Witu Islands Diving
Witu Islands are situated to the North West of Kimbe Bay and this area is visited by MV FeBrina at selected times during the year. A cross section of diving includes sea mounts and black sand bays around the islands, so this area provides a perfect mix of both pelagic activity and critters.
The Witu’s are also a hub of activity for the locals who often paddle out to trade fruits and vegetables in their traditional style canoes. Young children are fascinated by divers and will often paddle out just to dive down and play in the rising bubbles.
The images below were all taken onboard FeBrina’s sister vessel, MV Oceania, whilst in the Witu Islands area by trip director Mike. Below the gallery, find descriptions of a few of the most popular sites in the Witu Islands area.
GORU ARCHES
Located on a sweeping ridge that is adorned with colourful corals, this site is a feast for the eyes. Sea fans in a number of hues frame the scene of pink and purple soft corals, whip corals, squat barrel sponges, orange sponges and green tree corals.
The area is teeming with fish life, including midnight snappers, shaded batfish, oblique-lined sweetlips, racoon butterflyfish and giant squirrelfish.
WIRE BAY
Wire Bay is a black sand bay which will delight muck divers and critter lovers . The list of critters to be spotted is extensive and include leaf scorpionfish, nudibranchs, hingebeak shrimp, Steinitz’ shrimp goby, bicolour angelfish, false clownfish, spinecheek anemonefish and pink anemonefish. This spot is great during the day but also shines as a night dive, when some of the more unusual players come out.
DICKEY’S KNOB
An offshore bommie where you can often spot a shark or two cruising in mild current. The same current brings in schooling fish, like the famous barracuda and snapper schools you will often encounter on similar bommies and pinnacles in the area. This site is great to just hang on to the safety line and watch life go past.
KRACKAFAT
Krakafat is sensory overload in a dive. If there was ever a site to describe as ‘fish soup’ this is it - the reef top is absolutely jam packed with fish life including but not limited to schooling barracuda, trevally, Batfish, hunting mackerel, rainbow runner, dogtooth tuna and a cruising eagle rays. There is also no compromise on the beauty of the reef itself which is covered in swaying soft corals. This site delivers both on aesthetic appeal and action.
BARNEY’S REEF
A great dive for a mix of big and small. On the reef top spot large curious octopus, boxer crabs, candy crabs and harlequin shrimps. Overhead is often a mix of schooling trevally, red snapper, hunting tuna, mackerel and the odd grey reef shark.
THE CRATER
A brilliant macro dive located in a submerged crater. Keen eyes can spot a myriad of critters, including but not limited to blue ribbon eel, peacock mantis shrimp, golden mantis shrimp, nudibranchs, signal gobies and the odd lionfish.