Ika Lako Mai

This group of people have our stamp of approval! A combo of twelve friends and partners, two couples, and a lonesome English man. Bunch of biologists, two cops, and a few renegades... the makings of a joke. And so many, if not all, of them were proficient horse back riders... 

They were all terribly punctual to every dive, meal, and event! Bravo guys, we applaud you! (The inner teacher inside me is so proud.)  

We were not sure what to think of them when they arrived with cases of beers and bottles of wine…

It was all quickly explained by previous bad alcohol liveaboard experiences, so they were all pleasantly surprised once on the NAI’A. (Sigh of relief)

From the start, currents were both friendly yet feisty at some times. Mellow yellow was bright golden yellow and Charlie’s Garden an aquarium experience. 

All overwhelmed by the tops of the reefs, sun hitting, full of color and small anthias and reed fish. 

"I had heard that Fiji was the capital of the world for soft corals... but the hard coral is absolutely fantastic." 

Photo by Pete&Suse - Arc-eye hawkfish

Photo by Pete&Suse - long nose pipefish

Photo by Pete&Suse- lizard fish gathering

Photo by Pete&Suse - young raggy scorpionfish

Photo by David - hermit crab

Photo by David - Leopard blenny

Photo by David - Whip coral goby

Photo by David - Pontoh pygmy sea horse

Photo by Pete&Suse - Pipefish

Divers were put to the test, not on purpose, and they all reacted safely and calmly to an out of the blue down current. Two divers and Semi did enjoy the presence of a huge Marlin at 5m/15 feet. Was it worth it? Yes, but won’t repeat, thank you. 

At Wakaya a group enjoyed the presence of big Django and Chili, both huge melanistic mantas putting on a show. Meanwhile the other group had a curious and super friendly juvenile male chevron that not only got thoroughly cleaned at Lion’s den but stayed to play and circle the divers for the whole dive. 

Photo by Ollie - Chili

He is was unknown to all, including Luke at Manta Trust, so the divers who enjoyed him got to name him. Mickey Manta, after Mickey Mantle, the baseball player. 

Photo by David - Mickey Manta

Octopus found! 

Photo by David- Octopus at Lion's Den

And the channel has become a nursery for all sorts of dart fish, including baby two-tone dart fish. The rubble bottom was overcome with these little creatures. 

Photo by David - Fire dartfish

Photo by David - Sea slug

Most of our guests being biologists, they were incredibly excited when we had a small surprise passenger through a not so mild crossing. 

A beautiful bird travelled with us until the sun rose and the anchor dropped. 

Photo by David - cleaner shrimp 

“The variety here is breathtaking. I can never seem to remember enough detail to know exactly what fish I saw… so many!” - Jeanne (while we talked about the difference between schooling bannerfish and Moorish idols.)

Photo by David - Fiji clown blenny

Photo by David - Another whip coral goby

Photo by David - Whip coral shrimp

So many firsts for some of the guests. 

Hammerhead at Grand central station was interested enough to swim and salute us while big eye trevally, red tooth triggers, green jobfish, and spanish mackerel swirled around. 

Grey reefs coming and going, weaving in and out of schools of bigeye barracuda. 

Photo by Ollie

Photo by Lisa - Village

There has been an astonishing quantity of unicorn fish; bluespine, spotted, and bignose, all schooling at Grand Central, Kansas and Schoolhouse. 

"Concierge diving. This is the easiest way to get number of dives in and in a comfortable manner. Take your fins and mask and walk out to the skiff. Diving wise, the coral life and color is unbelievable." - Shawn

 "Many first underwater. Lots of wow moments underwater, sharks, corals... If every safety stop was like the top of those bommies, especially the last one (Tetons 2). I could spend hours."- Ollie

Vinaka Vakalevu everyone! Hope to "sea" you soon!