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Namena Reef

Namena - June 2015 - Reef 2 (9)_Copy
Vivid Namena

After a few days of getting settled in Savusavu on Vanua Levu, the crew of Amandla decided to head to Namena Island and Marine Reserve for a few days of snorkeling.

Sailing Toward Namena Island
Sailing Toward Namena Island

Namena Island and Marine Reserve is a very close 26 nm mile hop south from Savusavu. We had a lovely sail with blue skies and fair winds on the beam. Waypoints provided by Curly Carswell supported our navigation to the reef and through the pass.

Anchors Down
Anchors Down

Just before entering the pass, we hailed the Marine Reserve on Ch 14 to announce our arrival. They instructed us to moor and then come to the office to pay a FJ$30 per person annual entry fee (more than worth it).  The mooring ball seemed a bit questionable, so we decided to drop anchor after paying our fee at the office.

Sunrise Namena Image Courtesy The Captain
Sunrise Namena
Image Courtesy The Captain

We had a quiet evening in the anchorage, enjoying homemade pesto courtesy of The Captain and were up early the next morning to explore the reef.

Dive Sites
Multiple Dive Sites

There were so many options to chose from and only a few days to explore so we started at the beginning with a snorkel off the pier in front of the Dive Shop.

Reef Near Dive Shop
Reef Near Dive Shop

The area was rich with healthy coral and several Giant Clams.

Giant Blue Clam
Giant Blue Clam
The Captain And The Giant Clam
The Captain With A Giant Brown/Green Clam

While the snorkeling is great, the diving at Namena is supposed to be even better.  I am not yet a diver and the Captain is still recovering from surgery, so our friend Steve went off for a dive in the afternoon in the capable hands of the Namena Dive Masters.  As Steve headed out to dive and film the Chimneys, The Captain and I started a tour of Namena Island (I’ll add a copy of the Steve’s dive video here after he completes editing…it is gorgeous).

Steve With Very Handsome Dive Masters Sio and Rodney
Three Handsome Men: Steve With Dive Masters Sio and Rodney

We were treated to breathtaking views, trails and wildlife.

Stairs To Dive Resort
Stairs To Dive Resort
Mother and Child
Booby With Chick
Walkway To Beach
Pathways

However, The Captain preferred lounging over hiking, so he walked back to the pier while I visited one of the three island beaches.

Having a Kip
Having a Kip
View From The Top
View From The Top

In the evening, Jim and Jeanette from SY Dancer (the only other boat in the anchorage) joined us for dinner. They have been cruising and diving (typically 2-3 dives a day) for over 17 years, primarily in the Pacific. They often return to their favorite dive spots, Namena Island being one of them .

Beach
Beach

The next morning, we went out snorkeling again, trying without success to find the Chimneys sans GPS.  But we did find some awesome coral anyhow sprinkled with small tropical fish in The Pirates Den (at least that is where we think we were).

Second Day Out
Second Day Out

Namena Reef offered the most beautiful coral that we’ve seen since the Tuamtous and I’ve been told that many of the snorkel/dive sites are also rich with fish large and small (we only snorkled two of many spots).

Pink and Red
Pink and Red
Vibrant Purple and Greens
Purple and Green
Second Snorkel Image Courtesy Stephen Kelley
Greens and Blue
Image Courtesy Stephen Kelley

Unfortunately, schedules required us to return to Savusavu, but The Captain and I hope to return here again before departing Fiji.

Sunset On Namena
Sunset On Namena

 

Submitted for The Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge: Vivid

49 comments Namena Reef

These are vivid indeed! that first one is magazine photo-worthy! If you are interested, I would love to invite you to my new weekly link-up, The Leisure Link. http://terriwebsterschrandt.com/the-leisure-link-link-up/

First off, thank you for your very generous compliment about my first shot. Made me smile quite widely. Secondly, I am SO EXCITED to hear that you have started the weekly Leisure Link! Yay! Such a perfect extension for your blog and another way to get people out there enjoying and sharing a life of leisure. Of course I would love to participate. Quick question. Can I link posts that are also linked to other challenges (e.g. I would love to link this one for example but it is already linked to the Weekly Photo Challenge). If not, no matter, I will have plenty of leisure posts in my future.

Thank you Lisa!! You can link any of your posts to any link-up regardless of previous links. I would love to see a couple of yours on the link-up! Your whole blog is about leisure!!

Yay! I have a few existing posts that I think would be perfect. I should be able to link them in the next few days. And of course, more leisure coming your way in the future.

the link will close Tuesday at 9pm, then reopen next Sunday. If you don’t make this link up, no worries. I didn’t put a limit on how many per blogger yet either 🙂

No worries, I promise not to be ‘over present’ 🙂 I was thinking of linking my Snorkeling with Whales and perhaps two more. Maybe I will space out my submissions. I will start with the Whales since that was a bucket list leisure item that I didn’t even know I had. I’ll try to get it in before the link closes. If not, next week.

Cool, I can’t wait to see them in the link-up!

Wonderful photos Lisa – it looks an idyllic part of the world those underwater shots are amazing! 🙂

Thank you Rosemary! It has been such a treat to return to reef snorkeling after a six months absence.

Barbara McFadden says:

“Deep sigh” here in New Jersey on Monday morning!

Thanks for sharing these gorgeous photos!

Great to hear from you Barbara. Thank you for the compliment. Believe it or not, I miss New Jersey (and New York). Homesick for the East Coast. But I am not suffering too much 🙂 Best to Dan

Lisa, these were wonderful along with your captions. I felt as if I were there. Thank you so much for sharing of your wonderful adventure. I am also learning a lot, that is geographically.

