NAI'A, FIJI: Itinerary
GENERAL NAI'A ITINERARY:
NAI'A's seven-night itinerary includes six & a half diving days & focuses mainly on Bligh Water in the Lomaiviti region of Fiji. Bligh Water is a long, deep & wide passage that cuts a dramatic path through the country's two main islands. This area is remarkably rich and diverse thanks to a combination of nutrient flow from land as well as continuous deep ocean current flow funneled through by south east trade winds.
After a relaxed first afternoon & evening at our very protected & pretty check-out dive sites close to the port of embarkation, Lautoka, NAI'A will travel to Bligh Water & visit the places she has made famous:
· The mammoth sea mounts E6 & Mount Mutiny.
· The exclusive Wakaya Island channel & surrounding reef.
· Gau Island's astonishing Nigali Passage (You'll see grey reef sharks & schooling pelagic fish).
· The lavish coral bommies of Jim's Alley & Anthia's Avenue.
Naturally, weather & tidal conditions always determine the exact order in which we journey to these sites. It is extremely rare, but possible, that unusual weather could actually preclude us from diving in some spots -- such is life at sea. However, NAI'A is by far the most capable & comfortable live-aboard in Fiji & the South Pacific. Nature & the preferences of the guests will also decide which other of our various locales NAI'A will visit in addition to those mentioned above.
On our ten night itinerary which includes nine and a half days of diving we extend our 7 night schedule to include one or more of these options: Nananu-i-ra Passages, Nukurauvula (where a pod of spinner dolphins live), Yadua or Koro Island & the vibrant barrier reef around Namena Island.
Our regular itineraries include an opportunity to visit one of the remote Fijian villages whose chiefs have allowed NAI'A to dive in the vicinity. Passengers are welcome to meet the local people, join the formal "sevu sevu" - a ritual permission-seeking ceremony still strictly adhered to in daily life - and partake in the traditional shared brew of "yagona" or "kava" amid languid Fijian harmonies.
NAI'A -- a typical SAILING SCHEDULE:
All charters (except the Tonga Special Expeditions) depart Lautoka wharf, about 25 minutes north of Nadi, on Fiji's Big Island of Viti Levu, at 2:00 pm Saturday. Seven-day charters finish at Lautoka wharf at 8:00 am Saturday & ten-day charters finish at Lautoka wharf at 8:00am Tuesday. It’s normally best to fly to Nadi one day early to allow "decom" from the jet lag. You'll be crossing the International Dateline from the U.S. West Coast, so you lose one calendar day. Please remember to take that dateline "lost day" into account when planning our dive vacation schedule. The cool thing about the dateline is that when you leave Nadi on your final day, & head back to the West Coast, you will feel like you've entered H.G. Wells' Time Machine. You might depart Nadi at 11 p.m. on Saturday, then after a dozen hours in the air you find yourself landing in L.A. at about 2 p.m. that same Saturday ! Now that's making time, amigos del mar.
NAI'A's seven-night itinerary includes six & a half diving days & focuses mainly on Bligh Water in the Lomaiviti region of Fiji. Bligh Water is a long, deep & wide passage that cuts a dramatic path through the country's two main islands. This area is remarkably rich and diverse thanks to a combination of nutrient flow from land as well as continuous deep ocean current flow funneled through by south east trade winds.
After a relaxed first afternoon & evening at our very protected & pretty check-out dive sites close to the port of embarkation, Lautoka, NAI'A will travel to Bligh Water & visit the places she has made famous:
· The mammoth sea mounts E6 & Mount Mutiny.
· The exclusive Wakaya Island channel & surrounding reef.
· Gau Island's astonishing Nigali Passage (You'll see grey reef sharks & schooling pelagic fish).
· The lavish coral bommies of Jim's Alley & Anthia's Avenue.
Naturally, weather & tidal conditions always determine the exact order in which we journey to these sites. It is extremely rare, but possible, that unusual weather could actually preclude us from diving in some spots -- such is life at sea. However, NAI'A is by far the most capable & comfortable live-aboard in Fiji & the South Pacific. Nature & the preferences of the guests will also decide which other of our various locales NAI'A will visit in addition to those mentioned above.
On our ten night itinerary which includes nine and a half days of diving we extend our 7 night schedule to include one or more of these options: Nananu-i-ra Passages, Nukurauvula (where a pod of spinner dolphins live), Yadua or Koro Island & the vibrant barrier reef around Namena Island.
Our regular itineraries include an opportunity to visit one of the remote Fijian villages whose chiefs have allowed NAI'A to dive in the vicinity. Passengers are welcome to meet the local people, join the formal "sevu sevu" - a ritual permission-seeking ceremony still strictly adhered to in daily life - and partake in the traditional shared brew of "yagona" or "kava" amid languid Fijian harmonies.
NAI'A -- a typical SAILING SCHEDULE:
All charters (except the Tonga Special Expeditions) depart Lautoka wharf, about 25 minutes north of Nadi, on Fiji's Big Island of Viti Levu, at 2:00 pm Saturday. Seven-day charters finish at Lautoka wharf at 8:00 am Saturday & ten-day charters finish at Lautoka wharf at 8:00am Tuesday. It’s normally best to fly to Nadi one day early to allow "decom" from the jet lag. You'll be crossing the International Dateline from the U.S. West Coast, so you lose one calendar day. Please remember to take that dateline "lost day" into account when planning our dive vacation schedule. The cool thing about the dateline is that when you leave Nadi on your final day, & head back to the West Coast, you will feel like you've entered H.G. Wells' Time Machine. You might depart Nadi at 11 p.m. on Saturday, then after a dozen hours in the air you find yourself landing in L.A. at about 2 p.m. that same Saturday ! Now that's making time, amigos del mar.