Diving a pass in the Pacific: life, sharks, and murky visibility
Passes between atolls and islands are often packed with marine life, and Lauren Landers Sailing went to dive the pass right behind the boat before the incoming system made conditions unsafe. Passes can hold large numbers of sharks or very few, and visibility varies. This particular pass was described as a little murky compared to others visited so far, but still beautiful and full of life. With an uncertain tide and changing conditions, checking what is safe before committing to a dive is the practical approach.
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Diving coral bommies: what to expect on overgrown Pacific patch reefs
The morning after anchoring, several boats in the group dive the bommies in the area. These are patches of coral that rise from 70 to 100 feet below the surface up to the waterline. Lauren Landers Sailing notes that a lot of the coral was o
A juvenile blacktip reef shark found dead in a fish trap net gave the boys a close-up look
During a day of snorkeling, attempted spearing, and watching a hammerhead feed from the drone, Ian and Tara came across a shark tangled in the nets of a fish trap. The shark had already died in the net, so Ian pulled it out of the water so
After 50-100 dives, the crew finally spots a tiger shark in the pass
After days of searching at the atoll, the crew finally achieved their goal. Lauren explains: "We probably dove that pass 50 to 100 times to find this one tiger shark. So, we did it." The sighting was brief but thrilling. Lauren estimated th