Fiji

Three weeks in Fiji in August 2010, two of them on a liveaboard with the ship NAI'A on a special tour to Lau Group in the east of the country. Here are the underwater photos. 11 hours have to be deducted from the EXIF times because I forgot to change the time in the camera.

Palm trees on the beach — Fig. 1: Palm trees on the beach: Six palm trees on the beach, somewhere on the south coast of the main island on the way to the capital, Suva. We rented a car to see the capital and go diving. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/180 s; f=38 mm; f/7.1; ISO 100; 3 August 2010 21:27:38

Beach — Fig. 2: Beach: A piece of driftwood on the beach of Fiji's main island. There are no lonely, snow-white sandy beaches here. You can find them in the Maldives. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/320 s; f=35 mm; f/8.0; ISO 100; 4 August 2010 00:44:57

Hut on the beach — Fig. 3: Hut on the beach: A bamboo hut on the beach. First we wanted to go to French Polynesia. Something like that would have cost 200 francs for one night there. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/250 s; f=32 mm; f/8.0; ISO 100; 4 August 2010 00:46:06

Three rusty ships — Fig. 4: Three rusty ships are anchored in the harbor in front of Fiji's capital Suva. I hope they don't transport highly toxic goods. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/100 s; f=120 mm; f/8.0; ISO 100; 4 August 2010 03:12:44

Ship — Fig. 5: Ship: A ship in the harbor of Fiji's capital Suva. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/160 s; f=24 mm; f/8.0; ISO 100; 4 August 2010 03:14:40

Suva — Fig. 6: Suva: Buildings in Fiji's capital Suva. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/40 s; f=24 mm; f/8.0; ISO 100; 4 August 2010 03:43:26

Canal — Fig. 7: Canal: A canal in Fiji's capital Suva. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/100 s; f=24 mm; f/5.0; ISO 100; 4 August 2010 03:51:30

Suva — Fig. 8: Suva: Pedestrian promenade along the canal in Fiji's capital Suva. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/125 s; f=50 mm; f/5.6; ISO 100; 4 August 2010 03:58:49

Bus — Fig. 9: Bus: An orange bus from "Citie Cruza" in Fiji's capital Suva. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/160 s; f=65 mm; f/7.1; ISO 200; 4 August 2010 04:08:35

Suva — Fig. 10: Suva: A street in Fiji's capital Suva. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/250 s; f=40 mm; f/8.0; ISO 200; 4 August 2010 04:13:32

Church — Fig. 11: Church: A church in Fiji's capital Suva. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/250 s; f=24 mm; f/8.0; ISO 200; 4 August 2010 04:22:50

Island — Fig. 12: Island: A reef with an island in the background. Here at the reef was our first dive in Fiji. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/250 s; f=300 mm; f/8.0; ISO 100; 8 August 2010 00:32:55

Nai'a Bow — Fig. 13: Nai'a Bow: Our ship "Nai'a" and home for two weeks on a liveaboard around Fiji, wide angle view from the bow. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/350 s; f=10.5 mm; f/10.0; ISO 100; 8 August 2010 01:03:20

Water sphere — Fig. 14: Water sphere: The earth is a round water sphere. Barely a quarter of the surface is solid land. And the thin crust on the glowing lava ball isn't that solid either. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/320 s; f=10.5 mm; f/9.0; ISO 100; 8 August 2010 01:05:29

Nai'a sun deck — Fig. 15: Nai'a sun deck: The sun deck on our liveaboard Nai'a, with which we were on a two-week dive safari in Fiji. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/400 s; f=10.5 mm; f/10.0; ISO 100; 8 August 2010 01:07:02

Nai'a anchor winch — Fig. 16: Nai'a anchor winch: The anchor winch from our liveaboard Nai'a, with which we were on a two-week dive safari in Fiji. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/320 s; f=10.5 mm; f/9.0; ISO 100; 8 August 2010 01:08:03

Nai'a dive deck — Fig. 17: Nai'a dive deck: Everything is still neat and tidy. Soon everything is full of diving gear for the next two weeks. On liveaboard in the waters of Fiji. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/10 s; f=10.5 mm; f/2.8; ISO 400; 9 August 2010 08:44:34

