A slightly bleached staghorn coral colony grows in shallow water in the Solomon Islands. This Melanesian region is known for its spectacular marine biodiversity.

Blacktip reef sharks swim just under the surface in the Solomon Islands. This beautiful Melanesian region is known for its spectacular reefs and high marine biodiversity.

Portrait of a Melanesian girl with a red hibiscus flower in her hair on Qamea Island, Fiji, Pacific Islands, Pacific

Men from the island of PENTECOST in a traditional dance at a Melanesian cultural festival, Efate Island, Port Vila, Vanuatu

Woman weaving traditional pandanus mat at a Melanesian cultural festival, Efate Island, Port Vila, Vanuatu

Women weaving traditional pandanus mat at a Melanesian cultural festival, Efate Island, Port Vila, Vanuatu

Men from the island of PENTECOST in a traditional dance at a Melanesian cultural festival, Efate Island, Port Vila, Vanuatu

Woman weaving traditional pandanus mat at a Melanesian cultural festival, Efate Island, Port Vila, Vanuatu

Man carving a statue from a tree trunk at a Melanesian cultural festival in the capital's city centre, Efate Island, Port Vila, Vanuatu

Women from the island of Pentecost in a traditional dance at a Melanesian cultural festival. The fair haired one has a common genetic mutation, Efate Island, Port Vila, Vanuatu

Women from the island of Erromango at a Melanesian cultural festival, Efate Island, Port Vila, Vanuatu

Women from the island of Erromango at a Melanesian cultural festival, Efate Island, Port Vila, Vanuatu

Men from the island of Pentecost carry a traditional tamtam, a slit drum hollowed from a tree trunk, at a Melanesian cultural festival, Efate Island, Port Vila, VanuatuVANUATU. Port Vila. Efate Island

Men from the island of Malekula dancing at a Melanesian cultural festival. Malekula is still very traditional and had cannibalism till 1969, Efate Island, Port Vila, Vanuatu

Portrait of a Melanesian woman, Qamea Island, Fiji, Pacific

New Ireland Malagan funerary statue in at the Metropolitan Museum of Art museum, New York, USA. New Ireland is part of the Bismarck Archipelago, situated north of New Guinea, and has an estimated population of 100,000. The Dutch first encountered the island in 1616, and today New Ireland is a province of Papua New Guinea. Nineteen different languages are spoken on the island, and it is divided by a chain of mountains into three distinct regions: northern, central, and southeastern. The art of New Ireland traditionally centered on mortuary ceremonies and feasts to honor the dead. In northern New Ireland, the name given to these elaborate ceremonies is malagan, which is also the term used for the carved and painted sculptures associated with the ceremonies.

Fire Dance performance at Shangri-La Resort, Coral Coast, Viti Levu Island, Fiji.

Public market, Lautoka, Viti Levu, Fiji.

Solo Bale, Fire Dance performer at Shangri-La Resort, Coral Coast, Viti Levu Island, Fiji.

Frances Jawesini, dance performer at Shangri-La Resort, Coral Coast, Viti Levu Island, Fiji.

Tareguci Vulaono, dance performer at Shangri-La Resort, Viti Levu Island, Fiji.

Traditional Fijian bure in Navala Village, Nausori Highlands, Viti Levu Island, Fiji.

People of Lawai welcoming visitors to their village; Viti Levu Island, Fiji.

Fijian woman painting design on tapa cloth; Tongo village, Qamea Island, Fiji.

Hammock on beach at Matangi Private Island Resort, Fiji.

Bananas, papaya and oranges on fruit tray at Bulou's Eco Lodge, Navala Village, Viti Levu Island, Fiji.

Fijian man in Naveyago Village on the Sigatoka River, Viti Levu Island, Fiji.

Inosi Navoto with warrior club greeting visitors to Lawai Pottery Village on Viti Levu Island, Fiji.

Village elder in her bure; Navala Village, Viti Levu Island, Fiji.

Fijian dancer during Meke at Naviti Resort, Coral Coast, Viti Levu, Fiji.

Woman making traditional pottery in Lawai village, Viti Levu Island, Fiji.

Tui Talili preparing kava for guests at Bulou's Eco Lodge, Navala Village, Viti Levu Island, Fiji.

Master Reddy's classroom at Vuanicau Primary School in Tongo village on Qamea Island, Fiji.

Fijian man in Naveyago village, Sigatoka River, Viti Levu Island, Fiji.

Coconut palm trees and ocean at sunset; Matangi Private Island Resort, Fiji

Fijian woman in village of Naveyago on the Sigatoka River, Viti Levu Island, Fiji.

Pearls on oyster shell at Civa Fiji Pearls Ltd., Taveuni, Fiji.

Sunday service at Maria Tubu Imakulata Church in Navala Village, northern highlands of Viti Levu Island, Fiji.

Nananu-I-Ra Island, seen from Pacific Sun Airlines flight from Taveuni Island to Nandi, Fiji.

Akeneta Wagali at her school in Navala Village, Ba Highlands, Viti Levu Island, Fiji.

Various classroom situations at several different schools. Every other Friday is culture day when the students come to school in tradional dress.

Various classroom situations at several different schools. Every other Friday is culture day when the students come to school in tradional dress.

Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, Coral Sea

Boy and bow Fergusson island Papua New Guinea

Children on Sago trunk Fergusson island Papua New Guinea

Boy and Giant Clam Fergusson island Papua New Guinea

Fisherman on canoe Fergusson island Papua New Guinea

Boy and outrigger canoe Fergusson island Papua New Guinea

Preparation of Sago Fergusson island Papua New Guinea