Hastings is a large, popular diving and snorkeling reef, with over 13km of reef edge and back reef sand floors to explore. Upon entering the water from TUSA Dive's mooering at The Fish Bowl, go foeward to the wall, which runs along the back edge of the reef and drops to a sandy floor at 8m-10m.
Anemones and clumps of staghorn coral are regular features with giant clams perched on the shallow reeftop and bomies. Sweetlip, cod and trout are regulars and schools of damsels are common. Pairs of Butterfly fish Angel fish, feeding among the coral add more splashes of color. The wall winds around and along, bringing you to more clams and a good swim-through up into the reef. After a good long swim-through up into the reef. After exploring it, go left aroung the group of bomies. Note the giant clam 12m on the outer edge of the base.
You can go back the way you came along the wall or take a different depth route out over the floor. Whitetip reef sharks and lagoon rays often rest on the floor. On some coral patches you will see long white tentacles extending out over the sand. These are feeding threads of Terrebellid worm and if you get very close to the ribbon-like-tenticles, you will see lumps of food being carried inside them. Also noice the daytime coral with its polyps out about 6-10cm- if you look around you will often find broken-off satellite pieces establishing new colonies |
