some batfish and even tuna.
As we head west we see lots of titan triggerfish. These are the largest of the triggerfish and can be very aggressive when breeding. I soon see one actively chasing smaller fish, darting from one fish to another and then yet another. I have a bad feeling that this fish is one of the ones I have been warned about by friends but there is nothing I can do as I have to pass by because of the current and the depth.
As I near the triggerfish I think I have escaped and I even get past it. However, it soon comes charging at me so I use my fins to fend it off. It makes a number of attacks but as the current is still pushing me along, I am soon out of its nesting area.
A little further on, I see another titan triggerfish acting very aggressive. Hell, here we go again! However, I notice that one of my buddies is a bit ahead of me. The triggerfish goes for him. Straight up behind him and he does not see it coming. Closer, closer it gets. All of a sudden it turns and heads off back in the direction it came from. I guess that was the edge of its territory. It gave my other buddy and I a great laugh.
The depth along here is over 30 metres but we are in the 20 metre range before coming up to the 10 to 15 metre level. To finish off the dive we come up to the five metre area and spend 15 or so minutes looking at the nice growth.
Another very nice dive, visibility about 25 metres, water temperature of 27.7°C.
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