There are so many great things about this crew and the
NAI'A, it's hard to know where to start – the expertise and cool efficiency
of the cruise directors, the ability to solve any problem, the
attitude and competence of the entire crew, the boat itself. It
was all a joy! Good luck and much happiness to all, especially
Josh & Liz on their wedding. Fondly,
Ann & Jack Sahlman, Tampa FL
NAI'A Nuptials
It is our great pleasure to share the sensational news and a couple of sneak-peek views of our cruise directors' elegant Fiji wedding. Josh Jensen and Liz Harlin married on May 11 under glorious afternoon sunshine in a glistening beachside ceremony at Vomo Island. They were surrounded by close friends and relatives from Australia, the United Kingdom and Hong Kong, but escorted down the sandy aisle by a pair of delightful little Fijian flower girls in traditional tapa costume. We've no doubt that everyone who has had the pleasure of meeting Josh and Liz aboard NAI'A - or hopes to soon - will join us in wishing them the grandest of adventures together in love, laughter and life as husband and wife. Their tremendous teamwork on deck and underwater is just an inkling of how close and special this partnership is destined to be. Congratulations!
Lottery until Oct - ridiculous odds on to win for last minute
bookings
Book one of the last remaining spaces on any NAI'A expedition scheduled between now and October 22 this year and you'll automatically go into our draw to win a second trip completely free or claim a refund on your current booking!
Click Here to see our 2005 Schedule .
The odds in this lottery are ridiculously good as just 9 places are still available to be sold on excursions during this period. Returning passengers are, of course, eligible! The winner will be drawn on October 22 and announced immediately. That winner will be entitled to a return one-week NAI'A expedition OR a refund on their previous booking to the value of one-week aboard NAI'A. Your choice! The total prize value is USD$2700.
If you think this sounds like an outrageous one-off opportunity,
you're right! But we are keen to fill these upcoming charters
with last minute bookings. Once you've tried Fiji diving from
NAI'A, you'll be hooked. In the words of photographer/author, Stephen
Frink: "Delivering a live-aboard experience beyond expectations
is what NAI'A seems to do for a living. It has been too long since
I cruised aboard NAI'A. I now remember all I missed. See you again
soon…for sure."
Fantastic Fiji Photos:
Cathy Church & Group
NAI'A is a great boat with a fine, wonderful, professional,
friendly and helpful crew. Thanks for tending to our long list
of needs! You are all terrific.
Cathy Church & Herb Rafael, Cayman Islands
Everyone loves a pygmy seahorse, especially photographers with the eyes, the skill and the equipment to capture the little buggers. What better charter to find some of the recently discovered (in Fiji) tiny specks than when Cathy Church and her entourage of fine photographers were here?
Cathy and company not only enjoyed great macro photography opportunities,
but they photographed some of the world's finest reefs in their glory.
Five years after the La Nina coral bleaching, Fiji's best reefs are
robust and healthy. See a selection of fantastic photos at Divemaster's
Diary.
Phoenix Islands Report
Unfortunately not all of our favorite reefs are flourishing. NAI'A
recently completed our sixth trip to the remote Phoenix Islands,
following up an expedition chronicled in the February '04 National
Geographic Magazine. We had seen satellite sea surface temperature
images and read reports that indicated that a coral bleaching episode
may have occurred, but we were shocked and dismayed to see the extent
of the damage. The destruction of coral reefs, even those as pristine
and untouched as in the Phoenix Islands, is a direct result of global
warming. For a depressing preview of what coral reef biologists fear
is in store for all coral reefs in the next twenty years, see Phoenix
Islands.
Tonga Humpback Whales
The whale season is about to start again in Tonga and we are keen to get underwater with those compelling giants. So are several film crews. But our charters for this season – and next! – are already full except for one berth this year and a few spaces from July 28 to August 7 next year. In the last two weeks we have had to turn away three production companies, all of whom want footage of celebrity whale enthusiasts underwater among whales. There are few places in the world where you can legally and practically get in the water with leviathan, so Tonga is becoming increasingly popular among filmmakers. But loyal NAI'A guests – never fear. We've set aside next year's date just for you (even though the idea of spending a week among whales with Minnie Driver did have a certain appeal….). See Tonga's Humpback Whale Safaris
-- By Rob Barrel for the NAI'A family
