Nai'a

Transfer to the boat Check in 1 pm Meet the crew Welcome briefing Assign cabins Prepare equipment Check dive in the afternoon NAI'A heads north and east around the flank of the main island of Viti Levu

Fiji Depth: 5 - >45 + m Visibility: 20 - 45m Currents: Moderate Surface conditions: Calm, can get choppy Water temperature: 22 - 29°C Number of dive sites: > 50 + Distance: 20 - 150 km east of Viti Levu Sample itinerary Our normal itinerary for both seven and ten-day charters starts and ends in Lautoka, just north of Nadi, where the international airport is located. After an initial "checkout" dive on the afternoon of boarding, NAI'A heads north and east around the flank of the main island of Viti Levu to reach Bligh Water. Several different divesites in Bligh Water are available including Vatu-i-ra, E6, Mt. Mutiny, and Cat's Meow, depending on localized weather conditions. From there we choose our sites according to weather, tides, and our passengers' inclinations. But generally we visit the islands and barrier reefs of Namena, Wakaya, and Gau. On ten-day charters we have more time available to dive the various reefs in the Koro Sea, some of them near Namena and others near nowhere! We have dived Fiji's finest reefs since 1993, under every imaginable set of circumstances. Importantly, we've kept good records. Many sites are current-dependent and detailed local knowledge is critical in order to maximize the number of good dives in the best spots. For that reason we don't offer a fixed itinerary -- "if it's Tuesday, it must be Wakaya". Instead we tailor each voyage to the tides and weather that week. We also desire to explore remote locales and "get away from it all". But ecologically and globally speaking, coral reefs don't always share our goals for isolation and solitude. Fiji Dive Sites North Save-a-Tack Passage is the dive site which drew Cousteau to Fiji. On the plateau above the wall, giant schools of bigeye trevally, scad, and barracuda are watched over by several gray reef sharks. On the periphery, white-tip sharks lie napping on the bottom in preparation for their night-time forays. The sides and tops of the bommies are alive with color: gorgonia fans, black coral, soft coral, and every reef fish imaginable. Two Thumbs, Tetons, Mushrooms ,These three divesites on the south side of the Namena Barrier Reef, directly across the lagoon from North Save-a-tack Passage, are flushed by clear incoming water when the current is going out at North Save-a-tack. Spectacular seamounts just on the edge of the drop-off, they collect the pelagics that patrol the drop-off and they are covered in soft-coral. Jim's Alley is a soft coral garden in shallow water, home to zillions of reef fish. Jim's is a prime example of the kind of soft coral diving for which Fiji is famous. Jim's is a regular stop for four or five mantas, who can frequently be found feeding in the adjacent channel during the waning tide. Macro photographers, too, love Jim's because of the profusion of little creatures living among the hard corals, soft corals, and fans. Nigali Passage is a narrow cut in the surrounding barrier reef which concentrates pelagics from miles around. Nigali is home to female gray reef sharks which number from 8 to 25 depending on the season. The channel also concentrates a huge school of trevally, three age-segregated schools of barracuda, about a dozen big flowery cod. Cats Meow, Humann Nature Undenaiable ,Three magnificent divesites that lie on the northern barrier reef that defines Bligh Water's Vatu-i-ra Channel, these sites feature both main barrier reefs with good protection from swell and current plus small off-lying bommies smothered in life. Cat Holloway and Humann Nature is named for Paul Humann, the renown fish book author, who reckoned it was the best divesite he'd ever seen. Much of the gorgeous soft coral featured in Howard and Michele Hall's IMAX film Coral Reef Adventure was shot at these two sites. Mount Mutiny , Diving is very much like E-6 in terms of pelagics and other fish life. The highlight of Mount Mutiny is the Rainbow Wall, a wall of unusual thin-stalked Chironepthya soft coral in a broad range of colors which blankets the south flank of Mount Mutiny for a distance of 200 meters in depths between 60 and 120 feet. This is one of the single prettiest soft coral dives anywhere. Vatu-I- Ra ,There are seven very distinct dives on the Vatu-i-ra barrier reef, several of which are among the best coral-reef dives in the world. The barrier reef protrudes north from Viti Levu into the Vatu-i-ra Channel, narrowing the channel to only 4.5 miles across. E6 - A photographer heaven, A seamount rising sheer-sided from 3,000ft right in the center of the narrowest part of Bligh Water's Vatu-i-ra channel, where it intercepts the flow of nutrients funneled between the two large islands of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu. Extraordinary diving! Pelagics are normally found on the two sides of the pinnacle flushed by currents, while delicate soft corals and fans decorate the protected lee side where NAI'A moors. Dives at E-6 feature schooling barracuda, trevally, and surgeonfish, occasional hammerhead sharks and eagle rays, and a plethora of reef fish including anthias, fusiliers, and leaf scorpionfish.

