I just returned from possibly the best vacation I ever had in the Cook Islands (nestled between Fiji and Tahiti in the South Pacific) and thought I would share some of my photos. While the Coos don't offer the species diversity you would see in Indonesia, Australia or even Fiji there are definitely some awesome sights to see. These photos were taken in the lagoon with a Nikon Coolpix 990 camera and underwater housing. Will post some more pictures of my dives later... unfortunately most of the reefs outside the lagoon have died. The divemaster (who had only lived on the island for 5 years) said it was from agricultural fertilizer dumped on the land 20 years ago for pineapple farming. Chip Boyle, an american who has lived on the island for 15 years (and owns the only fish collecting operation) said the reefs have died in the last 5 years - he thought due to coral bleaching and crown-of-thorns plagues. It was quite depressing to see the blighted old reef formations. Plenty of fish though.
sedgro
sedgro
