South Pacific Projects – Marine Conservation, Fiji

When we arrived at Leleuvia Island to run our coral identification training workshop for South Pacific Projects, I knew we would have it all laid on.

A quick check with Google Earth was enough to get my appetite whetted – situated in the middle of Kubuna Waters; I could see the wide range of habitat within minutes of the island. Just a short boat ride in one direction reveals crystal clear outer barrier drop-offs and in the other direction, never ending coral and sponge gardens of the lagoon maze.

In a few short days our team dived ourselves silly, trained the south Pacific Projects team in coral ID techniques and recorded over 300 species of hard corals in the process. Not bad in just nine dives.

Coral reefs never cease to amaze me. After 30 years of diving I can still drop in the water and be amazed and so it was at Leleuvia. To the staff and crew of South Pacific Projects, we say so-long and thanks for all the corals (and fish).

Russell Kelley – Program Director
Coral Identification Capacity Building Program
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