2 to 3 dives this day The last dive of the trip will be at around 16:00 on the second last day of the trip Please wait at least 18 hours before flying after diving

Breakfast on board Check out from 8am Transfer to airport or local hotel

Transfer to the boat Check in 1 pm Meet the crew Welcome briefing Assign cabins Prepare equipment Check dive in the afternoon NAI'A heads north and east around the flank of the main island of Viti Levu

Fiji Depth: 5 - >45 + m Visibility: 20 - 45m Currents: Moderate Surface conditions: Calm, can get choppy Water temperature: 22 - 29°C Number of dive sites: > 50 + Distance: 20 - 150 km east of Viti Levu Sample itinerary Our normal itinerary for both seven and ten-day charters starts and ends in Lautoka, just north of Nadi, where the international airport is located. After an initial "checkout" dive on the afternoon of boarding, NAI'A heads north and east around the flank of the main island of Viti Levu to reach Bligh Water. Several different divesites in Bligh Water are available including Vatu-i-ra, E6, Mt. Mutiny, and Cat's Meow, depending on localized weather conditions. From there we choose our sites according to weather, tides, and our passengers' inclinations. But generally we visit the islands and barrier reefs of Namena, Wakaya, and Gau. On ten-day charters we have more time available to dive the various reefs in the Koro Sea, some of them near Namena and others near nowhere! We have dived Fiji's finest reefs since 1993, under every imaginable set of circumstances. Importantly, we've kept good records. Many sites are current-dependent and detailed local knowledge is critical in order to maximize the number of good dives in the best spots. For that reason we don't offer a fixed itinerary -- "if it's Tuesday, it must be Wakaya". Instead we tailor each voyage to the tides and weather that week. We also desire to explore remote locales and "get away from it all". But ecologically and globally speaking, coral reefs don't always share our goals for isolation and solitude. Fiji Dive Sites North Save-a-Tack Passage is the dive site which drew Cousteau to Fiji. On the plateau above the wall, giant schools of bigeye trevally, scad, and barracuda are watched over by several gray reef sharks. On the periphery, white-tip sharks lie napping on the bottom in preparation for their night-time forays. The sides and tops of the bommies are alive with color: gorgonia fans, black coral, soft coral, and every reef fish imaginable. Two Thumbs, Tetons, Mushrooms ,These three divesites on the south side of the Namena Barrier Reef, directly across the lagoon from North Save-a-tack Passage, are flushed by clear incoming water when the current is going out at North Save-a-tack. Spectacular seamounts just on the edge of the drop-off, they collect the pelagics that patrol the drop-off and they are covered in soft-coral. Jim's Alley is a soft coral garden in shallow water, home to zillions of reef fish. Jim's is a prime example of the kind of soft coral diving for which Fiji is famous. Jim's is a regular stop for four or five mantas, who can frequently