NAI'A News
July 2002

WHAT'S NEW

• Crew News: From Kungkungan to NAI'A
• Special Fiji Voyage with Paul Humann
• Primal Ocean 2002 Phoenix Islands Expedition

CREW NEWS
From Kungkungan to NAI'A

We are thrilled and honored to welcome two of the diving industry's top professionals, Kevin and Valerie Tear to the NAI'A team. Kev and Val will share the role of cruise directors and photo/video pros with Rob and Cat aboard NAI'A. The new duo will begin leading our "Fiji's Finest" diving itineraries in September and stay on schedule through until Christmas when Rob and Cat come back on deck. Kev and Val are then scheduled to return to Fiji for series of 2003 charters too! They bring with them an extensive knowledge of small reef animal behaviour and identification - specifically how to find them - having managed the world-renowned macro-critter dive destination, Kungkungan Bay Resort, in Indonesia for the past three years.

But running a large resort requires lots of administration, and Kev and Val are keen to spend more time wet and submerged watching fish instead of shuffling paperwork. Prior to managing Kungungan in Indonesia, the Kev assisted underwater photography professional and teacher, Cathy Church, in Cayman and the pair managed the Qamea Beach Club diving here in Fiji. As well as being highly qualified instructors and dedicated dive guides, Kev is an accomplished still photographer and marine naturalist while Val is nurturing a newfound zest for underwater video.

"Making diving and divers our number one priority is the fun we're craving," Kev said.

Kev and Val joined NAI'A for several weeks earlier this year to get intimate with our dive sites and learn some crucial kava etiquette from our crew. NAI'A's menu is already famously delicious, but Val's extensive gourmet cooking and restaurant expertise has enhanced our menus even further. But live-aboard life holds the same unique allure for our new cruise directors and NAI'A passengers alike.

"Waking up to explore a new place every day is the best part," Val said.

"That and being there with others who love this environment as much as we do."

>> For more about our world-famous NAI'A crew, check out the NAI'A website at www.naia.com.fj/crew.html

SPECIAL FIJI VOYAGE WITH PAUL HUMANN
February 22 to March 4, 2003

Paul's pictures have appeared in countless magazines around the world, from National Geographic to Skin Diver. He has photographed and authored over a dozen books on marine life, the most famous of which are his REEF FISH Identification series. Between dives Paul will be available for conversations about some of the "tricks" he uses to photograph marine life. During the evenings he will present an enjoyable series of slide/lectures about the fish and invertebrates found in Fiji.

After a previous trip to Fiji, Paul remarked: "For years Fiji was thought to offer only mediocre Indo-Pacific diving, but Rob and the crew of the Nai'a have changed all that. The dive sites they have found are some of the best in the world (no holds barred). The possibilities of wide-angle scenic type photography are exceptional and the number of exciting fish and invertebrate species is enough to keep even the most seasoned underwater explorer happy."

Join Paul and the crew of the Nai'a for this most excellent adventure.

>> For more about Paul Humann, check out the NAI'A website at www.naia.com.fj/humann

>> To reserve your space on the charter hosted by Paul Humann, contact Alexx or Mike at explore@naia.com.fj or US Toll-Free 866-776-5572