Nai'a Photo Room — Fig. 18: Nai'a Photo Room: Cameras and dive lights could be stored in this room. There was plenty of space for this. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/40 s; f=10.5 mm; f/3.2; ISO 400; 9 August 2010 08:45:11

Palm Island — Fig. 19: Palm Island: Short stop at one of the small neighboring islands to get more passengers (owners of the boat) on board. The weather should get even better. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/80 s; f=90 mm; f/5.6; ISO 320; 9 August 2010 21:33:20

Nai'a Zodiac — Fig. 20: Nai'a Zodiac: Loading the Zodiac with the crane. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/125 s; f=45 mm; f/5.6; ISO 200; 9 August 2010 21:36:10

Zodiac with divers — Fig. 21: Zodiac with divers: Exit of the Zodiac with divers to the next dive site. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/1000 s; f=85 mm; f/9.0; ISO 320; 10 August 2010 01:24:59

Fisherwoman — Fig. 22: Fisherwoman: A fisherwoman waves to us on her small outrigger canoe. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/1000 s; f=175 mm; f/5.0; ISO 320; 10 August 2010 03:45:22

Green Island — Fig. 23: Green Island: A small Green Island, probably at the east end of Vanua Levu, where we were looking for humpback whales. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/1000 s; f=80 mm; f/8.0; ISO 320; 10 August 2010 03:46:12

Greener island — Fig. 24: Greener island: Another green island with more meadow than forest. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/1000 s; f=80 mm; f/7.1; ISO 320; 10 August 2010 03:46:54

Bay — Fig. 25: Bay: Somewhere between islands in a bay. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/1000 s; f=80 mm; f/8.0; ISO 320; 10 August 2010 03:49:06

Cabin on the beach — Fig. 26: Cabin on the beach: Sometimes I want to go here, far away from all stress and computer problems. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/1000 s; f=250 mm; f/5.3; ISO 320; 10 August 2010 03:51:24

Seagull — Fig. 27: Seagull: A black, white-collared seagull in flight. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/1000 s; f=400 mm; f/8.0; ISO 320; 10 August 2010 03:52:46

Paparazzi — Fig. 28: Paparazzi on the beach, locals taking pictures. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/1000 s; f=400 mm; f/5.6; ISO 320; 10 August 2010 04:24:55

Palm island — Fig. 29: Palm island: The setting sun bathes a green island covered with palm trees in golden yellow light. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/200 s; f=85 mm; f/5.0; ISO 320; 10 August 2010 21:05:00

Sunbeams — Fig. 30: Sunbeams: The sun pushes its rays through low-hanging clouds. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/1000 s; f=80 mm; f/10.0; ISO 320; 10 August 2010 21:13:13

Fisherman — Fig. 31: Fisherman: A lone fisherman waves to us on his small canoe. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/1000 s; f=400 mm; f/5.6; ISO 200; 10 August 2010 22:47:55

Sailing boat — Fig. 32: Sailing boat: A tiny sailing boat struggles through the rough sea. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/1000 s; f=330 mm; f/6.3; ISO 200; 11 August 2010 00:01:32

Votuasica — Fig. 33: Votuasica: Three locals on their small motorboat. Either the woman in the middle is being kidnapped or she doesn't know that raising both arms is a distress signal and not a greeting. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/1000 s; f=400 mm; f/6.3; ISO 200; 11 August 2010 00:29:13

Bush fires — Fig. 34: Bush fires: Did someone set the fire intentionally or unintentionally? Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/640 s; f=400 mm; f/13.0; ISO 320; 11 August 2010 01:55:15

Nai'a forecastle — Fig. 35: Nai'a forecastle: In search of humpback whales. Humpback whales used to be plentiful in season around Fiji until they were heavily hunted. Either they had actually been exterminated or the whales stopped coming here and went to Tonga. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/320 s; f=10.5 mm; f/9.0; ISO 100; 11 August 2010 23:18:29

Nai'a aft deck — Fig. 36: Nai'a aft deck: The dive platform on the aft deck of the ship Nai'a. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/500 s; f=10.5 mm; f/11.0; ISO 100; 11 August 2010 23:21:11

Diving equipment — Fig. 37: Diving equipment: scuba tanks, jackets and regulators on the aft deck of the ship Nai'a in Fiji. Ready for the next dive. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/320 s; f=10.5 mm; f/9.0; ISO 100; 11 August 2010 23:21:37

