Lost Anchor, Trou aux Biches: History and Reef Life

Just west of Peter Holt's Rocks, the Lost Anchor dive site unveils a fascinating blend of history and thriving marine life. Your descent brings you to the top of a prominent pinnacle, where a cavernous crevasse holds the star attraction: a large, antique 17th-century anchor. The wooden stock, long since surrendered to the corrosive embrace of time and decay, has vanished, leaving behind only the iron clips that once secured it, now strewn across the surrounding seabed.

The journey around this pinnacle is one of dynamic encounters. Schools of fusiliers cascade through the water column, often joined by swift squadrons of bluefin trevally. Keep a keen eye on the blue, as eagle rays occasionally glide past with effortless grace, and the powerful forms of dogtooth tuna can be seen patrolling the deeper edges of the reef, adding a thrilling pelagic dimension to the dive.

Below the lively open water, the reef's crevices hold their own ancient secrets. Two enormous Javanese moray eels (Gymnothorax javanicus) have made their home here, their impressive forms often visible as they peek from their rocky sanctuaries. Their sheer size is a testament to the rich food sources and protected environment that this particular pinnacle provides, offering a compelling focal point for your dive.

Beyond the prominent residents, the Lost Anchor demands a sharp eye for the masters of camouflage. Giant scorpionfish (Scorpaenopsis bouldai) blend seamlessly with the reef, their stony textures offering a challenging search for observant divers. Even more elusive is the deadly stonefish (Synanceia verrucosa), a creature of dangerous beauty, often found perfectly disguised among the detritus, and for those with an expert eye, a pair of frogfish (Antennarius commerson) can be spotted lurking, masters of stealth that they are.