Description:
Venture over the international dateline to the Solomon Islands, where our South Pacific quest begins. We plunge below to find a spectacular array of pulsating colors, clear water, gardens of soft coral and an awe-inspiring density of marine life. The diving in this undiscovered paradise rivals the Red Sea, and Munda offers a sensational underwater realm. Shark Point, Mushroom Island and WWII sites such as the Kasi Maru and the Douglas Dive Bomber will take your breath away.
Travel to Lola Island to play in the blue water and enjoy a delicious lunch on a beautiful white sand beach. Next stop is an eerie tour of Skull Island — a visit to headhunting times where we see a shrine to local chiefs and warriors. Head to Gizo and dive Grand Central Station and Hot Spot for a dizzying array of tropical fish. At Inside-Out Passage we find majestic rays, sharks and tons of turtles. Between dives, take an afternoon to explore the colorful markets in town and hunt for souvenirs and snacks.
Venture below to explore a WWII US Hellcat fighter plane and the Toa Maru, an intact 446' Japanese transport sunk by an American Wildcat in 1943. Encounter an abundance of big pelagics — manta rays, eagle rays, sharks, tuna and sea turtles. Spend a day in the village of Serengeti learning the traditional Solomon ways of life. Weave a basket from palm leaves, crack open a fresh coconut, challenge the villagers to a game of soccer or play on the beach with the village children.
The views as we arrive in Fiji give us a taste of what’s to come — crystal clear water, brightly colored coral and lush mountain rainforests. Our home for the week is the island Kadavu, the fourth largest island in Fiji, yet off the beaten path. We set up base at Matava Eco-Lodge. Traditional thatched huts are nestled in a tropical rainforest with white sandy beaches, welcoming villages, cascading waterfalls and spectacular diving only minutes away. Discover the intense density of colors and natural beauty of the Great Astrolabe Reef, the fourth largest barrier reef in the world.
We fine-tune our drift diving skills and float effortlessly past the brilliant soft corals of the world-renowned Eagle Rock, named for its schools of resident eagle rays, and Cabbage Patch, home to one of the world’s largest cabbage coral patches. Discover an abundance of marine life at Golden Chimney, a large coral structure completely covered in golden soft corals that illuminate the entire area when blooming. Swim under towering waterfalls and go on a “teitei” walk with a local medicine man to learn about the flora of Fiji. Spend your final night as a guest in Nacamoto village where locals treat us to a traditional kava ceremony and a special performance of the Fijian meke dance. As we look back on our adventures together, everyone agrees that the diving has been outrageous and the people we’ve met along our journey have made for an unforgettable experience.
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