be found feeding in the adjacent channel during the waning tide. Macro photographers, too, love Jim's because of the profusion of little creatures living among the hard corals, soft corals, and fans. Nigali Passage is a narrow cut in the surrounding barrier reef which concentrates pelagics from miles around. Nigali is home to female gray reef sharks which number from 8 to 25 depending on the season. The channel also concentrates a huge school of trevally, three age-segregated schools of barracuda, about a dozen big flowery cod. Cats Meow, Humann Nature Undenaiable ,Three magnificent divesites that lie on the northern barrier reef that defines Bligh Water's Vatu-i-ra Channel, these sites feature both main barrier reefs with good protection from swell and current plus small off-lying bommies smothered in life. Cat Holloway and Humann Nature is named for Paul Humann, the renown fish book author, who reckoned it was the best divesite he'd ever seen. Much of the gorgeous soft coral featured in Howard and Michele Hall's IMAX film Coral Reef Adventure was shot at these two sites. Mount Mutiny , Diving is very much like E-6 in terms of pelagics and other fish life. The highlight of Mount Mutiny is the Rainbow Wall, a wall of unusual thin-stalked Chironepthya soft coral in a broad range of colors which blankets the south flank of Mount Mutiny for a distance of 200 meters in depths between 60 and 120 feet. This is one of the single prettiest soft coral dives anywhere. Vatu-I- Ra ,There are seven very distinct dives on the Vatu-i-ra barrier reef, several of which are among the best coral-reef dives in the world. The barrier reef protrudes north from Viti Levu into the Vatu-i-ra Channel, narrowing the channel to only 4.5 miles across. E6 - A photographer heaven, A seamount rising sheer-sided from 3,000ft right in the center of the narrowest part of Bligh Water's Vatu-i-ra channel, where it intercepts the flow of nutrients funneled between the two large islands of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu. Extraordinary diving! Pelagics are normally found on the two sides of the pinnacle flushed by currents, while delicate soft corals and fans decorate the protected lee side where NAI'A moors. The Cathedral is a large swim-though lined in gorgonia fans and soft coral, with soft-coral trees growing up from the floor. A narrow opening above allows sun rays to penetrate to the floor of the Cathedral, illuminating the bright fans and soft coral like so many panes of stained glass, giving it the feel of its namesake. The floor is home to several different colors of poison-bristle nudibranch, while adjoining small caves shelter many large lobster. Other highlights of night dives at E-6 are giant cuttlefish, arrowhead crabs, tiny soft coral cowries, colonial anemones on the gorgonia fans, and so many flashlight fish that you can navigate by their bright green light. Day dives at E-6 feature schooling barracuda, trevally, and surgeonfish, occasional hammerhead sharks and eagle rays, and a plethora of reef fish including anthias, fusiliers, and leaf scorpionfish.

