Michael McFadyen's Scuba Diving Web Site
Home · Contact Me · Sydney Reef Dive Sites · Sydney Shipwrecks · NSW Dive Sites · Australian Dive Sites · Overseas Dive Sites · Dive Accidents and Incidents · My Yachting Adventures · 4WD Trips · Weather · Search 02 December 2024 22:33
Navigation
Home

General
About Me
My Diving
FAQ
Downloads
Web Links - Dive Clubs
St George Scuba Club
Some of my Best Photos
Contact Me

Dive Sites
Sydney Reef Dive Sites
Sydney Shipwrecks
Sydney Dive Visibility, Swell and Temps
Kelly Talking on ABC Sydney about Shipwrecks
NSW Dive Sites
Sydney Shipwreck Summary
NSW Shipwreck GPS/Marks
Australian Dive Sites
Overseas Dive Sites
Aircraft I have Dived
Old Bottles
Free Shipwreck Books

Dive Related Equipment
Shearwater Predator and Heinrichs Weikamp OSTC 2N
Uwatec Aladin Dive Computers
Apollo AV1 Underwater Scooter
Bauer Compressor
DIY Oxygen Stick - Nitrox
GoPro HD Hero Video Camera
My Camera Setup
Purchase of New Dive Boat
My Dive Boat - Mak Cat
My Old Dive Boat - Le Scat
My Dive Gear
GPS and Diving
Make Your Own Car Tank Rack

Marine Life
Rarer Sydney Marine Life
Bare Island Pygmy Pipe Horses
Bare Island Sea Horses
Bare Island Nudibranchs
Bare Island Marine Life
Encounter with Southern Right Whale and Calf

Other Dive Info
How Weather Affects Diving in Sydney
Visibility and Wave Averages in Sydney
Waves and Diving
Diving Weather and Sea Conditions
Tide Tables
Dive Accidents and Incidents
Dive Book Reviews
Site Map
Noel Hitchins 1951-2005
Lloyd Bridges - Mike Nelson in Sea Hunt
My Yachting Adventures
Below is a list of links to the main pages about my yacht, Catlypso and My Yachting Adventures:
  • Purchase of Catlypso
  • Details about Catlypso
  • Cleaning/Repairing Catlypso
  • My Yachting Adventures.
  • Login
    Username

    Password



    Forgotten your password?
    Request a new one here.
    Michael's 4WD Trips
    Click here for a list of my Four Wheel Drive and Camping Trips.
    Home Brewing
    Click here for an article about Home Brewing.
    Sydney Dive Site Hints
    "SS Woniora was discovered by Max Gleeson and John Riley"
    Sandfly Passage
    Michael McFadyen's Scuba Diving - Sandfly Passage The third largest of the Florida Islands group of the Solomon Islands is Mbokonumbeta Island. More commonly known as Sandfly Island, it is located to the west of the largest island, Nggela Sule. The waters that separate the islands are known as Sandfly Passage. This waterway varies in width from a few hundred metres at the entrances to over 3 or 4 kilometres in other parts.

    The southern end of the passage is located where it joins Iron Bottom Sound. This is a popular dive location for the two liveaboards that ply their trade in the Florida Islands area. Accessed from Maravagi Resort, the island is about a 17 minute run away.

    Like many other reef dives in the Solomon Islands, this is a drift dive. When we dived the tide was flowing north to south so we motored 400 metres or so up the passage from the southern end on the Nggela Sule (or eastern) side.

    We entered the water about 20 metres off the shore and dropped down. The reef was a sloping reef with a bottom of about 30 to 35 metres. We drifted slowly with the current. There were heaps of big gorgonias and sponges as well as excellent fishlife.

    The slope gradually became steeper and there were some small gullies. After a while the slope became a wall, with the bottom getting deeper. Just past here there is a large cave or overhang. The cave is created by the cliff on the island above. It is quite dark as you approach after the bright sunshine of the open water. Here we saw at least three whitetip reef sharks, some barracuda and tuna.

    The wall continues with the bottom now over 50 metres down. The fishlife and fixed marine life was very good in this spot as well. Finally, as we approached the corner the current slowed and then stopped altogether. Here we decided to finish our dive, going to the top of the reef and spending our safety stop exploring the interesting coral here.

    As well as the things mentioned above, we saw at least four clown triggerfish and one huge humpheaded wrasse.

    Visibility was a bit varied, from 10 to 25 metres. Water temperature about 28°C.

    Copyright © Michael McFadyen 1990 to 2024
    Non-commercial use of an article or photograph is permitted with appropriate URL reference to this site.
    Dive shops, dive operators, publications and government departments cannot use anything without first seeking and receiving approval from Michael McFadyen.
    This web site has been wholly thought up, designed, constructed and funded for almost 30 years by Michael McFadyen without any help from the Australian Dive Industry.
    Website created 1996!