INDO-PACIFIC 
Coral Reef

The tropical coral reefs are the most beautiful ecosystem in the world. There, I said it!

For the page on Invertebrates of the coral reefs

For the page on the Fish of the Indo-Pacific tropical coral reefs

For the page on Damselfish (including anemonefish) of coral reefs

For the page on Butterflyfish of the Indo-Pacific tropical coral reefs

For the page on Reptiles & Birds of Indo-Pacific coral reefs

Places to see Indo-Pacific tropical coral reefs

The biggest reef in the world is of course the Great Barrier Reef, off eastern Australia. One of the best islands for reef is Lizard Island. Along the edge of this reef are the beautiful Ribbon Reefs. South of the Great Barrier Reef is some great coral and fish on the Tangalooma Wrecks. On the west coast of Australia there are other reefs, including Montgomery Reef in the north east, and further south is Ningaloo Reef.

The south west Pacific includes the Solomon Islands, my favourite country for snorkelling. One of the best sites in this area is at Maravagi Resort, on Mangalonga Island. Other areas in the Solomon Islands include: Uepi Resort, Marovo Lagoon and Arnavon (Arnarvon) Islands.

At a similar latitude is the relatively unspoilt island of New Guinea. This is my second favourite coral reef region; both sides of New Guinea (Indonesian New Guinea and Papua New Guinea) have incredible snorkelling. This area includes the most diverse coral reefs in the world, at Rajah Ampat.

Dominating the Indo-Pacific coral reefs is the huge country of Indonesia, including Kakaban Island. Indonesia also includes:  Menjangan Island, Bali Barat and Pink Beach Komodo.

Heading north there are the remote islands of Micronesia, including the stunning Palau. Then there is the diverse and many islands of the Philippines, including Panagsama. Even further north is the extent of tropical coral reefs, Japan. Here, snorkelling is easy at Miyako Island.

More remote areas across the vast Pacific include Aitutaki in the Cook Islands, Niue and further east Bora Bora, in French Polynesia. 

On the other side of the Indian Ocean, off the coast of Africa, are the Seychelles. Included in this island group is Farquhar Atoll.