2 to 3 dives this day The last dive of the trip will be at around 16:00 on the second last day of the trip Please wait at least 18 hours before flying after diving

Breakfast on board Check out from 8am Transfer to airport or local hotel

Nai'a departs at 13:00 from Nukualofa Harbour on Tonga, If you are staying in Tonga, or arriving at the Airport on the morning of the cruise departure, you will be collected at about 13:00 and taken to the boat If not make your own way to Harbour Check in Meet the crew Welcome briefing Assign cabins Food on board Sailing to the your life adventure

Swimming With Whales Humpback whales, Megaptera novaeanglidae , migrate from their feeding grounds in Antarctica, along the New Zealand coast, to the Kindom of Tonga where they stay from July through September to court, mate and calve. This "Tongan tribe" is even more special than other groups of humpbacks - the last to be hunted, the fewest survivors and the least understood. Hunted until 1979 for their oil, meat and bone, scientists now pursue humpbacks for knowledge while travelers seek them for the thrill of their lives. Picture this. Two humpback whales glide beneath you in a synchronous ballet amid shafts of converging sunlight, their bulbous probing eyes staring into you as they twist their massive pectoral fins to glide, tumble and coil for several precious minutes before a single pulse of their flukes propels them beyond your vision. Encounters with whales in the wild are either fast, furious and frequently unsuccessful - not to mention frightening for the whales - or they are slow, deliberate and as fascinating as they are exhilarating. It's either the hunt-and-chase approach or the mutual curiosity game. We choose the latter, gentler, safer way which is, of course, also the most fulfilling for swimmers and photographers. Whales are very intelligent and social. Often individuals will come close to check us out several times over, providing we are calm, patient and cohesive in the water. It is crucial that we carefully nurture their trust and inquisitiveness, not scare them away. "If a whale is nearby, slide into the water, make like a jellyfish and keep your eyes open. The whale will come to you," believes the Whaleman Foundation's Jeff Pantukoff, who led one of 1998's expeditions along with whale artist Wyland. The swimming-with-whales debate is an interesting one which we have discussed at length. Some scientists believe that the gain from swimming with a whale does not out-weigh the risk of frightening it away from boats and people. But there are worthwhile scientific gains to be had from moments underwater close enough to a whale to determine it's sex, observe the movement of it's bulky -- yet highly sensitive -- body, see and film scars or distinguishing marks, or document standard behavior or physiology. Their reaction to us underwater, and on the surface for that matter, is an important aspect of understanding them. Best of all, the experience of swimming with a whale is so profound and the memories and images brought back from an in-water encounter are so exciting that it can change the way people see nature, understand it and, in turn, care for it. "We will save what we love" said the late Jacques-Yves Cousteau. True. But equally so is his son Jean-Michel's follow-through,"We will love what we understand." The question is not SHOULD we swim with whales, but WHEN and HOW to do it? The answer is as clear as Tonga's sapphire depths. Don't harass the whales. Wait until they come to you. A key to successful encounters is to choose the right whale. Some are protecting calves, some are in a hurry to get somewhere, some want peace, and some are curious and playful. The gentler option is sometimes counterintuitive for people who have traveled great distances, paid lots of money, and pinned their lifetime hopes on gazing into a humpback's craggy wise old eye! But our patience and sensitivity has paid remarkable dividends over the years. We've snorkeled with humpbacks on many occasions, sometimes spending an hour or more on single encounters. Each time we swim with these creatures - lone whales, pairs, males, females - the whales call the shots. The whales definitely prefer NAI'A to our fast and relatively noisy skiffs, so our first choice is snorkeling from the mother ship. When they surface freely next to NAI'A, we try our luck in the water, dropping in off the stern swimdeck or from the skiffs trailing on long lines astern. Often the whales hang around NAI'A, and snorkelers are rewarded with long, sustained interactions. Unfortunately, the common-sense approach to swimming with whales sometimes breaks down, especially under pressure from multiple operators attempting to swim with the same whale. Due to increasing pressure on whales from whalewatching enthusiasts in Vava'u, Tonga has enacted legislation governing whale swims. The regulations are reasonable and the result of many years of experience with commercial whale swim operations. Among other things, the regulations restrict the number of people allowed in the water per whale, the way a whale is approached, and how close the boat can get. The regulations also prohibit scuba diving with whales in Tonga

Check out is around 8 am Transfer to the boat or local hotel

Safety briefing, crew introduction, necessary dive paperwork, cabin allocation and ship orientation will take place before departing the harbor. Journey to the first dive site for a check dive. Please take this opportunity to familiarize yourself with the vessel and make yourself comfortable. Check dive in the afternoon Please Note: This is a sample itinerary and nº of dives, dive sites, etc. may be subject to change due to weather conditions and other unforeseeable factors. NAI'A heads north and east around the flank of the main island of Viti Levu