Lookout — Fig. 38: Lookout: Two crew members on the lookout are on the lookout for humpback whales. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/250 s; f=120 mm; f/8.0; ISO 200; 14 August 2010 00:22:54

Zodiacs — Fig. 39: Zodiacs: The two dinghies of the ship Nai'a. One had lost the sunroof in the two weeks. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/125 s; f=24 mm; f/5.6; ISO 200; 14 August 2010 01:51:39

Nai'a — Fig. 40: Nai'a: The dive ship Nai'a, with which we were traveling for two weeks in the Fiji archipelago in the South Pacific, at anchor. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/250 s; f=24 mm; f/8.0; ISO 200; 14 August 2010 02:30:50

Tree with sun — Fig. 41: Tree with sun: Shore excursion with a short hike. Here an overgrown tree with the sun behind it. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/320 s; f=45 mm; f/9.0; ISO 200; 14 August 2010 02:45:25

Nai'a in the bay — Fig. 42: Nai'a in the bay: The liveaboard Nai'a at anchor in a bay. Hopefully it doesn't leave without us. We have already paid in advance. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/200 s; f=120 mm; f/7.1; ISO 200; 14 August 2010 02:58:53

Idyllic Bay — Fig. 43: Idyllic Bay: An idyllic bay on a South Sea island in the Fiji archipelago. Two other sailing boats are anchored here. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/180 s; f=35 mm; f/7.1; ISO 200; 14 August 2010 02:59:39

Nai'a in the bay — Fig. 44: Nai'a in the bay: The dive ship Nai'a at anchor in a bay. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/160 s; f=24 mm; f/6.3; ISO 200; 14 August 2010 03:00:29

Bathtub — Fig. 45: Bathtub: A lonely bathtub under a tree on a South Sea island in the Fiji archipelago. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/180 s; f=24 mm; f/7.1; ISO 200; 14 August 2010 03:05:15

Green Flash — Fig. 46: Green Flash: The "Green Flash" occurs at sunset, when the last bit of the sun's disk shines over the horizon. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/200 s; f=400 mm; f/7.1; ISO 200; 15 August 2010 07:54:51

Sunset — Fig. 47: Sunset at Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/751 s; f=400 mm; f/14.0; ISO 200; 15 August 2010 07:52:43

Humpback Whale — Fig. 48: Humpback Whale: A humpback whale dives in front of the ship NAI'A. It showed up so surprisingly before a dive that I still had the 105mm macro lens on the camera. Unfortunately I didn't see him snorkeling. He also had no interest in playing with us. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/640 s; f=105 mm; f/13.0; ISO 200; 16 August 2010 01:19:02

Kava Party — Fig. 49: Kava Party: Evening event on the ship Nai'a. Everyone had to dress in the traditional Fijian wrap skirt and drink kava. This is a popular drink made from crushed kava roots in the South Seas. It tastes like dishwater and has a slightly numbing effect. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/60 s; f=24 mm; f/4.0; ISO 100; 18 August 2010 10:17:54

Making Music — Fig. 50: Making Music: Evening event on the ship Nai'a. The crew with traditional South Seas music and a bowl of kava in the middle. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/60 s; f=24 mm; f/4.0; ISO 100; 18 August 2010 10:18:31

Kava — Fig. 51: Kava: A bowl of kava should not be missing at a festival in the South Seas. The drink is made from the kava root and has a slightly numbing effect, but contains no alcohol. Well, fortunately that wasn't always the case. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/60 s; f=34 mm; f/4.0; ISO 100; 18 August 2010 10:24:40

Making Music — Fig. 52: Making Music: Evening event on the ship Nai'a. The crew with traditional South Seas music. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/60 s; f=10.5 mm; f/4.0; ISO 100; 18 August 2010 10:43:02

Sunset — Fig. 53: Sunset: Atmospheric sunset in the South Pacific. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/320 s; f=50 mm; f/9.0; ISO 100; 18 August 2010 20:38:40

Residence — Fig. 54: Residence: A villa on a deserted island in Fiji. Nobody seems to be home. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/125 s; f=120 mm; f/5.6; ISO 100; 19 August 2010 02:53:11

