Cobia Island (also known as Thombia Island or Budd Island[1]) is an island in Fiji,[2] and is a member of the Ringgold Isles archipelago, which forms an outlier group to the northern island of Vanua Levu. It has a land area of 69.29 hectares. The island is shaped like a crescent moon.

Cobia Island
Cobia Island is located in Fiji
Cobia Island
Cobia Island
Geography
LocationSouth Pacific
Coordinates16°45′0″S 179°59′7″E / 16.75000°S 179.98528°E / -16.75000; 179.98528
ArchipelagoRinggolds
Administration
Fiji
Additional information
Time zone
  • UTC GMT +12

Cobia Island is located within the Budd Reef and has a submerged volcanic crater with the highest elevation on the west side of the island.[3] The geological formations and the beach forests of the island contribute to its natural significance as outlined in Fiji's Biodiversity and Action Plan.[4]

The island is a popular snorkeling, kayaking and scuba diving location with a reported visibility under water of 120 feet or 36 meters.[5]

History

edit

The island was considered a "conspicuous landmark" for navigators on ships sailing around and through the Fiji Islands.[6] The island and its surrounding reef were described in Alexander Agassiz's publication, The Islands and Coral Reefs of Fiji (1899).[7]

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "Thombia Island". Get a Map. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  2. ^ "Cobia: Fiji". Geographical Names. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  3. ^ Taylor, Frank (28 June 2011). "Hiking the Crater of Cobia". Tahina Expedition. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  4. ^ Ganilau, Bernadette Rounds. "Fiji Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan" (PDF). Convention on Biological Diversity. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  5. ^ "Cobia Is, Ringgolds, Fiji". Asia Escape Holidays. Archived from the original on 6 April 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  6. ^ Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty (1882). Sailing Directions for the Fiji Islands and Adjacent Waters. London: Hydrographic Office, Admiralty. p. 104.
  7. ^ Agassiz, Alexander (1899). "The Islands and Coral Reefs of Fiji". Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology. Harvard College. Retrieved 2 July 2015.