After last year's pathetic excuse for a dive trip, our group had to make it up to ourselves and we did it with a return trip to Fiji.
Our trip to Fiji in November 2007 on the Naia was good but the diving was compromised by weather and storms.
This year's trip was fantastic.
Earthquake and tsunami activity in the area provided a little drama but resulted in canceling only one dive on one day due to a tsunami alert.
Our ten day itinerary out of Lautoka brought us to the Namena Reserve and Save-a-tack, on to Wakaya, Nigali pass, Makogai and then back through the spectacular sites of Bligh Water.
Full moon brought us currents early on in the trip and then the seas calmed to nearly perfect, mild, calm conditions for our last days at the beautiful E6, Mount Mutiny, Maytag, Coral Corner, and Humann Nature sites.
Visibility often approached 150+ feet and the water was a little chilly, usually about 75.
The boat moved almost every day and offered a wide range satisfying choices of dive sites, with depths and options for divers with different experience levels and interests, for photographers and non-photographers alike.
All dives were above average, with lots of macro subjects, a good number of pelagics as well as wide angle scenes on almost every dive.
Healthy, vibrant hard and soft corals were abundant and we had zero days stuck at a mangrove swamp or village pier.
Pre-trip flight and hotel arrangements, logistics and communications were flawless.
Skiff drivers, dive masters and crew were very friendly; dive briefings and safety precautions were totally professional.
The food at every meal was ample, tasty, varied with healthy options and tailored to individual dietary preferences. We didn't get even a glimpse of instant noodles
I've been on more than 8 liveaboards over the past 12-15 years, plan to do other trips on other liveaboards in the future but for now, the Naia is my gold standard.
What is liveaboard is your gold standard for adventure diving with a good variety of dive sites..?
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Our trip to Fiji in November 2007 on the Naia was good but the diving was compromised by weather and storms.
This year's trip was fantastic.
Earthquake and tsunami activity in the area provided a little drama but resulted in canceling only one dive on one day due to a tsunami alert.
Our ten day itinerary out of Lautoka brought us to the Namena Reserve and Save-a-tack, on to Wakaya, Nigali pass, Makogai and then back through the spectacular sites of Bligh Water.
Full moon brought us currents early on in the trip and then the seas calmed to nearly perfect, mild, calm conditions for our last days at the beautiful E6, Mount Mutiny, Maytag, Coral Corner, and Humann Nature sites.
Visibility often approached 150+ feet and the water was a little chilly, usually about 75.
The boat moved almost every day and offered a wide range satisfying choices of dive sites, with depths and options for divers with different experience levels and interests, for photographers and non-photographers alike.
All dives were above average, with lots of macro subjects, a good number of pelagics as well as wide angle scenes on almost every dive.
Healthy, vibrant hard and soft corals were abundant and we had zero days stuck at a mangrove swamp or village pier.
Pre-trip flight and hotel arrangements, logistics and communications were flawless.
Skiff drivers, dive masters and crew were very friendly; dive briefings and safety precautions were totally professional.
The food at every meal was ample, tasty, varied with healthy options and tailored to individual dietary preferences. We didn't get even a glimpse of instant noodles
I've been on more than 8 liveaboards over the past 12-15 years, plan to do other trips on other liveaboards in the future but for now, the Naia is my gold standard.
What is liveaboard is your gold standard for adventure diving with a good variety of dive sites..?
_
