TROPICAL DESTINATION
FIJI
Soft Coral and Diver. Photo by Denise Mattia to nose with an adult Hawksbill turtle. The turtle swam with us before finning away casually. My attention was divided next among a Humphead Wrasse, a Spanish Dancer, Devil Damselfish and bi-color Blennies. Despite a recent typhoon, which reportedly had caused some damage, our group dove both Mystery Reef and Chimneys and noticed plenty of healthy spaghetti and hard corals on the reefs. The walls called Grand Central Station and Canyons near the Namena Marine Reserve are spectacular; it is here you find the soft corals for which Fiji is world famous. They drape the coral surfaces in every color of the rainbow. White tip sharks, Humphead Wrasses and groupers swam slowly among spires that sprout from the bottom. The beauty and expanse of the site was so seductive I was tempted to follow the fish into the depths. L’Aventure Jean-Michel Cousteau at the Jean Michel Cousteau Island Resort lived up to its five-star reputation. We were sorry to have to leave, but a conference on the Coral Coast beckoned. We flew to Nadi and Rosie’s Holiday Transfer trundled us to the Hideaway Resort on Viti Levu’s Coral Coast. Thanks to assistance from marine biologist and engineer friends, the PADI Association and village chiefs, Alex and Alice Hill, owners of Diveaway were able to sink six permanent moorings into the pristine reefs. Once at Diveaway we were able to dive a site called Kasbah where, for the next 66 minutes, I found a giant clam, Blennies and nudibranchs. There were swim throughs, overhangs and a pot-pourri of small fish at the other sites we experienced called Bordello and Sundance. Sunlight pierced the cutouts in the hard coral structures and made for dramatic scenes. At Purple Haze a Hawksbill turtle made a wide arc around me as I swam past the multi-hued Gorgonian fans. All of the dive sites offered amazing life. After a great experience at Diveaway and haunted by the melancholy strains of “Isalaya,” Fiji’s ceremonial song of good-bye, I and six colleagues were delivered the following day to Pacific Harbor
You haven’t dived Fiji until you dive
wananavu
From beginners to braggers, there’s something for everyone at dive wananavu; from the thousand fish frenzies of Sailstone Reef to the awe inspiring soft coral and big, big fish of the bligh waters.
679.669.4433 www.wananavu.com
We support local divers - Local divers support the industry.
19