You really want to check this one out, lots of amazing shots.
As we were getting out things moved to the lobby of the hotel a local government (I think) group was gathering at the hotel, all in ties and dress sulu but it had a strangely 'Godfather' feel to it.
Ginger... defiantly Ginger.
The driver from Octopus picked us up a half an hour late and took us to their offices. We didn't have time to fill out paperwork because of the time...this would come back to haunt us later. He then drove us to the harbor outside of the city where we boarded a 20ish foot open boat for the ride out to Waya.
Our first view or Octopus.
The ride was fun, we passed a modernish square rigger and a few smaller islands. Everyone got a bit wet but it was a beautiful day and our luggage was piled in the center of the boat and stayed relatively dry.
Todd and Rae in the hammock outside our bury.
We arrived at the island and transferred to a longboat to get ashore. A small string band welcomed us and we were given fruit juice and had a short orientation.
Todd's impression of a Navy SEAL intimidated the locals.
To say the resort was beautiful would be an injustice. It was the perfect tropical resort, adventurous and rustic and at the same time comfortable and luxurious. And it's where they keep all the pretty tourists!
People in SCUBA gear look silly...they just do.
For lunch there were half a dozen choices from burgers to raw fish stew... I avoided the stew the first day but discovered later that it is one of the best foods EVER! We ate and relaxed a bit, but not for long. We discovered that the learn to dive course was only offered every other day so we had to do it at 2pm or miss it. I talked to the dive master and he let me sit in on the class and take pictures.
We all felt great after the dive though.
After their video and lecture (the power went out half way through and the dive master had to cover the second half with flash cards) Todd, Meadow, Chris and Rae were suited up and hit the pool for their practice exercises. They had a blast though Rae had trouble with her ears and elected not to do the open water portion. Meadow particularly took to it like a fish to...well...
Did I mention that Waya is kind of beautiful.
For the open water dive they took us to a near by reef called 'the three sisters' the dive was to 12 meters (36ft, the gauges were metric which threw me). The island had been hit by three cyclones in January and the reef was pretty beat up. But the new coral growth looked healthy. Compared to some of the dives I remember this one was pretty drab but it was a good introduction for everyone.
Ok, more than a little.
We got back and rinsed off in the pool and relaxed for a couple of hours. Due to the dorm being full we ended up splitting a three person bury and a two person bungalow. They were beautiful, I'll let the photos speak for themselves.
Kava...it still tastes like muddy water... the ceremony was nice though.
Before dinner we had a welcome ceremony and Kava. It was much milder than what we were given in nandi. We watched the stars come out on the beach and turned in early. Oddly given the young crowd there wasn't much of a night life, everyone is exausted by the end of the day.
LINKS
Octopus Resort
Nifty interactive map of Waya
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