Most Beautiful Coral Reefs In The World

By siliconindia | Friday, 13 February 2015, 12:52 Hrs

Raja Ampat, Indonesia

Raja Ampat casts a spell on all who visit – scientists, photographers, and divers. This group of grandiose islands, located in the northwestern tip of Indonesia’s Papuan “Bird’s Head Seascape,” lies in the heart of the coral triangle, the most bio-diverse marine region on earth

Raja Ampat meaning ‘ the Four Kings’, is the name given to these mystical islands and pristine seas in West Papua, the name derived from a local myth. The four major islands here are Waigeo, Misool, Salawati, and Batanta.

The size of this marine park is enormous, as it covers more than 9.8 million acres of striking scenery, both above and below the surface. Divers claim that Raja Ampat is the best place in the world to observe dugongs, wobbegongs, walking sharks, and the legendary pygmy seahorses. Photographers also praise the beauty above the surface.

Grand Central Station and Chimneys, Fiji

Fiji is known as the “soft coral capital of the world” with covering an area of 207,000 square kilometers. The best diving destination in Fiji is the Namena Marine Reserve.

Two of the best dive sites here in this reserve are the Chimneys and the Grand Central Station. The visibility at the Chimney site is about 50-60 feet in the west season and up to 80 – 100 feet in the months from May to August.

The Grand Central Station is an equally stunning site – known for rare pelagic fishes like the Thunnus Thynnus, barracudas, snappers, manta rays, marble rays and others. You can also spot the nudibranchs and leaf scorpion fish and lion fish as well.