Funky In Fiji - Sportdiver.com - Scuba Diving, PADI, Scuba Equipment, Dive Equipment, Scuba Diving Certification, Dive Travel

Image by Scott Johnson

No matter what the human race achieves, Mother Nature always does it better. Just behold the masterpiece of any painter or sculptor, and then compare it to the artistry of a single glorious sunset. Much of the 1960s and 70s was a psychedelic party, but nature tops it each and every day in the magical waters of Fiji. A single dive at a site called E-6 offers irrefutable evidence of this in its vibrant hues, frenzied dancing and strange party animals. Located in Bligh Strait between the islands of Vitu Levu and Vanua Leve, E-6 is a submerged pinnacle that perpetually hosts one wild, nonstop party. Its name, derived from the photo film developing process, is definitely right on. Underwater photographers shoot roll after roll of film trying to capture images of the rambunctious revelers and cool decor. Remember how groovy those special velvet posters looked when you flipped on that eerie black light? E-6 offers its own version of those mood-altering, fuzzy posters, but you don't need a black light to make them glow neon. The delicate and profuse soft corals that adorn the walls only require sunlight or a flashlight beam. I actually feel like I am painting with light as I pan my flashlight from one colony to the next. Fluorescent reds, purples, yellows, pinks and whites leap to life under the revealing influence of my beam. Partygoers Basking in the radiance of the brilliant, electric colors, dancers get down to the rhythms of the reef. Energetic clownfish tend to favor two hip routines, the strut and the shimmy. They rocket toward you as you approach their anemone, then strut back and forth in front of your mask. When they return to the anemone, these little dancers will spurn your advances by literally shaking and shimmying in the anemone's tentacles. A collection of weird creatures accompanies the luminous soft corals and fleet finned dancers. It can be a challenge to spot many of them, but the discoveries are always rewarding. Ribbon eels often go unseen as they quietly extend from holes in the sand to watch the festivities. If you are careful, you can observe their open-mouthed profiles up close. Do not be fooled by the leaf that appears to be rocked by the water's caress because it just might be a leaffish. True virtuosos of disguise, leaffish are often so well camouflaged that you might be tempted to touch them to see if they are alive. Motionless crocodilefish effectively blend in with the surrounding terrain. These flat-headed, gentle inhabitants often exceed four feet in length and are usually tolerant of divers. While some of the unusual partygoers are content to fade into the background, others like to shake things up. Sharks come to the party from time to time, including whitetip, silvertip, gray reef and nurse sharks. Yet none of them seems to fit the freaky party theme as well as the hammerhead. Otherworldly is the only word that seems to fit its mind-bending looks. Another spectacle-causing party crasher is the manta ray. When its dark silhouette passes overhead, the music momentarily stops and everyone takes notice. Designated Driver Though E-6 is a party you do not want to miss, it is only one of many such dive sites throughout Fiji. A live-aboard is the best way to visit these spectacular locations. The Fiji Aggressor, a catamaran constructed in 1997, is designed specifically for divers, including those with disabilities. She can accommodate 16 passengers in eight staterooms, each with climate control, private shower and head. Guests usually mingle in the salon and around the indoor/outdoor wet bar. If you want to get warm after a night dive, just jump in the hot tub on the upper deck. The dive deck offers personal dive lockers and a camera table. Divers board a 30-foot skiff at deck level and are lowered into the water. On returning from a dive, the skiff is raised to the deck, divers disembark and the tanks are filled in place. Fiji is a tropical paradise. The clear, turquoise waters lap against calm, sandy shores lined with palm trees. While the land epitomizes serenity, the underwater climate is different. It is a wild, happening party thrown by Mother Nature. Getting funky in Fiji is simply tasting more of nature's best. For more information...For general information...

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	I love them all!

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