409 Dive Log Australasia December 24

The wall that helps form Siaes Tunnel is vertical and heads for the depths. From the boat looking towards this wall, there is a small corner jutting out from the reef. On the right-hand side of this corner is a large entrance. The bottom of this entrance hits the 50m mark, way past safe recreational diving depths, but the ceiling of the entrance starts around 26m or so. Though technically a cave, this tunnel doesn’t go far into the reef, it sort of makes a shortcut at the corner. Whilst you are best to have a torch with you for this dive, you’ll find that you will always be able to see an exit whilst in the tunnel, and as your

needed to see some of the critters and fish that can be found here though, and a red light is preferable! Siaes Tunnel is a special dive. Due to the low light conditions here many deepwater fish that live past the 50m mark can be found in the tunnel. It’s just a matter of knowing what to look for, then being lucky enough to spot it. I’m told there is a series of other tunnels deeper here, way beyond recreational diver depths, and this would give deepwater species a set of ‘stepping stones’ to help them become acclimatized to shallower conditions. As you are entering the tunnel look up. The top of this structure is full of corals, and the fish life here is brilliant. Harlequin cod are one of the hard-to-find species that are regularly found here and are typically around this deeper entrance. Brilliantly striped in yellows and

eyes become accustomed to the dim conditions you will start to see the tunnel spread out before you. The torch is definitely

DIVE LOG Australasia #409 - December ‘24 61

www.divelog.net.au