Postcard Fiji

This is probably the most internationally diverse group we (Chris & I) have had on board Nai’a as of yet! New Zealanders, Italians, Swiss, English, and French (living in the US)! 

Welcome back Amelie and Kevin on Nai’a (superb macro finders these two.)

“There were so many fish, I mean, with that dive alone, all my dollars spent were worth it!” - Matt (after Humann Nature)

“That was postcard FIJI, all fish colors with black sun coral in the background!” - M&M (Cat’s Meow) 

THAT was just the first day.

ATTENTION FUTURE DIVERS ON NAI’A: water temp is same as two months ago, nice 26/79 degrees with slight one degree variations in lagoons or with some currents. Visibility is quite incredible, almost no plankton in the water and our dives keep on being soundtracked by whales in the distance. 

Scenic Fiji ~ Matt

I think I’ve never seen someone LITERALLY jump up and down in the water at the sound of whales; Lindsay was soooo excited. 

Huge anemone with a poking out orange-finned anemonefish, and a tiny one at the bottom ~ Garry

Sunny calm day at Wakaya, whales singing, mantas dancing: Django, Dorothy, Dingo, Mickey manta, and Delilah. 

Dingo was a first for us!

Beautiful melanistic manta, shot by Farzi

“I have never seen corals like this, and I have been diving all around the world” - Giacomo (Sea Mounts)

Soft corals! ~ Matt

“I am not a fan of passages, but even I can appreciate why people love the Cathedral.” - Lindsay

Kevin and Amelie are our nudibranch spotters! Crazy good eyes these two!

Double ringed flabellina ~ Kevin

Indian caloria shot by Kevin

Halgerda reticulidia ~Kevin

Definitely a Halgerda, probably Batangas ~ Kevin

Black beautiful nudibranch (don't come for me, I don't know her name) ~ Dorid nudibranch ~ Kevin

Dorid nudibranch ~ Kevin

Looks like a transparent Big Flower Carminodoris ~ Found by Martina 

On the night dive we were received by so many jumping needlefish once we illuminated the water to not crash into the reef! They were going crazy feeding with the torch light!

Then so many decorator crabs and weird looking and acting sea cucumbers. Two so tiny and cute juvenile scorpionfish trying to find food in the darkness. 

Mantis shrimp ~ Kevin

HUG ME crinoid squat lobster ~ Kevin

Such a cute little conch ~ Martina

Namena received us “lake like” for the first dives, so unlike the past months. It was glorious. 

The ladies (Karen, Ana & Farzi) seem to be having a G R E A T time! 

Village visit at Makogai, as always, was such a pleasure and experience.

Sevu sevu starting ~ Farzi

Good sized sharks, from greys white tips to hammerhead appearance at Wakaya, and even more at GCS. 

Schooling bannerfish ~ Irene

Sawtooth barracuda ~ Farzi

Elegant grey reef shark ~ Farzi

Namena's gifts included:

-Pygmy octopus

-Pontoh's pygmy sea horse

-Pipefish

-Juvenile and adult two tone dartfish

-Zebra dartfish

-Mantis shrimp punching pointers

-Juvenile and adult ribbon eels

-Octopus

-Juvenile and adult blue tang (DORYYY)

-Leafy scorpionfish(es)

Off white leafy scorpionfish ~ Kevin

-All our grey reef sharks and white tips all around!

For us, the find of the pygmy octopus was so exciting! Cutest little bugger ever! ~ Do you see it!? ~ Kevin

“Kansas is definitely in my top 5 dive sites; that top is so unique.” - Martina

Farzi is Madam Octopus, after finding two basically in a row. 

Blenny peaking out ~ Kevin

Raggy scorpionfish ~ Kevin

Mellow Yellow never leaves any divers indifferent, so much that Kevin was planning a coup for the last dive to get everyone there once more... we settled for beautiful Coral Corner though.  

Vinaka vakalevu everyone! 

We had such a blast!

Hope to "sea" you again!