Top-down aerial drone photograph of a secluded white sand beach curved along a turquoise ocean lagoon with a prominent coral reef visible beneath clear water in Vanuatu.

Fringing coral reef primarily composed of staghorn coral (Acropora cervicornis) and brain coral (Diploria labyrinthiformis)

Turquoise Sanctuary

The drone drifted silently above the remote shoreline of Espiritu Santo, capturing a perfect crescent of bone-white sand tucked tightly against a dense canopy of tropical jungle.

David S. McMeans · DJI Mavic 3 Pro · Hasselblad 24mm f/2.8

Champagne Beach, Espiritu Santo Island, Sanma Province, Vanuatu

Image

Turquoise Sanctuary

The drone drifted silently above the remote shoreline of Espiritu Santo, capturing a perfect crescent of bone-white sand tucked tightly against a dense canopy of tropical jungle. Peering straight down through the crystal-clear shallows, the shifting gradients of cerulean and aquamarine revealed a sprawling labyrinth of submerged coral networks. The rhythmic wash of the South Pacific tide trace soft white lines along the coast, highlighting an untouched coastal sanctuary where the rainforest directly meets the reef.

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