Location: Tofo Beach

Difficulty: "LEMON & HERB"

Distance: 8kms

Travel Time: 20 minutes

Depth: 10 - 14m

Max-Depth: 14m

Bottom Time: 50 to 60 minutes

Anchor Bay is an inshore, flat circular reef composed of rock and a variety of beautiful soft corals and sponges, and large plate coral. Tropical fish are abundant and notably there are also Manta Rays here, also in season Whales can be seen. An old ship's anchor gives this reef its name. The maximum depth is 10 metres (32 feet) so this long, shallow dive is popular for those in training and occasional divers getting back into it.

The topography is also similar to that of Buddies Reef but is much larger in size spreading from east to west, covered in large plate corals, sponges, soft, hard corals and illuminating anemones that decorate the entire reef with spectacular colours. The beautiful reef was given it's name when a few divers discovered a 2 meter anchor lying in the middle of the reef from an old sailing ship, which has now formed part of reef and is almost an 'historical' attraction amongst divers.

Anchor Reef is a haven for juvenile fish that can be seen darting around in different directions, hiding amongst some of the most beautiful anemones that can be found on numerous boulders and rock pinnacles on the reef, especially on the eastern edge. Divers must take a slow dive if they want to spot all the small reef fish like the juvenile emperor fish which has striking blue and white rings, baby lionfish, butterfly fish, cowries and nudibranches. Sightings of juvenile manta rays along this reef is not uncommon. Another particularly interesting creature is the spearing mantis shrimp - a half crustaceans half shrimp with powerful claws that can inflict serious pain. Some refer them to as "thumb splitters". They generally hide or burrow in corals waiting for their prey, so keep a close lookout for them.

Other brightly coloured reef fish to expect during this dive includes yellow paperfish, powder blue surgeonfish, clownfish, neon fusiliers, striped eel catfish snappers whilst a keen eye can spot crocodile fish, scorpion fish and stonefish that are well camouflaged against the reef. Various cracks, crevices and ledges are also home to octopus, electric torpedo rays and zebra moray eels.

During the winter months when humpback whales migrate to tropical waters to calve, they often take shelter in bay off Barra where divers could be lucky enough to hear them 'sing' - which is a fascinating sound that you will literally feel vibrate through your entire body. Some divers are also lucky enough to see them surfacing whilst on their boat ride to the dive site.