Dr. Suess Must Have Been A Diver

*Cling, cling cling (spoon on wine glass)*

“I would like to take a moment and thank Rich for bringing us here. For the past years, my best experiences have been organized by you (Rich); let’s make this another one!” - Nicola, first night on board. 

Welcome Rich’s friend diving group to Nai’a; it has been a week full of laughter, jokes, light (or heavy, depending on which bromance partook in it) bullying and we appreciate being included!

And a big BULA and congratulations to Rich, Eric, Gib, and Steve on your birthday celebrations!

The bromance mention goes to Brent and Jeff

& honeymoon mention to Gib and Rick. These two... share one brain... and they will tell you that and you will know why. 

Observing these two pairs of best friends was entertaining, not only for all divers but for the crew as well ;)

First day diving was absolutely fantastic. 

Lovely sinularia soft coral ~ James

Only fish, coral, fish.

Scorpionfish, both raggy and devil. Nudibrachs all around; flabellinas, blue dragons, wart slugs (nicer than they sound). 

Endemic tomato anemonefish ~ Jeff

Family of lemon coral gobies on one coral. 

Golden coral goby ~ Jeff

Longnose hawkfish in the black branching corals. 

Longnose hawkfish ~ Jeff

Leopard blennies at every safety stop. 

A closed anemone with shrimp in and out. 

Baby spiny lobster (look at those googly eyes!) ~ Jeff

Our two little treasures: white Pontoh’s pygmy sea horses. 

Pontoh's pygmy sea horse ~ Jeff

Little miniature whip coral shrimp. 

Whip coral shrimp ~ Jeff

So so so many trumpet fish…

What gives?

“It will be difficult for you guys to keep up this the whole trip.”- Gib, who came out of each dive “That was a terrible dive, we must try again.” 

Boulder coral clam ~ God that is crazy ~ Rich

Attach of the worms; that was the description of the first night dive. 

“I had so much fun!”- Steve, night dives' biggest fan

Whip coral goby ~ Bill & Anne

And the list of sightings just keeps on flowing. 

Silver tip cruising by. 

Ghost gobies on sea fans.

Ghost goby on wire coral ~ Jeff

Blue headed tilefish; anthias, pipefish, basically just a lot of fish!

Square spotted anthias mating!

Enormous peacock shrimp on an adhesive anemone.

Golden mantis shrimp ~ Jeff

A single spadefish with a small remora attached to it. 

Soft coral sponge crab. 

And James' face after coming back from GCS for the first time: just high on life. 

Fiji clown blenny ~ Jeff

All this during the day and then at meal times we get to hear all about robotics; navy diving; and training seals and dolphins. 

We were nothing but entertained this week! 

White leafy scorpionfish ~ Jeff

Not one, not two, but three leafy scorpionfish.

More pygmy sea horses, brown this time. 

Pontoh's pygmy sea horse ~ Jeff

Blennies in holes. 

We all love a blenny ~ Jeff

Baby red tooth triggerfish. 

Coral grouper groping an emperor… while trumpet fish were attacking each other. 

Orange-finned anemonefish ~ Rich

Btw, during this trip, every time the current is blasting, we all decided to blame it on Rich and his freaking switch. 

The not so common yellow nose shrimpgoby ~ Jeff

Sea krait that made little Wesley jump in the water; big grey reef sharks (coming maybe too close… Is that a thing?); hawksbill turtles; big eagle ray and small baby eagle ray, one for each team; and two lovely napoleon wrasses. 

Snappers were hunting while barracudas were swimming and swaying with the surge, much like all of us. 

Randall's shrimpgoby ~ Jeff

This was our first yearly visit to the village of Somo Somo, and it was a blast! 

Singing, dancing, kava drinking, and a lot of laughter! 

Eric, Wesley, Austin, and Fred are giving it all ~ Michelle

A massive eagle ray flew into one group early in the morning. 

Torantino made an appearance during the day. 

Pink anemonefish ~ Rich

As well as two dark green leafy scorpionfish; shrimp manicure; big tawny nurse shark chilling under a structure; and curly anemone with sexy shrimp. 

Juvenile lyretail; napoleon wrasse family; and even a lovely hammerhead shark coming to greet the divers. 

Shrimp AND miniature crab ~ Jeff

Double triple rainbow.
Blue velvet angelfish; comet, huge free swimming, in its cave home; rose tip anemone; and hard coral garden, 

James

Diving through gorgeous tunnels lined up with sea fans.

Jeff found a white leafy scorpionfish on staghorn coral.

So so so many big blue blue dragons. 

Blue eyed coral crab ~ Jeff

“That dive could have been the last one and I would have been happy.” - Eric 

Needles to say, we had fun and we were busy! 

Long nose filefish ~ Jeff

Vinaka vakalevu!

For your presence, for your time and your photos!

You guys made this trip a wonderful one!