Benny's Place

Benny's Place lies in the sandy channel between Ha'anno and Nukunamo Islands. The channel is fringed on each side with coral heads and the channel has a maximum depth of 24 meters, if you stick your nose in the sand. Average depth is 14 to 16 meters and the nature of tidal currents through the pass means it is best dived at slack tide. The rolling underwater dunes are very impressive and an ideal habitat for Blue Spotted Ribbontail Stingrays which can be seen hiding in the sand with only their eyes protruding, a nice picture. Large Spider Conch and Sea Cucumbers roam the sandy flats. There is a very large Starry Puffer, affectionatly known as "The Count", who sits in the deepest parts of the channel and can be approached quite closely if rapid movement is avoided. A three meter Leopard Shark also frequents this channel and provides an exhilerating sight when spotted, again it may be approached quite closely if you move slowely and make the approach from the front and side. It is a really beautiful specimen. The channel is also excellent for macro live with scribbled pipefish, sand anemones and shrimps, Mantis Shrimp, Gobies and symbiotic Shrimps, Nudibranchs and juvenile fish. Big eye Emperor and Coral Groupers sit still in the water column between the coral heads and there is a very large Napoleon Wrasse who hangs out along the West ridge. This is an excellent dive for everyone but especially suited to novice divers as the sandy expanses allow plenty of room for practising bouyancy control.