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Palette Of Pastels
 Male male island, Solomon Islands
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Max Depth: 91-100ft/28-30m
Average Viz: 71-80ft/22-24m
Entry Type: Boat
Bottom Composition: Coral
Aquatic Life: Plenty To See
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Spring: 81-85°F/27-29°C
Summer: 81-85°F/27-29°C
Fall: 81-85°F/27-29°C
Winter: 81-85°F/27-29°C
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Palette Of Pastels is a boat accessible salt water dive site, located in Male male island, Solomon Islands. The maximum depth is 91-100ft/28-30m. The average visibility is 71-80ft/22-24m.
PALETTE OF PASTELS
Palette rivals Begho Point and Kicha Magic as one of my lifetime favorites. Returning from Begho one morning I was riding the bow of Corey’s ( Corey and Waelinah Howell own and operate the Wilderness Lodge) boat, soaking up the sun and reliving our dive. As we cut across the westernmost point of Male Male , I sat up straight and motioned for Corey to slow down. A massive point extended from the island out into the blue; the top appeared to range between 15 and 30 feet in depth. The bottom?? Was there one?? The next morning found us gauging the south running current and dropping in over the edge into one of the most colorful dives I have ever made. The 8 foot high fan corals in shades of pinks, white, black and magenta rivaled with the endless parade of jacks, barracudas, sleek unicorn tangs, rainbow runners- all shadowed by the ever present gray reef outriders. We lingered at around 100 ’ for as long as we dared, and reluctantly left the show for shallower waters and headed out around the point. Here we found overhangs encrusted with snow white, peach and golden soft corals; the slope was glowing with yellow soft corals and golden damsels. Pink spiny lobsters, anemone fish of many colors, and coral heads full of infant "Dory’s"- the brilliant blue tangs completed the impressionist canvas. It seems to be a stage for unusual marine events. One morning, a huge sea snake entertained us hunting for its breakfast; on another, we saw what appeared to be a nurse shark digging a hole in the reef. Inching closer, we realized she was scarfing the eggs of a titan trigger’s nest, to the disgruntlement of the triggerfish parents. On yet another day, 2 volkswagen sized green turtles were engaged in a courtship ritual. What will we see next??