North Minerva Reef

By Mike on

Scuba diving the outside wall drop-offs at the Minerva Reefs is spectacular due to the superb water clarity and extensive coral, fish and other marine life. There are few suspended particles and the visibility is normally in excess of 100 feet due to there being no dry land at high tide. Of particular note are the numerous fan coral formations near the pass at North Minerva and the “shark bowl” area located by the narrow dinghy pass on the western lobe of South Minerva.

North Minerva Reef

By Mirabilis on

North Minerva Reef is the larger and most preferred of two large
submerged atolls, popular as a stopover destination and place to await
favourable weather for yachts in transit to Tonga or Fiji. North
Minerva is almost perfectly oval in shape measuring approximately
3.5nm across.

Aradonna - May 18, 2014

By Aradonna on

[password]waiknot
[position]23 39.433S 178 54.354W

[status]
Very windy night, started anchor watch at 8pm as winds over 40 knots and raining. By midnight winds 45 to 50 knots from SE with peak gust recorded at 1.37am of 58 knots. Barometer 1007. Now 6am winds dropped back to mid 30 knot range gusting to 40. All 24 yachts seem to be holding well, did not see anyone dragging anchor during the night. All is well.

--[END]

Remedy - May 18, 2014

By Remedy on

[password] seeker14
[position] 23 56.07s 179 05.97e
[speed] 0
[heading] N/A
[weather] at 06.30NZST SE 25knots. 1010mb steady. 100% cloud.
[status]
Anchored sth minerva. Big blow and steady rain overnight, steady 25 knots this morning. Yesterday's forecast was for easing today which may allow us to punch out through the swell to make our way north. All well on board, lots oflove
[END]

Aradonna - 1732 May 2014

By Aradonna on

Now 24 yachts inside North Minerva Reef, which is a huge oval "lake" measuring 5km by 5.5km across, so plenty of room for all. The rim of the reef itself is 900m wide and only has one small gap in it, just big enough for yachts to pass through into the middle, which is like a lake in the middle of the ocean. On the outside of the reef the ocean is 2000m deep but on the inside it is only 20m deep and a good anchorage. At low tide the reef is 1m or so above the water and at high tide the ocean waves trickle over the top, but the waves loose their force in the process. A large low pressure system is over us bringing 30-40 knots of wind and light rain, but everyone is safely anchored away from the ocean swells. Made some "William" bread today for lunch, it turned out perfectly(yum!)so it looks like we are getting used to this oven. Good day for reading and playing bridge! Yesterday was better weather, caught up on some washing, went swimming and snorkeling. Karl went for a dive t o retrieve a towel that had blown off the line. The towel that Steph gave Heather for her Birthday went to the bottom of Minerva Reef! Happily it was only 18m deep and Karl retrieved it easily. Weather clearing a bit tomorrow but we will probably stay here until Tuesday before departing for Tonga. The sea outside the reef will still be a bit lumpy on Sunday and Monday but inside is it nice and calm!

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