Dive Briefing Copyright © 2004 Craig "Monty" Sheppard and Michelle Gaut

- click to see photos -

August 16, 2004 - Leru Cut, Russell Islands (Dive 14)

Max Depth: 93'
Dive Time: 58 min, 11:05
Temperature: 80 °F
Nitrox PO2: 32%
Camera: Canon 1Ds, Canon 16-35/2.8L, 2 x Ikelite DS-125

Amazing (and famous) cut in the rock, about 40' deep, and fairly narrow (perhaps ranging from 10-20' wide). The sunlight streams down from above in visible beams, and incoming divers silhouette nicely against the luminous blue glow of the jagged entrance. At the end of the cut we surfaced to see rock, trees and filtered sunlight, before diving down again and making our way back out. After drifting in the strong current to the point, I spent some time photographing a lone green-mantled anemone with three active a. percula clownfish playing around inside. They were friendly subjects and didn't hide when I stuck my dome port in front of them. A bit further around the point, I found a endemic white-bonnet anemonefish (Amphiprion leucokranos), and as described in Bob Halstead's book, it was in mixed company with some sort of two-stripe anemonefish in the same anemone and a pink anemonefish not far from it. I wonder if it's a hybrid of some sort...?