Whats Next?

So I have been away from the internet for a few weeks.  So I have just spent another two weeks diving in Munda and Gizo.  I will be back in Miami on August 6th.  I had to decide what to do next, and as luck would have it the Dive Shop in Gizo www.divegizo.com was looking for an instructor.  I got the job and will be returning for a year at the end of September.  The job comes with a house to live in and about all the fish I can eat.  As well as a cat named "Ghost".

I am looking forward to it.  In a few days I went from homeless to having a nice house, and even a pet!  I will get plenty of time of to dive some on my own.  I am looking forward to doing some technical training with an Australian Course Director that works out there periodically.  There are lots of WWII wrecks as well as deep walls to explore.

Talk to you soon, and will have more photos and such when I have better internet in Miami.

Luke

Pacific Harbor, Days Off

Well it has finally happened I have had a few days off.  So the last four weeks have been spent traveling.  I have done awesome dives in the warm waters of the Solomon Islands, visited Henderson Field on Guadalcanal.  Dove WWII wrecks, and seen Manta Rays, and Devil Rays in Kadavu Fiji.  I have slept in villeges overnight, and seen how they still live off the jungle and substance farming in both the Solomons and Fiji.  I have had few hot showers in the past month and was looking forward to some relaxing time.

The days off started with a quick night in Nadi on the main Island of Fiji, the next morning me and my co-worker spent time finishing up paperwork and calling the office.  I was able to get McDonalds, the service here is 10 times better then anyone in the states.  I also have gotten some Oreo cookies to munch on.  We then rushed to the bus depot to catch a bus to Pacific Harbor, about a 3 hour ride.  We paid the $9 fee, and climbed on a very "Local" bus.  The ride was very interesting crammed with the locals slowly moving up the mountains then racing down.  We arrived in Pacific Harbor to meet friends, but had no Idea where they were staying.  Pacific Harbor is spread out over a few miles, and they had no Idea we were coming.  After standing on the side of the road for a few minutes a divemaster from a local shop stopped to talk, and it turns out had been diving with our friends that morning!  We were about 100yds from their lodge.

There is so much to do here its hard to sleep in.  Yesterday me and my co-worker Alex awoke at 7am to go whitewater kayaking through Navua Gorge, which is quite possible one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen.  There were countless large waterfalls, beautiful mountains shooting up from the river banks.  We went swimming in the cold spring water, I think they might bottle Fiji water nearby.  I thought of all the people paying $3 for it in the states and thoughtfully relieved myself, only to make sure you get your monies worth. 

Today we awoke early again to go on a shark dive.  We went out on a local boat for a feeding.  The sharks were incredible and were joined by a 2-300lb grouper.  We say 7-8 foot reef sharks, and some large bulls were circling in the distance.  It was defiantly worth the early wake up.  We have been staying in dorms the past few days, so this afternoon we checked in at a local resort on the beach.  We have a gorgeous bungalow overlooking the water, complete with a huge outdoor shower garden to bath in!  So the plan is to finish relaxing the rest of the day and mingle with the travelers from all over the world.  Everyone is so friendly and you are guaranteed to meet someone new each night.  Well I will try to get some pictures up soon.  The weather in Fiji is colder, I def was not prepared for that but am enjoying it, but missing everyone back home.

Luke

Kadavu, Fiji

So I have just finished a week in Kadavu.  The diving there was great but a little colder, about 76 F.  We saw devil rays, and manta rays, as well as amazing amounts of colorful coral.  The coloring of the reefs is like something out of Dr. Seuss's books.  There is such an abundance of coral and fish it was unbelivable.  I think that the Solomons had more fish, but Fiji is winning on the Coral side of things.

 

We stayed in Matava Eco Lodge, which were very plush accomodations.  We had three and four course meals, and you stay in seperate grass huts that are quite luxurious scattered along the hillside.  The view from bed in the morning was unbelievable.

 

I am in a bit of a rush to finish laundry and start traveling on a few days that I have off of work.  I will be headed to Pacific Harbor on the big island to do some shark diving and meet up with some friends.  Here are a few tips I have learned while here:

 

When Flying in the south pacific always wear boardshorts and sandals, most plane flights also include wading through water to a boat then a one to two hour boat ride.

 

All flights are give or take two hours, so be early and stay late.  It is not unheard of to show up at 10 AM for a Noon flight and find out you missed it by 20 minutes.

 

All dive gear will break due to your remote nature.  I have busted many seems on random pieces of gear after only 30 or 40 dives, have a sewing kit.  I currently have a bag being held together by zip ties (which are holding up better then the bolts that they replaced).

 

Off to swim with the fishes! 

Nadi Fiji

Well I arrived in Nadi two days ago. They have fast internet here so I am trying to take advantage of it. Nadi Is on the main Island, and it seems like a huge city compared to the ones where I stayed in the Solomons. I have been enjoying hot showers, as well as cooler temperatures since Fiji is not as hot as the Solomons. Things I still have not gotten used to our people driving on the left hand side of the road. I have mistakingly tried to get in the drivers right door a few times now. Later today I will fly to the island of Kadavu and then take a boat to the island/village of Matava. I am looking forward to enjoying some diving in Fiji, and will talk soon! By the way Fiji water is still really expensive in Fiji

Luke

Leaving Gizo

Bula - Hello in Fiji

So it was time to leave Gizo. It was hard to do the people were so friendly, the diving so good. But after spending over two weeks, drinking only rain water, and treating all water like Gold. (The main source of water on the island is rain water that is caught in the gutters), it is time to head to Fiji. I am currently on an extended layover in Nadi, a larger city on the main Island.

Tomorrow I will head off to Matava. That involves a 45 min plane ride followed by about an hour water ride on a boat. Matava is very small, there are really no roads, limited phones, and maybe some internet. The diving there should again be exceptional. It will be much colder though, the water temp in the Solomons is about 84 degrees, and the water in Fiji is about 76-78. We will be doing some cool Manta Ray dives as well as some more wrecks. There is always plenty to look forward to.

After a week in Matava, I head to Nadi to put people on a plane, then get to enjoy about 5 days off. We will see what else Fiji has to offer. I want to try and go white water rafting, do a shark dive, and maybe even give surfing a try.

Not too many pictures to post, it has been very hectic here with teaching, but will definatly put some together to post in my days off.

Luke