Here we are in Fiji already settling into the Raven routine. Raven was waiting for us in Vudu Point Marina. It’s a great so-called hurricane hole, protected from any heavy wave action stirred up by a storm. But the marina is circular, with all the yachts tied to the shore bow in. There are no nice docks to access the aft deck for boarding. Instead we had to tightrope our way aboard! A bit of a challenge, to say the least!

This trip Michelle came with us for a week of tropical cruising. Our plane arrived at about three in the morning in the pitch black, but Rod had arranged for a taxi driver to meet us, complete with a Raven placard, to collect us with all our baggage. Mike and I had four suitcases weighing about 200 pounds total (not counting our four additional carry-on bags!). There was nothing in the suitcases that you could consider normal everyday packing. Instead they contained items like a marine torch, replacement reading lights to install on the boat, bottles of fiberglass polish, an underwater housing for video camera, DVDs, and all kinds of other stuff all intended for Raven. By the time we were aboard it was like Christmas in October as we emptied the suitcases of all the goodies. Almost fogot – the favorite item was a little Krups cappuccino maker (just like yours – Steve and Linda) which has been a big hit!

Not wasting any time, as soon as the light was good we got underway, pulling out of the marina and heading northwest to the Yasawa Group islands. It was about 35 miles of motoring and we arrived mid afternoon. Our goal was to swim with manta rays that hang out in an underwater pass (Drawaqa Pass) next to the island Naviti. Since Michelle was looking slightly bored after her 12 hour plane flight and 4 hour boat trip, Rod and Anouk got out the surfboard and gave her a lesson in skurfing.

Skurfing was followed by a snorkeling reconnaissance trip in the dinghy to try to locate the manta rays. We succeeded and got a great view of two huge mantas with wingspreads probably 9-10 feet across. They feed on plankton in the pass during high tide when the current flows through the pass and makes it easy for them to open their mouths and scoop in breakfast and dinner. I had my camcorder in its underwater housing ready to go, and got a few minutes of footage of them which turned out well.