The normal itinerary for the ten-day charters starts and ends in Lautoka, just north of Nadi, where the international airport is located. After an initial "checkout" dive on the afternoon of boarding, NAI'A heads north and east around the flank of the main island of Viti Levu to reach Bligh Water. Several different divesites in Bligh Water are available including Vatu-i-ra, E6, Mt. Mutiny, and Cat's Meow, depending on localized weather conditions. From there we choose our sites according to weather, tides, and our passengers' inclinations. But generally you will visit the islands and barrier reefs of Namena, Wakaya, and Gau. On ten-day charters we have more time available to dive the various reefs in the Koro Sea, some of them near Namena and others near nowhere! We have dived Fiji's finest reefs since 1993, under every imaginable set of circumstances. Importantly, we've kept good records. Many sites are current-dependent and detailed local knowledge is critical in order to maximize the number of good dives in the best spots. For that reason we don't offer a fixed itinerary. Instead we tailor each voyage to the tides and weather. You will also explore remote locales and "get away from it all". But ecologically and globally speaking, coral reefs don't always share our goals for isolation and solitude. Fiji Dive Sites North Save-a-Tack Passage is the dive site which drew Cousteau to Fiji. On the plateau above the wall, giant schools of bigeye trevally, scad, and barracuda are watched over by several gray reef sharks. On the periphery, white-tip sharks lie napping on the bottom in preparation for their night-time forays. The sides and tops of the bommies are alive with color: gorgonia fans, black coral, soft coral, and every reef fish imaginable. Two Thumbs, Tetons, Mushrooms,These three divesites on the south side of the Namena Barrier Reef, directly across the lagoon from North Save-a-tack Passage, are flushed by clear incoming water when the current is going out at North Save-a-tack. Spectacular seamounts just on the edge of the drop-off, they collect the pelagics that patrol the drop-off and they are covered in soft-coral. Jim's Alley is a soft coral garden in shallow water, home to zillions of reef fish. Jim's is a prime example of the kind of soft coral diving for which Fiji is famous. Jim's is a regular stop for four or five mantas, who can frequently be found feeding in the adjacent channel during the waning tide. Macro photographers, too, love Jim's because of the profusion of little creatures living among the hard corals, soft corals, and fans. Nigali Passage is a narrow cut in the surrounding barrier reef which concentrates pelagics from miles around. Nigali is home to female gray reef sharks which number from 8 to 25 depending on the season. The channel also concentrates a huge school of trevally, three age-segregated schools of barracuda, about a dozen big flowery cod. Cats Meow, Humann Nature Undenaiable,Three magnificent divesites that lie on the northern barrier reef that defines Bligh Water's Vatu-i-ra Channel, these sites feature both main barrier reefs with good protection from swell and current plus small off-lying bommies smothered in life. Cat Holloway and Humann Nature is named for Paul Humann, the renown fish book author, who reckoned it was the best divesite he'd ever seen. Much of the gorgeous soft coral featured in Howard and Michele Hall's IMAX film Coral Reef Adventure was shot at these two sites. Mount Mutiny, Diving is very much like E-6 in terms of pelagics and other fish life. The highlight of Mount Mutiny is the Rainbow Wall, a wall of unusual thin-stalked Chironepthya soft coral in a broad range of colors which blankets the south flank of Mount Mutiny for a distance of 200 meters in depths between 60 and 120 feet. This is one of the single prettiest soft coral dives anywhere. Vatu-I- Ra,There are seven very distinct dives on the Vatu-i-ra barrier reef, several of which are among the best coral-reef dives in the world. The barrier reef protrudes north from Viti Levu into the Vatu-i-ra Channel, narrowing the channel to only 4.5 miles across. E6 - A photographer heaven, A seamount rising sheer-sided from 3,000ft right in the center of the narrowest part of Bligh Water's Vatu-i-ra channel, where it intercepts the flow of nutrients funneled between the two large islands of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu. Extraordinary diving! Pelagics are normally found on the two sides of the pinnacle flushed by currents, while delicate soft corals and fans decorate the protected lee side where NAI'A moors. The Cathedral is a large swim-though lined in gorgonia fans and soft coral, with soft-coral trees growing up from the floor. A narrow opening above allows sun rays to penetrate to the floor of the Cathedral, illuminating the bright fans and soft coral like so many panes of stained glass, giving it the feel of its namesake. The floor is home to several different colors of poison-bristle nudibranch, while adjoining small caves shelter many large lobster. Other highlights of night dives at E-6 are giant cuttlefish, arrowhead crabs, tiny soft coral cowries, colonial anemones on the gorgonia fans, and so many flashlight fish that you can navigate by their bright green light. Day dives at E-6 feature schooling barracuda, trevally, and surgeonfish, occasional hammerhead sharks and eagle rays, and a plethora of reef fish including anthias, fusiliers, and leaf scorpionfish.

2 dives in the morning depending on guest flight schedules and the 24 hour requirement before flying.

Unfortunately our trip has come to an end and we have to say goodbye, but we hope to see you again soon!