Cobia Island

Cobia Island

Cobia Island
Geography
Location	South Pacific
Coordinates	16°45′0″S 179°59′7″E / 16.75000°S 179.98528°ECoordinates: 16°45′0″S 179°59′7″E / 16.75000°S 179.98528°E
Archipelago	Ringgolds
Administration
Fiji
Additional information
Time zone	UTC GMT +12

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 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

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]

References

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. 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.