We dove below the surface of the ocean and wandered through gorgeous gardens.
Media – Round 9
Turtles, Mud, and Orchids (3/16/23) – Photos
Turtles, Mud, and Orchids (3/16/23) – Video
3/16/23 @ 9:30pm – Yatule Resort and Spa, Fiji
All trip photo albums
Trip video playlist
Mr. Seamon-Ingalls:
Getting up before 5am is tough, but the diving makes it worth it! The dive crew of me+9 kids were on the road in our bus at 5:30am, heading south east around the island to Pacific Harbour. We chatted for a bit and then enjoyed watching the sun rise before falling back to sleep as the bus cruised along. About two hours later we made it to Coral Coast Divers and unloaded into the bright, sunny day!
The crew at Coral Coast was super friendly and we got all of our paperwork and gear sorted out easily. The shop is located right on an inlet, so we were able to get on the boat right there and head out to our dive site. It only took about 5 minutes to get to the reef’s location and after the boat was stopped we got an overview of procedures and the plan for the dive. We all pulled on our wet suites, got on our masks, BCDs, fins… and we were off!
Our first dive was exhilarating! The kids did a GREAT job with their skills, leaning into exploring a literal whole new world! We saw lots of fish, coral, and most notably, a turtle! Our three dive masters were excellent and we felt really cared for. One was always leading, one was always following, and a third was available to help divers on on one. We did an out and back at the reef and after about 38 minutes in the water we got back on the boat, full of energy and the need to share our experience verbally. It’s so fun to talk about a dive right after a dive.
We went back to the shop where new tanks were loaded. We had about 20 minutes to relax before we got back on the boat and headed back to the same reef, but this time our dive went in the other direction. The kids were even smoother on this dive which took us along the reef. We saw lots of fish, the kids explored the sea floor, and a few even tried backwards loops! Back on the boat the kids expressed feeling much more comfortable on the second dive!
We then went back to the dive shop, took off all our geared, washed it in buckets, showered a bit, and then warmed up in the hot sun. The kids got to chat with the shop owner before lunch was served — He told them all about some of the more exotic sea life and the ebb and flow of the health of the reef. We were then served a very tasty lunch. By 1pm we were back on the bus heading back to Yatule.
Most of us slept on the ride back and only a couple minutes after we arrived at Yatule, the other group arrived as well. They went in straight to lunch and the dive group went off to rest. I got to hear all about the non-divers’ day (More on that later from Mrs. Seamon-Ingalls!) while getting in some cuddles from Wilson.
Over the next several hours the kids had time to rest, and like me, some of them took the opportunity to swim in the perfectly warm ocean. We had another very filling dinner and I told the kids the plan for the night and tomorrow. Tomorrow we get some boat, waterfall, and inland village time!
What a full day!
Mrs. Seamon-Ingalls:
The 10 students who were not diving embarked on a cultural tour of Nadi with Mr. & Mrs. Mish and Mrs. Seamon-Ingalls. Nadi is one of Viti Levu, Fiji’s main cities. We began at the Sri Siva Subramaniya Swami Temple, a Hindu temple in Nadi. The students wandered around the peaceful, intricately decorated temple, learning about the history of the Indian people coming to Fiji by way of indentured servitude to their common British colonizers. After serving their time, many Hindu chose to stay in Fiji and build a new life there. The temple itself is a riot of color and highly detailed design, reminiscent of similar temples in India. The students loved it and were wishing more pictures were allowed inside the temple!
We then made our way to Veiseisei village, a traditional Fijian village by the coast. In contrast to the village we visited yesterday, which was home to 200 people, this village is home to about 1000 people! It is the oldest settlement in Fiji and former Fijian President Iloilo came from this village. Not only was Veiseisei larger than yesterday’s village, it was more modern, had more amenities, and souvenir tables. We enjoyed a brief tour of the village, had fun beating a traditional Fijian drum, and then the students had time to purchase a few trinkets to bring home.
Our third stop was at Garden of the Sleeping Giant. The Sleeping Giant is a formation of mountains that look like a massive sleeping giant. The garden at the foot of the mountains was established by the late American actor, Raymond Burr, and was his private collection. Now open to the public, the garden is home to 30 varieties of Asian orchids and Cattleya hybrids and is absolutely breathtaking. It is a tropical waterfall of color and lush beauty. We had a tour through the garden and then had free time to wander and enjoy its beauty. We topped of this tropical tour sipping some fresh, cold fruit juice before heading to our final destination of the day.
We wrapped up our time in Nadi at the Thermal Pool, Mud Bath and Massage at Tifajet, a family-owned natural spring! The students and Mrs. Mish went for the full experience, coating their skin in a mud bath, rich in healing minerals. They were quite a sight and posed for photos looking a bit like swamp statues! Once the mud was dry, it was time to wash off in a series of pools, first cold and muddy, then warmer for a final scrub, and lastly, a natural thermal spring hot tub to soothe the skin. Several students opted in for a 30 minute massage to complete their treatment.
The students commented several times that this new and novel experience was fun, wild and unexpected! And after such a long morning and afternoon in the tropical heat, everyone was happy to get on the bus back to the resort for refreshments and a quiet evening!