2/20/2010
Almost home...
this will be my last entry. Since there are only a couple of weeks left, I will enjoy the rest of my travel time and see you guys home in a couple of weeks! I am looking forward to seeing you! :)
2/10/2010
2/06/2010
Suva, Fiji's Capital
At the Market - The biggest Bananas I have ever seen. Almost Scary!
Beautiful!
At a Hindu Temple - got invited for lunch by these sweet ladies (yummy)
Beautiful!
At a Hindu Temple - got invited for lunch by these sweet ladies (yummy)
BAD Sharks - Exciting, Intriguing, Perfectly Save!
I arrived in the south of the mainland of Viti Levu two days ago. Here in Pacific Harbour it is raining most of the time, the temperature is still very warm but in a nice way. The slogan of the Resort I am staying in is definatelly suitable: It's not perfect. It is Paradise.
After days of lazing in the sun on some islands it is time for some action again. My main reason for being here is BAD Sharks. I am joining the Beqa Adventure Divers for a Shark Dive here in the Beqa Channel. The water around the Beqa island is a Shark Reef Marine Reserve giving home to eight species of Sharks: Tawny Nurses, Sicklefin Lemons, Grey/Whitetip/Blacktip Reefs, Silvertips, massive Bull Sharks as well as the occasional Tiger Shark up to 5 meters length.
With a small dive boat we head out into the rough sea. We are shaking from side to side and the big waves are splashing in. After 20 minutes we reach the first dive site and get our first briefing. The nine divers go down accompanied with seven team divers (plus metal sticks for defense). We drop down 30 meters into the channel into the socalled Arena, where we are about to watch the first spectacle of bull shark feeding. Big GT's and all sorts of fish fill the water. With the coral wall in their back two of the team divers dive out into the Arena with a big trash bin filled with big chucks of fish. The density of fish around them rises. I suddenly feel a dark shadow above me, look up and see my first Bull Shark of approx. 3,5-4 meters length. The local diver handfeeds these giants almost like pets while they drift their way around us. After 15 minutes we level up to 10 m for feeding the smaler Reef Sharks and Travellies, whereas one of the team divers gets bitten by a GT.
For the second dive at 15 m we drop to a little lagoon, where we have to lay down lying flat on the ground in case the Tiger Shark lady Scarface joins our dive. However, this is not the case and I will have to get back some other time! Definatelly an amazing adventure! I cannot quite believe it was just a couple of months ago that I cried under water seeing my first "little" Reef Shark...
Here some impressions of the dive. The pics are taken by Sam, who was joining the dive for the 148th time today. Underwater photography of sharks is one of his hobbies (I envy his camera!) and he already won some award for his pics. Check out the following link:
http://www.underwaterphotography.com/Members/Member-Profile.aspx?ID=30086
Reef Shark
Silvertip
Bull Shark enjoying being hand fed
Bull Shark
After days of lazing in the sun on some islands it is time for some action again. My main reason for being here is BAD Sharks. I am joining the Beqa Adventure Divers for a Shark Dive here in the Beqa Channel. The water around the Beqa island is a Shark Reef Marine Reserve giving home to eight species of Sharks: Tawny Nurses, Sicklefin Lemons, Grey/Whitetip/Blacktip Reefs, Silvertips, massive Bull Sharks as well as the occasional Tiger Shark up to 5 meters length.
With a small dive boat we head out into the rough sea. We are shaking from side to side and the big waves are splashing in. After 20 minutes we reach the first dive site and get our first briefing. The nine divers go down accompanied with seven team divers (plus metal sticks for defense). We drop down 30 meters into the channel into the socalled Arena, where we are about to watch the first spectacle of bull shark feeding. Big GT's and all sorts of fish fill the water. With the coral wall in their back two of the team divers dive out into the Arena with a big trash bin filled with big chucks of fish. The density of fish around them rises. I suddenly feel a dark shadow above me, look up and see my first Bull Shark of approx. 3,5-4 meters length. The local diver handfeeds these giants almost like pets while they drift their way around us. After 15 minutes we level up to 10 m for feeding the smaler Reef Sharks and Travellies, whereas one of the team divers gets bitten by a GT.
For the second dive at 15 m we drop to a little lagoon, where we have to lay down lying flat on the ground in case the Tiger Shark lady Scarface joins our dive. However, this is not the case and I will have to get back some other time! Definatelly an amazing adventure! I cannot quite believe it was just a couple of months ago that I cried under water seeing my first "little" Reef Shark...
Here some impressions of the dive. The pics are taken by Sam, who was joining the dive for the 148th time today. Underwater photography of sharks is one of his hobbies (I envy his camera!) and he already won some award for his pics. Check out the following link:
http://www.underwaterphotography.com/Members/Member-Profile.aspx?ID=30086
Reef Shark
Silvertip
Bull Shark enjoying being hand fed
Bull Shark
2/04/2010
Manta Ray Island Resort
Relaxing, Sun, Snorkeling, Kayaking, Dancing...
Luckily not my Island
Sunset
Dancing Fun
Incredible Isaac
Dreaming over my Storyline...
... over and over again ;)
Levy met a Friend
Luckily not my Island
Sunset
Dancing Fun
Incredible Isaac
Dreaming over my Storyline...
... over and over again ;)
Levy met a Friend
2/03/2010
BULA
Let the Fiji Fun begin. Arriving in Nadi Airport Fiji smells of fire, of coconut and water. The next morning I am already checking in for four days sailing of the Yasawa Islands with Captain Cook and overnight stays on Barefoot Lodge Resort on Drawaya Island. Today I am out of words, although quite a lot of them would be needed to explain this experience. In short: great boat and great crew, fantastic and inspiring people, beautiful island with cristal clear water, nice snorkeling sites, good food, day and evening entertainment... and a big, big BULA SMILE!
The Pearl of the Pacific
Luxury Doublebed
Sea View out of my Bure
Chief Mark (he certainly reminds me of my dad) and his clan from Colorado
Cava Ceremony
Sunrise on Barefoot Lodge Resort (Drawaqa Island)
The Friendly Staff welcoming Guests
Bill
Bill and Naomi
Outdoor Bathroom
My little Bure - Lucky Number Seven
Village Visit
Sailing the Yasawa Islands
Beautiful Sunset
The Pearl of the Pacific
Luxury Doublebed
Sea View out of my Bure
Chief Mark (he certainly reminds me of my dad) and his clan from Colorado
Cava Ceremony
Sunrise on Barefoot Lodge Resort (Drawaqa Island)
The Friendly Staff welcoming Guests
Bill
Bill and Naomi
Outdoor Bathroom
My little Bure - Lucky Number Seven
Village Visit
Sailing the Yasawa Islands
Beautiful Sunset
Abonnieren
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