On our way out of Fiji, we stopped at Musket Cove and then joined Joe Tui, our dive guide and host extraordinaire in his home islands, the beautiful Yasawa Group en-route to Vanuatu
This would be a highlight of the season. See previous Gallery
Last I left you, it was either a custom “fix” or this puppy was finished!….Good News!
Salt air alone did this to the aluminum armature
The guys at Baobab Marine came through again. This one should last forever. With the shipping costs, etc. This one was actually less expensive than one shipped to me via the US and Italy
We had a neighbor show up the next day after we arrived at Manta Ray Bay. A new style French “Outremer” 49….
Anja had not had this experience, so I sat in the dinghy and let her snorkel to her hearts content
Here you get some size perspective of these gentle giants next to Anja
Joe literally “missed the boat” the day he was supposed to arrive so it delayed us one day at Manta Ray Bay
Joe was very into “vessel operations”. Here he is lowering the anchor with the hand held remote at Narara Beach where we had two nice dives
Here at Narara Beach, the water was only 10 feet (3 meters) deep, but look at the color….more nice!
Good looking guy isn’t he?
This is m/v “TV”… yep, that’s her name. She’s 255 feet if memory serves and owned by one of the richest men in the world
These are the famous lime stone caverns of Sawa-I-Lau Island
The swim through is just off to the right.
We were relaxing after our hike up to the deep caverns. We had to walk in knee deep mud to get there
I took this one off, but Joe and Anja did “sevusevu” at the village at Sawa-I-Lau and this gave us permission to go quite far afield for diving and anchorages
She most likely would love to have taken this one along for the ride!
These structures last about 4 years with little maintenance and despite appearances do well in big winds and rain
Every woman’s dream A good looking guy who likes to cook!
Literally, “The Island Over There….At the Top”. This was the extreme north of the Yasawa Group and absolutely gorgeous
No more need be said…
This is the isolated anchorage where the movie “Contact” with Jody Foster was filmed
Joe liked to drive…. Anja liked to sit near Joe!…ha!
Joe gave us lessons all about Coconuts. This was just one of their uses
Yasawa-I-Ra and Champagne beach are very close
These are done for many reasons. Some practical, some ceremonial. These ladies do this all day, every day!
Anja loves kids, Joe loves kids. The kids were very interested in us on there way home from school
The kids were excited to see themselves. A rare treat in Anja’s LCD screen
Joe showed Anja and I the right way to make sure you got a perfectly ready to eat coconut “every time”
Sweet and ready to drink right out of the shell…..
Fat, Protein and Carbohydrates in one nut. And, the husks, fronds and shells have endless traditional uses
Anja taught Joe how to play backgammon. Diana of s/v “Quickstar” had given me this set and the two of them had legendary tournements
Joe was off visiting friends with my surf kayak. I went for an introspective walk and Anja relaxed
To the Fijians, you’re looking at the end of the world. “The Island over there….at the top”
Nothing more need be said…..
Joe was excited to finally get a full days sail in as we headed south back to Nanuya-Sewa
Oh we were going to miss Joe, but alas all good things must end.
Farewell Joe, we had a great time with you. Maybe once again….
Joe had a buddy who was going to take him to Manta Ray Bay Island….`
With happy memories and sad goodbyes….Joe was off
Here we met Joe Tui and his buddies. You\’ve seen the gallery. It was a highlight of the season
