Fiji Exploration
October/November 2024 - Field Notes
Expedition Overview
Trip One - Bligh Waters: October 19-29, 2024 (10 nights)
Trip Two - Lau Group Exploration: October 29 - November 9, 2024 (11 nights)
Route: Round trip from Nadi
Vessel: MV Nai'a
Leaders: Dr. Richard Smith & Wendy Brown
Itinerary Highlights
Our back-to-back Fiji expeditions explored two distinct regions aboard the nation's most iconic liveaboard. The first expedition focused on the world-famous Bligh Waters between Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, while the second ventured east to the rarely visited Lau Group's 57 remote islets.
Key Destinations:
Trip One: Central islands and legendary Bligh Waters
Trip Two: Off-the-beaten-path Lau Group exploration
Remote dive sites rarely accessed by other operators
Endemic Species Focus
Both expeditions prioritized hunting for Fiji's unique endemic fishes. Richard's marine conservation background in Fiji and Wendy's personal connection to the islands (having learned to dive there as a teenager) brought deep local knowledge to the species searches.
The Nai'a Experience
Our floating base was the legendary 120-foot steel expedition vessel, designed and built in Holland for long-range Pacific exploration. With 9 air-conditioned staterooms accommodating 13 passengers on each of our trips and 14 crew, Nai'a provided the perfect platform for reaching Fiji's most remote dive sites.
Vessel Features:
Spacious staterooms rebuilt in 2010 with ample gear storage
Solid construction for stability in open Pacific waters
Range and capability for far-reaching expedition diving
Experienced crew with unparalleled regional knowledge
Images from these sold-out expeditions showcase Fiji's stunning soft coral reefs, endemic species encounters, and the pristine conditions found in both the famous Bligh Waters and the remote Lau Group islands.
Exciting sightings
Many Fijian and regional endemic species:
Marjorie’s Fairy Wrasse (Chirrhilabrus marjorie)
Red-tailed flasher wrasse (Paracheilinus rubricaudalis)
Bundoon fangblenny (Meiacanthus bundoon)
Fiji clown coralblenny (Ecsenius fijiensis)
Fiji sponge goby (Bryaninops dianneae)
Ear-spot pygmy goby (Eviota smaragdus)
Canary fangblenny (Meiacanthus oualanensis)
Coral damselfish (Pomacentrus maafu)
Carlson’s Damselfish (Neoglyphidodon carlsoni)
Blue velvet angelfish (Centropyge deborae) - described in 2012.
Range Extensions
Coleman’s Pygmy Seahorse (Hippocampus colemani) - This was a real highlight for Richard as Coleman’s was the last of the eight species of pygmy seahorses that he was yet to see. This sighting however offered an enormous 2,000 miles range extension eastwards from the species’ previous records in Lord Howe Island, the Great Barrier Reef and Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea.
Thread Pipefish (Kyonemicthys rumengani) - Richard had been sent an image of this species from Fiji many years ago, but he found a pair during the trip, so was very interested to add another confirmed record for this species in Fiji. The record was posted on iNaturalist.
