Swimming with the Fishes...

Destination: Bligh Waters, Lomo Viti Group & Namena Marine Reserve

Trip Date: Apr 30th - Apr 30th, 2011 - Comments

Author: Sam Campbell

Welcome Back: Jeff

Congratulations: to Ginger on her Advanced Open Water!!

Another top trip aboard NAI'A. Excellent visibility & fantastic diving were only aided by a great mixed group. Ted & Joy brought young Ginger along to get her first taste of live-a-board diving & she took to it like a fish to water. Whilst completing her Advanced course with Brigitte it became clear she had better dive skills than most of us & was a natural diver. We had some good Manta encounters at Wakaya & excellent Grey Reef action in Namena as well as Gau.

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Jeff gets up close with a Randalls Gobi under a ledge at Vatu Vai

A large black Manta swoops past Jeff at Wakaya

Anemone Fish line up to pose for Jeff

Popcorn Shrimp poses for Jeff in an Adhesive Anemone

Big Eyed Barracuda at NSAT taken by Steve

Steve get up close with a Golden Mantis

New Juvenile Ribbon Eel found and shot by Steve at Anthias Avenue

Steve chases down a Banded Sea Snake in Gau

Anemone Fish poses for Steve

A curious Grey Reef poses for Steve

Sharks all around - taken by Steve

Pipehorse Fish in Namena taken by Steve

Excellent macro. Close up of the Pipehorse taken by Steve

A friendly Octopus poses for Steve

White Tip Reef shark cruises past Rebecca

Blue Ribbon Eel at Wakaya - taken by Rebecca

Rebecca approaches fish patiently & gets great close ups

An Octopus hides in his den from Rebecca

Clown Trigger taken by Rebecca

Moray being cleaned in Namena - taken by Rebecca

Down in Gau we found a new Juvenile Ribbon Eel, a little black skinny one. Lots of other critters were also found in Gau - there are a couple of resident Golden Mantis Shrimps, so be careful where you put your fingers!!.

A great colour & texture change display from an Octopus in Namena was captured beautifully by Steve. The Octopus really hammed it up & posed for endless photos & video. A patient Rebecca waited on the reef for behaviour & got great shots of a Giant Moray being cleaned. South Save a Tack in Namena is made up of numerous pinnacles/bommies. For a patient diver the cleaning stations offer endless opportunities for great behaviour photos or video!.