Secret Bay

Secret Bay is a classic muck-diving site on a broad, steeply sloping black-sand bottom prized for macro photography. The flat, featureless sand comes alive with camouflaged small critters such as seahorses, pipefish, mantis shrimp and nudibranchs, and warm geothermal vents often bubble through patches of sand. Depths range from a few meters to about 20-21 meters, making the site suitable for open-water divers in generally calm, warm tropical waters. Mild currents are common in the upper layers and drift-style dives are typical; visibility is generally fair but can be reduced by stirred sediment. Access is usually by a short boat ride from local dive resorts, with shore entry possible when conditions allow. Significant hazards include sharp fire urchin spines and venomous animals such as blue-ringed octopuses, stonefish, lionfish and cone snails, so careful buoyancy and cautious finning are required. The site is popular for night dives when nocturnal creatures like Bobbit worms, cuttlefish, octopuses, crabs and shrimps emerge.