Asian Diver — October 2017

53

GREEN ISLAND

By Matteo Visconti

Taiwan

I have been very lucky to have dived in
some of the best spots in the world for
macro photography, places like Anilao,
Lembeh and Tulamben. But there was a
place that I had always wanted to visit –
Green Island. I had long believed that it
probably deserved more attention than
it had been getting and could not wait to
prove myself right.
Green Island is a small volcanic
island located in the Pacific Ocean,
33 kilometres southeast of Taiwan’s
main island. This position means that
the waters surrounding the island are
marked by nutrient-rich currents which
well up from deep water. These currents

nurture an exceptional diversity of

marine life, and I learnt that it is not

unusual to encounter manta rays and

moonfish here. In fact, even megamouth

sharks have occasionally been unlucky

enough to become entangled in fishing

nets off this coast.

Unfortunately, my stay was far too

short, and so I totally focused on the

abundant opportunities for macro

photography that Green Island affords

divers. On one memorable dive, I even

got the chance to see a fish that has

been on my wish list for years, two

of them actually – beautiful juvenile

jackfish swimming in the shallows.

I can’t wait to get back to this macro

heaven, but next time I will be bringing

my wide-angle lens, and hunting for

the pelagic visitors that also grace this

little island.

TAIWAN

GREEN ISLAND