Island with Beach — Fig. 55: Island with Beach: A small island in Fij with palm trees and a white sand beach. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/160 s; f=120 mm; f/6.3; ISO 100; 19 August 2010 02:56:52

Native People — Fig. 56: Native People: The inhabitants of a small island invite us to dinner and a small party. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/250 s; f=48 mm; f/8.0; ISO 100; 19 August 2010 07:44:49

Child — Fig. 57: Child: A local child in a traditional raffia skirt. Something tells me the kids don't always run around like that. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/60 s; f=58 mm; f/5.0; ISO 100; 19 August 2010 07:49:09

Stove — Fig. 58: Stove: A typical Fijian oven. Here in the hole under the leaves our dinner is cooking. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/60 s; f=24 mm; f/4.0; ISO 100; 19 August 2010 07:53:04

Village — Fig. 59: Village: The local village on a small island in Fiji, which we were allowed to visit. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/40 s; f=24 mm; f/3.5; ISO 100; 19 August 2010 07:55:21

House — Fig. 60: House: A Fijian wooden house on a local island at dusk. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/60 s; f=34 mm; f/7.1; ISO 800; 19 August 2010 08:23:08

Dusk — Fig. 61: Dusk: I have forgotten what is stored or cultivated in the covered vats. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/125 s; f=34 mm; f/5.6; ISO 400; 19 August 2010 08:24:58

Children — Fig. 62: Children: Local children on a flight of stairs at dusk. They love being photographed. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/60 s; f=34 mm; f/4.5; ISO 800; 19 August 2010 08:30:12

Kava Celebration — Fig. 63: Kava Celebration: A festival organized for us with music, singing and dancing. The bowl of kava should not be missing. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/60 s; f=45 mm; f/5.6; ISO 400; 19 August 2010 08:33:15

Presents — Fig. 64: Presents: Moses, a crew member of the ship Nai'a, presents gifts. A traditional kava root and the school backpacks that Sandra and I bought with school supplies and... toothbrushes and toothpaste, of course. Of course, the richest passengers from the USA brought the fewest gifts. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/60 s; f=48 mm; f/5.6; ISO 400; 19 August 2010 08:35:12

Making Kava — Fig. 65: Making Kava: Local children preparing kava. Is the drink actually suitable for minors? There is no alcohol in it, but it still has an anesthetic effect. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/60 s; f=85 mm; f/5.6; ISO 400; 19 August 2010 08:38:12

Sitting and Clapping — Fig. 66: Sitting and Clapping: A musical event presented for us. Many are performed while seated. The music of the Melanesians is very different from that of the Polynesians, which we associate most closely with the South Seas. Both are also very different ethnic groups. The Polynesians are originally from the Philippines and the Melanesians from Australia and Papua New Guinea. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/60 s; f=24 mm; f/5.6; ISO 400; 19 August 2010 08:54:48

Dancing Boy — Fig. 67: Dancing Boy: A native dancing boy with a crown of leaves and a raffia skirt in one of the Fiji Islands with locals, which we visited at the end of our liveaboard. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/60 s; f=70 mm; f/5.6; ISO 400; 19 August 2010 09:06:04

Seated Women — Fig. 68: Seated Women: Local women cross-legged with rhythmic movements to the music. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/60 s; f=35 mm; f/5.6; ISO 400; 19 August 2010 09:10:02

Dance — Fig. 69: Dance: A traditional Fijian dance with symbolic weapons. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/60 s; f=24 mm; f/5.6; ISO 400; 19 August 2010 09:13:08

Girl with chewing gum — Fig. 70: Girl with chewing gum: The little girl enjoys her chewing gum more than the music. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/60 s; f=102 mm; f/5.6; ISO 400; 19 August 2010 09:17:46

Good Bye! — Fig. 71: Good Bye!: The locals say goodbye to us and thank us for the gifts we brought with us. Thank you for the hospitality and the unique experience. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/60 s; f=24 mm; f/5.6; ISO 400; 19 August 2010 09:36:27

Donation — Fig. 72: Donation: A donation from us for the village will be gratefully accepted. Fiji Islands. Nikon D200; Δt=1/60 s; f=24 mm; f/5.6; ISO 400; 19 August 2010 09:39:53