Fale Anga (House of the Shark)

Fale Anga is a beautiful sea mount that makes up part of the Crawshaw Shoals, a shallow off shore area just North and West of Lifuka Island. The sea mount has a maximum depth of 24 meters and rises to within 3 of the surface in places. This is one of the more dramatic dives in Ha'apai because of the many long overhangs that jut out from the main reef and run along smaller reefs adjacent to the main mount. These overhangs are filled with long twisting sea whip corals with gobies shooting up and down along their length and whip coral shrimps holding on with perfect camouflage to conceal their presence. Glassy sweepers dart about in the shadows and nocturnal species such as Soldier and Squirrelfish peer out curiously from the crevices. Fairy basslets swim upside down underneath the ceilings and Lionfish also cling to the roof. The striking blue of the pacific appears much brighter as you look out from the dar. Big solitary Harlequin Sweetlips linger in places and Black and White Snapper dive in and out of the shade to inspect divers. Fusiliers and Unicornfish school in the open passages between the reefs and Grey Reef Sharks are a common sight circling the mount. White Tips lie in the rubble on the bottom and Juveniles rest in the many long crevices that cut deeply into the reefs. There is one anemone in particular here that has several beautiful White Capped Anemone Shrimps which will dart back and forth onto a presented hand. Very loarge grouper often tag along with the divers keeping a cautious watch on the proceedings. Dark green hard Corals reach down from the ceilings in some overhangs, delicate sort corals and colourful sponges adorn the ceilings in such numbers to look as if painted by one of the great masters, Eagle ray can be seen shuffling in the open areas off the main reef in search of their crustacean prey. Large lobsters find sanctuary in the volcanic rock with their long white antennae sampling the currents for any hint danger. As well they might because one of the biggest Napoleon Wrasse I have ever seen fins his refuge on this reef, at over two meters long a lobster is just a snack. The top of the rock is relatively barren but for a huge number of anemone and Clownfish ducking and diving in the current, returning to their host if you approach before rubbing themselves in the protective mucous of the anemone. The exposed nature of this reef offers great visibility and the light to medium currents kick up an abundance of life. On three of the four occasions that I have been fortunate enough to encounter Humpback Whales on a dive it was here at Fale Anga, it is a very special place and a superb diving experience.