Underwater Language & Not So Hidden Innuendos

Welcome divers! 

We enjoyed the wind, the brief rain, the sun and the waxing moon!

And yes, anything that was said during this trip, was misconstrued to the point that no "normal" conversations were being had.

First hours of the trip… Jessica not only took over the responsibility of organizing our fish flash cards in alphabetical order, but she also developed an outspoken obsession for the sexy shrimp. 

Now we need to find him for her…

Lovely anthias view and tufts of soft coral ~ Susan Wilson

Pink anemonefish in his lovely green anemone ~ Susan Wilson

Brian and Jessica… if you didn’t know them you wouldn't be sure about their relationship status. They keep each other on their toesies, for sure!

“Jessica, I am not one of your first graders!” - Brian, when Jessica puts on the teacher stare. 

Sea fans ~ Susan Wilson

“That was so much fun; we had everything, sharks, barracudas!” - Kurt, after an adventure at Coral Corner

Coral grouper making his way down town ~ Tom & Marie

Kurt and Sandy are on their 25th wedding anniversary, hoping that it is better than their honeymoon was ages ago. Without going into detail it involved a fishing trawler with bunk beds where NO ONE got lucky. 

More coral and anthias; with a tear drop butterflyfish coming through ~ Susan Wilson

Susan, our own Scott, couldn't get any of her friends to come all the way to Fiji, even when one of her friends is the artist of our beloved Nai’a pipefish and momma whale with her calf glass windows. 

Yellow soft coral fish eye! ~ Susan Wilson 

“That was magnificent!” - Tamara… and breathtaking, mind blowing, and beautiful: all sentiments after a lovely floating around Mellow Yellow. 

A colony of magnificent anemones all together at safety stop level ~ Brian Johnston

Tamara and Todd, dive buddies since a year and half ago, going on all sorts of trips together when they can and neighbors in their “real life”. 

Mix of soft corals and sea fans ~ Susan Wilson

“The fish seem to vibrate like a heartbeat on top of the reef.” - Brian

Princess demoiselle (juvenile) ~ Susan Wilson 

Dropped into a huge area with green hard coral (tile, looks like mini cabbage patches) as Spanish mackerel circle us and fusiliers dance through the water column. 

Tom and Marie brought their friend Denise along with them; they came in with shirts written Tom’s Mermaids; that was cute!

Getting ready to dive! It is Nitrox time! Tamara, Brian and our dear Ave ~ Jessica

And Kurt just comes in from diving grinning like a child; he is so happy underwater. 

“Corals on corals, and then corals on corals… wasn't that amazing?” - Tamara

Susan Wilson

At the cleaning station, lovely Tasha Angel came to clean; Django; Big Mama Shirley; another small melanistic manta; and one more melanistic swimming through. A beautiful big chevron manta was cleaning all the way on the other side of the reef, next to a turtle. 

Two mantas ~ Susan Wilson

Todd and his group got to name a male melanistic manta Hurbie! 

The rest of the day at Wakaya was a symphony of mantas, hammerhead sharks, barracudas, turtles, and so much more. Even some juvenile spadefish hiding under an overhang. 

Manicure time, white banded cleaner shrimps were ready to strip dirt and skin off our fingers ~ Gayle

“A hammer and manta, I think they travel together. Don't they have the same receptors?” - Sandy, sounded like she was talking about them as if they were aliens. 

Wakaya definitely did not disappoint! 

Fiji Clown blenny ~ Susan Wilson

Fantastic dives continue; smaller stuff such as pipefish, hawkfish, blennies, and dartfish plus sharks, rays, and schools of barracudas! 

Square spotted anthias ~ Susan Wilson

Sea fan ~ Susan Wilson

Frank and Dana have been travelling around the world for the last month, so they are packing serious gear with them. Lovely couple and you will find them basking in the sun, happy as two lizards. 

Decorated dartfish ~ Susan Wilson

Sweetlips, scrawled file fish (big guy), female napoleon wrasse hunting alongside goatfish and emperor, swordfish in the shallows, massive tuna, and schools of big eyed trevallies. 

Beautiful drapey soft corals ~ Susan Wilson

Don’t forget the dorys! 

Tom wants to rename Schoolhouse to Full Orchestra… and I can’t say I dislike the idea!

Endemic Fiji tomato anemonefish and rose tip anemone ~ Gayle

More drapey soft corals ~ Susan Wilson

Mike and Steve have become proper cabin mates; joining each other on night dives, though not as “close distance” buddies underwater. 

Kurt described Steve as a cat, not a cat person, but a cat in itself... we can see that, in all the good ways. 

The Lucky Lefties on their last dive! ~ Susan 

Vinaka vakalevu everyone!

It was so fun we almost pissed our pants!

Sincerely, the Nai'a Naughties