Vanua Lava is one of the chain of islands grouped together as the Banks Islands. This island group covers approximately 746 sq km of the northern portion of Vanuatu. Vanua Lava is centrally positioned in the chain. Waterfall Bay is home to one of the most dramatic sights in Vanuatu, Sara Falls. These twin waterfalls cascade directly into the ocean.

There are three very small villages in the vicinity of Waterfall Bay. In general, there is little tourism in Vanua Lava although the villages surrounding the bay make their livelihood from the waterfalls, the sacred red cliff caves and the coral reef in the region. Waterfall Bay is mostly visited by boat, but can also be reached by a two-day hike from Sola, the main administrative center of the Banks which lies close to the south east tip of Vanua Lava.

The total population of the Banks Islands is 7,700 with 2,000 living on Vanua Lava. Most of Vanua Lava's inhabitants reside on the south coast of the island.

Twin Sara Falls

The Banks Islands were colonized around 1100 BC. Captain William Bligh of The Bounty officially mapped the positions of the islands in 1789.

The study site reef extends from the beach as a reef flat, rising to a depth of 5 metres at the reef crest. It extendes 400 metres off the west coast of the island. Living coral cover on the reef flat is low. There are swim throughs running beneath the reef flat, perpendicular to the beach, sometimes extending for 30m and re-emerging either back onto the reef flat or out onto the reef slope. The reef slope drops off steeply to a depth of about 20 metres to a sandy bottom with scattered coral bommies.

Table Acropora spp. on reef top

The reef top is dominated with table Acropora spp. colonies with some areas of dense coverage and most colonies being in a good state of health. There are also many massive Porites spp. and Diploastrea heliopora colonies throughout this site.

Many Diploastrea heliopora colonies were suffering from overgrowth by a very fine filamentous algae. Several colonies were being overgrown by a purple-blue macroalgae.

In one area of data collection the density of boulder Porites spp. was up to 60%. These colonies were often in good condition. The most frequently encountered Vitareef conditions on these Porites spp. colonies were edge damage or overgrowth by invertebrates.

No fish identification dives were conducted at this site, however general observations during the course of this study include two Manta rays at about 5 metres. The most common reef fish present were surgeon, wrasse and damsel fish. No pelagics were observed within the study area.

Several Acropora spp. colonies were prone to predation by a snail which we were unable to identify. In several cases, the tissue of the entire colony had been eaten away leaving behind freshly exposed skeleton.

Snail affecting Acropora spp.

Melon Whale Peponocephala electra

The waters surrounding Vanua Lava appear to be rich in cetaceans. During the voyage to Waterfall Bay from Sola, as we sailed around the south west side of the island, sightings included a pod of 20 spinner dolphins in the distance, two sperm whales and a pod of approximately 15 melon-headed whales which swam for fifteen minutes off the stern of the ship.

While anchored in Waterfall Bay itself, we observed two pods of spinner dolphins jumping and feeding near the ship.

Hawksbill turtle

One green turtle was observed surfacing in the area of the study site. There was also a full-sized hawksbill turtle sighted feeding on the reef during a Vitareef dive.

In general, Vitareef observations on 2,117 colonies revealed this reef to be in a state of excellent health with 63.7% of colonies scored as overall healthy compared to 24.9% of colonies under threat. Large areas of beautiful table Acropora spp. colonies dominate parts of the reef. It is clear that the remote location of this reef is a factor helping to maintain coral health.

Lying behind this reef and the Sara Falls are huge swathes of forest. The greatest potential threat to this reef would be deforestation of this area. The river and falls would carry great amounts of sediment directly on to this reef. Development on Vanua Lava has so far been contained to mostly the south and east coasts.