NAI’A on Monday, February 4…..
Welcome to our 2nd full day aboard Nai’a. We left Vatu I Ra early, early in the morning and headed to the Namena Marine Preserve Area….the local village on Namena had requested that a very large area around their island be set aside as a Marine Preserve and that request was granted a number of years ago. A $25 Fijian fee is levied on all guests diving in the Marine Preserve and it’s a “no take” zone so no fishing or collecting of specimens is allowed inside the preserve.
Our 1st dives were at either Teton I or Teton II depending on tenders, and both groups found that Cyclone Gene was still exerting a hold on diving conditions! Visibility was not at a normal level and the currents were totally unpredictable, but critters large and small were spotted by everyone. Sharks were seen, lots of various nudibranchs, leaf scorpionfish, schools of trevally and jacks and fusiliers were collecting at the head of each pinnacle to take advantage of the currents and food supply.
The top of both pinnacles are totally covered in lots of hard corals and literally thousands of anthias and clownfish! Unfortunately, with the strong currents, it was hard to enjoy them to the fullest, but hawkfish cavort on the reef tops and unicorn fish are seen off the tops of the bommies….safety stops were challenging to say the least!
After two dives at Teton I & II, the usual scenario is to cross the lagoon and dive North Save-A-Tack passage on an incoming tide. Well, much to everyone’s chagrin, apparently the lagoon was too full to allow an incoming tide! That’s one of the things that oceanic swells from cyclones can do, apparently! Anyway, after waiting a bit to see if perhaps the tide would, indeed, change, it was decided to dive the wall next to the passage instead. Several sharks were seen cruising the wall and a great dive was had by all.
The dusk dive was done at Two Thumbs Up and the bommie was covered in soft corals of all colors, pipefish flitting across the reef and sharks seen out in the distance!
The day ended with the Kava Party after dinner. The Fijian have beautiful voices and everyone participates in the kava party. Traditional Fijian songs are sung as well as popular contemporary favorites. The guests are welcome with the traditional kava drink and lots of music and merriment….a grand time was had by all!
Welcome to our 2nd full day aboard Nai’a. We left Vatu I Ra early, early in the morning and headed to the Namena Marine Preserve Area….the local village on Namena had requested that a very large area around their island be set aside as a Marine Preserve and that request was granted a number of years ago. A $25 Fijian fee is levied on all guests diving in the Marine Preserve and it’s a “no take” zone so no fishing or collecting of specimens is allowed inside the preserve.
Our 1st dives were at either Teton I or Teton II depending on tenders, and both groups found that Cyclone Gene was still exerting a hold on diving conditions! Visibility was not at a normal level and the currents were totally unpredictable, but critters large and small were spotted by everyone. Sharks were seen, lots of various nudibranchs, leaf scorpionfish, schools of trevally and jacks and fusiliers were collecting at the head of each pinnacle to take advantage of the currents and food supply.
The top of both pinnacles are totally covered in lots of hard corals and literally thousands of anthias and clownfish! Unfortunately, with the strong currents, it was hard to enjoy them to the fullest, but hawkfish cavort on the reef tops and unicorn fish are seen off the tops of the bommies….safety stops were challenging to say the least!
After two dives at Teton I & II, the usual scenario is to cross the lagoon and dive North Save-A-Tack passage on an incoming tide. Well, much to everyone’s chagrin, apparently the lagoon was too full to allow an incoming tide! That’s one of the things that oceanic swells from cyclones can do, apparently! Anyway, after waiting a bit to see if perhaps the tide would, indeed, change, it was decided to dive the wall next to the passage instead. Several sharks were seen cruising the wall and a great dive was had by all.
The dusk dive was done at Two Thumbs Up and the bommie was covered in soft corals of all colors, pipefish flitting across the reef and sharks seen out in the distance!
The day ended with the Kava Party after dinner. The Fijian have beautiful voices and everyone participates in the kava party. Traditional Fijian songs are sung as well as popular contemporary favorites. The guests are welcome with the traditional kava drink and lots of music and merriment….a grand time was had by all!
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