Kimbe Bay · Papua New Guinea · Reef · Coral garden
Vanessa's Reef
Dark red sea fans two to three metres across
Area photo: Kimbe at en.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Vanessa's Reef is a submerged shoulder that extends west off a much larger reef, its top sitting between 15 and 18 m. Large dark red gorgonian sea fans, many of them two to three metres across, stand along the shoulder, and farther out it gives way to a garden of bright orange sponge mounds heaped with crinoids. It is a shallow, unhurried dive that rewards a slow look.
Where it is and how deep
No published position for this site — the map shows Kimbe Bay and its other sites; operators know the mooring.
The dive
The boat mooring is set at 18 m near the end of the sponge zone, so the descent drops you onto the outer end of the shoulder. The reef here runs between 15 and 18 m and falls away on both sides to a sandy bottom, which makes the shape easy to follow: keep the slope on one shoulder and swim the crest back toward the larger reef this one extends from.
The sponge garden is the first stretch, full of bright orange sponge mounds, many of them with heaps of crinoids clinging on for an elevated position to feed in the current. Beyond the mooring the mixture of sponges and sea fans grows sparser, so there is little reason to push further out before turning back along the shoulder.
Working back, the gorgonians take over. Many of the dark red fans measure two to three metres across or more and make picturesque backdrops for diver shots, and the same fans repay a close look for hawkfish, commensal shrimp and other macro subjects. To the north there are additional ridges and ravines holding more sea fans, worth adding if the dive time allows.
Marine life and season
- Pristine corals
- Macro critters
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good | Good | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Good |
Season follows Kimbe Bay: Diveable year-round; May–October dry season typically gives clearer water and calmer seas.
Dive videos
2015 1 1 Vanessa's Reef, Papua New Guinea · dvdiverjp i on YouTube
Questions divers ask
How deep is Vanessa's Reef?+
The submerged shoulder sits between 15 and 18 m, with the boat mooring at 18 m near the outer end of the sponge zone. Both sides of the shoulder slope away to a sandy bottom.
Is Vanessa's Reef good for photography?+
Yes. Many of the dark red gorgonian sea fans are two to three metres across or more and make useful backdrops for diver shots, while the fans and the orange sponge mounds hold hawkfish, commensal shrimp and crinoids for macro work.
Sources
- Kimbe Bay | Walindi Plantation Resort — Walindi Plantation Resort
More dive sites in Kimbe Bay
Seamount
An isolated seamount that pulls in barracuda and trevally schools
Reef
Schooling barracuda and trevally when a current is running
Reef
Dense stands of red whip gorgonians tangled with crinoids
Similar dives elsewhere
Coral gardens on a gentle slope, with the best of the reef above 18 m
Three to fifteen metres over the corals off Logbon Island
Reef, mini wall and coral garden from 12 m down to 30 m
Banded sea kraits crawling openly over a sunken plateau