NaiaLautoka

NAI'A is a luxury liveaboard vessel operating first class diving adventures throughout the alluring Fiji & Tonga Islands. Dive the Fiji Islands' finest coral reefs and fish-filled channels or swim alongside humpback whales in Tonga. From manta rays to mantis shrimp, dolphins to dartfish, sharks to vibrant soft corals, the beautiful NAI'A vessel will take you to some of the South Pacific's ultimate dive sites.

Experience pristine South Pacific coral reefs at their most colourful and lavish. Enjoy famous Fijian culture and charm on the vacation you've always dreamed of!

Fiji's coral reef system is a complex web of barrier reefs surrounding large lagoons and islands. Coral growth and fish action are most robust on those outer barrier reefs. Marine life is especially concentrated within the reef passages and channels that link the lagoons with the deep ocean. It is this type of underwater topography and the current activity that make Fiji one of the soft coral capitals of the world and yet also provide excellent drift diving opportunities with some stunning wall dives and pelagic action. Central Fiji offers some the best diving around these islands, and the area known as the "Nai'a Triangle" of Lomaiviti, Bligh Water and Namena is the focus for regular itineraries, covering about 500 nautical miles. These barrier reefs are remote, vast and a long way from shore bases, so only the best-equipped live-aboard diving vessels can access these locations.

In the past, Nai'a has found beautiful sites and dramatic attractions throughout every region and they continually explore for new sites and locations. However, the central region has proved the most consistent in the quality and health of terrains, animals and conditions. Lomaiviti's coral reefs and islands are Fiji's most dynamic and varied: voracious sharks to vibrant soft corals. Much of the area remains uncharted and the dive sites untouched. All this makes NAI'A dive sites in the Nai'a Triangle of Lomaiviti, Namena and Bligh Water largely exclusive. You are extremely unlikely to encounter another dive boat during a Nai'a trip - it will feel like your own private pristine Fiji.

Each year Tonga plays host to the migration of the awesome Humpback Whale. These creatures migrate annually from their feeding grounds in Antarctica, along the New Zealand coast, to the Kingdom of Tonga where they stay to court, mate and calve between June and October, with late July through September being the peak season for whale watching in Tonga.

Hunted until 1979 for their oil, meat and bone, scientists now pursue humpbacks for knowledge while travelers seek them for the thrill of their lives. Nai'a journeys every year to the exotic Kingdom of Tonga to bring guests the close whale encounters of a lifetime. Join marine naturalists and filmmakers such as Rob Barrel and Cat Holloway, aboard Nai'a and among Tonga's curious and captivating tribe of humpback whales. Swim and dive with the planet's most mysterious and magical marine giants among remote and pristine coral atolls and reefs.

Nai'a has set new standards of liveaboard diving luxury in every way, especially in comfort and service. Designed by renowned marine architect, W. de Vries Lentsch, and built by skilled Dutch craftsmen, Nai'a was completely refitted in 2000 with the latest technology and facilities specific to the needs discerning dive travelers. Nai'a's sophisticated sailing rig affords her the range, comfort and stability of a true expeditionary vessel. Her large, diver-savvy Fijian crew is world-famous for their dedicated service, kava-inspired music and can-do attitude that makes for great flexibility as well as a great time!

The main saloon above deck is perhaps Nai'a's most eye-catching feature, with the golden grains of native Fijian hardwoods whilst serious divers will appreciate the thoughtful lay-out of her roomy dive deck, complete with a dedicated dry camera and video room to suit the most discriminating photographers. Delicious and beautifully prepared meals of locally grown produce and meats and fresh fish await the hungry diver with a widely varied parade of delights served from the galley of the chefs, Manasa and Waisake. Truly the core of the Nai'a family is her Fijian crew, ten of the friendliest and most able sailors anywhere!

This extremely spacious ship provides space for a maximum of 18 guests with all the creature comforts of a quality land-based resort. All twin/double staterooms have private facilities and can be configured to suit your needs:

Nai'a offers Enriched Air (EAN) to divers who are certified and fit to use Nitrox by any reputable training agency such as TDI, ANDI, PADI or NAUI. In addition to the standard 32% (NNI) mix, the Nai'a system and its operators are also capable of providing specific mixes between 21%-100% by special request for recreational or rebreather diving. Nitrox (EAN) certification courses are also available on board. Full dive equipment hire is available on board.

Photo/Video services: The Nai'a is an excellent for underwater photographers and videographers of all levels, and offers a full range of equipment hire for those who need it. Items available include digital camera & video, strobes, lenses, CD Roms, video lights and digital tape.

Naia's normal 7 & 10 day itinerary starts and ends in Lautoka, just north of Nadi, where the international airport is located. After an initial "checkout" dive on the afternoon of boarding, NAI'A heads north and east around the flank of the main island of Viti Levu to reach Bligh Water. Several different dive sites in Bligh Water are available, including E6, Mt. Mutiny, Cat's Meow and Ravai's Wives, depending on localized weather conditions. From there they choose the sites according to weather, tides, and passengers' inclinations and generally they visit the islands and barrier reefs of Namena, Wakaya, and Gau. On 10 night charters, more time is available to dive the various reefs in the Koro Sea, some of them near Namena and others near nowhere! Detailed local knowledge is critical in order to maximize the number of good dives in the best spots. For this reason Nai'a doesn't offer a fixed itinerary, instead they tailor each voyage to the prevailing tides and weather conditions.

The excursions start in Tonga's capital "city" of Nuku'alofa and extend north into the untrammeled coral atoll wilderness of the Ha'apai Group, where the greatest number of humpback whale pods are found - but almost no other boats, except the fishing canoes of villagers.

Sailing throughout this maze of islands and reefs, the location and activity of the whales largely determines the precise course of each new day. These are wild animals and this is no zoo. However, the Nai'a crews experience has proven the mornings to be the best time for whale spotting and swimming encounters. Later in the afternoon Nai'a finds a safe evening anchorage near a dive site. They always plan to do at least one and sometimes more dives each day. In the past, they have had great luck scuba diving with whales! Night dives are also a spectacular option on coral reefs.

Water temperature in Tonga during winter are between 24-26C (75-77F). Visibility on most dives sites is 30-40m (100-150ft) and can reach up to 60 meters (200 ft)! Air temperature ranges from 21C-30C (low 70s to 85F).

Nai'a is truely one of the world's best dive boats with an excellent service. Divers who visit Fiji should, if possible, plan a cruise with Nai'a and combine it with staying in one of Fiji's beautiful resorts.