I am thrilled to have you here with me in Fiji Eva….at least virtually. So many more places to travel.

Hi Lisa, these are breathtaking photos. And you made them while snorkeling…I imagine how much more beauty is deep there for the divers to see.
The place is stunning and so are your photos. As always.
Keep enjoying the place, as it really is a paradise.
Cheers!

I am delighted that you think the photos are breathtaking Lucile :-). I wish I could get up the courage to dive (I am more and more tempted every day with the images that I see from others who have gone deeper) and this may be the year that I get over my fear…or not. Still, there are so many treats to be had snorkeling and many sights to visit in Fiji…its like an underwater Garden of Eden.

And they really are breathtaking, Lisa. I relate to your fear of diving. I followed a course once in Italy and practiced once only. It was a dark lake and that wasn’t much of an experience as it only served to scare me. I never again tried. As you really are in a diving and snorkeling heaven, just enjoy!

lexklein says:

You have taken “vivid” to a whole new depth, no pun intended! Beautiful!

🙂 Made me chuckle (even tho no pun intended) Thank you for the lovely compliment Lexie!

Margo says:

Great job documenting your trip, Lisa. The photos are exquisite. So clear and vibrant. Absolutely gorgeous. Thanks for taking such great care of my sweetie!
XO
Margo

I am so pleased that you find the photos exquisite! We are SO sad to be returning Steve to you tomorrow Margo 🙁 Where did the time go? There is still time to kidnap him and hold him for ransom…..

Amazing… 🙂

😉 There is so much wonder under the sea here in Fiji. Can’t wait to do more snorkeling! Today it is cleaning and provisioning …not as beautiful but must be done.

badfish says:

Jealously is such an ugly place to find yourself. But I envy you, your life, your journey. Because I would never be able to do that. Travel, yes. On a ship, yes. But not by myself, not being in control. Your photos are simply inspired—crisp, clean, colorful. I use to have a fear of those giant clams (saw them in movies). I wasn’t sure they actually grew that large. How old are they?

I am flattered Mr Badfish 🙂

Trust me, this journey has required me to give up A LOT of control which I sometimes cling to as if it is air that I need to breath. It hasn’t been easy… but it is so worth it for moments like these.

I don’t know exactly how old the clams were but I know they can live 100s of years and these ones were relatively large. I’ll ask next time I visit Namena.

badfish says:

Control. Yeah, maybe that’s my problem with boats at sea…and not knowing how to sail. Fear of the unknown? Clams…100 years!! Jeesh.

I totally get the fear of the unknown thing. The only time I manage to take the leap is when my desire to do something exceeds my fear. BTW – saw one of the Namena Dive Masters in town today and he told me the clams I photographed are only 20 years young. So think of how SCARY big they are when they reach 100 years. I want to see one of those 🙂

badfish says:

Yeeah!! And sit inside a shell (empty one). I wonder how much that shell would weigh! And just how does a shell “grow”?

That would be cool!

Here is what Wikipedia says about Giant Clam sustenance: ‘The creature’s mantle tissues act as a habitat for the symbiotic single-celled dinoflagellate algae (zooxanthellae) from which it gets nutrition. By day, the clam opens its shell and extends its mantle tissue so that the algae receive the sunlight they need to photosynthesize.

So there you have it Mr Badfish!

badfish says:

Interesting stuff…life at its best. Do you ever see a big dark shadow under your boat, and wonder? And maybe think: Moby Dick? Or…JAWS?

Had sharks circling the boat in Suwarrow and woke up a whale as we were entering Tongatapu waters….luckily in time for her to stay clear of us.

badfish says:

see…that would scare me

🙂

Amazing place to snorkel! So cool to take underwater photos and to travel on a sail boat! I love this post.

How lucky am I? Very! Thanks for hanging out with me (virtually) here 🙂

You’re very lucky! I wish I could have joined you guys on an adventure like this.

Well there are more adventures ahead and YOU are always welcome.

Such fabulous underwater photos, Lisa 🙂 Those clams are definitely giant! I can see you’re having a great time.

Fiji is awesome Jo! Thank you so much for your kind compliment on the photos.

Amy says:

What an amazing adventure, Lisa. Underwater shots are fascinating, and photos of sailing are so beautiful. 🙂

You are wonderful to say so Amy! We are back in town now (Savusavu) preparing for our next sail/snorkel adventure…this time to the Lau Group. Can Not Wait!

prior says:

Lisa = this felt like a magazine featured piece – and I went over it twice and still felt like I could soak up more. I like how you bring us under the sea, to the trees and back under. <3 – and did you say homemade pesto – mmmmm!
my fav is the blue clam – but truly perfect for vivid – the colors under the sea still amaze me…. oh and the shot of you (2nd photo down) was just funnnnn

xxoo

Always a treat to hear from you Yvette. I truly enjoy your feedback and kindness. Wish I’d had a snap of the blue clam with a person in it so you could get a sense of his size.

how thrilling!

🙂 Thanks Mimi

rabirius says:

Beautiful pictures.

Well thank you! Love your photos 🙂

rxfrazier says:

The giant blue clam photo is spectacular. Ditto the red coral. What an experience!

Thank you so much! I am thrilled that you enjoyed the images. It was quite a treat to behold such beauty. Am so looking forward to seeing more of what Fiji has to offer under the sea.

I was inspired to go diving after looking through your underwater photos of Namena Island.

What Do You Think?