Naia

Boat

NAI’A is a 36.5 meters long, 9 meters wide steel dive yacht. Designed and built in Holland by the world’s finest steel ship craftsmen, it was launched in 1993 and completely refit in 2010 with the latest technology and generous use of space. Onboard equipped with US (110V) and Australian (220V) Standard electrical outlets.

NAI’A has the range and stability to sail the far reaches of the Pacific and has travelled from her base in Fiji to Vanuatu and New Caledonia, Tonga, Samoa, Tuvalu, Funafuti and the Phoenix Islands in Kiribati.

The main deck has a beautiful air conditioned lounge with a TV/DVD and an assortment of books, magazines, games and puzzles. The upper deck partially is shaded and has chaise longues and chairs.

The dive deck is spacious and well equipped with personal gear boxes and an in-place fill station. Adjacent to the dive deck is a camera room with electrical sockets. The dive platform has hot freshwater showers and easy access to the tender boat where the dive gear is loaded by the crew.

NAI’A uses two 6.8 meters rigid inflatables designed for the lobster grounds at the bottom of the South Island of New Zealand.

Cabin

NAI’A has 9 air-conditioned staterooms, can accommodate up to 18 guests per trip.

All staterooms with private ensuite heads, A/C, plenty of stowage area, 110v and 220v power, shampoo, cream rinse, shower gel and body lotion.

2 Double Staterooms :
Lcated on the lower deck, each cabin comes with a Kingsize bed, porthole.

3 Twin Staterooms :
Lcated on the lower deck, each cabin comes with two single beds, can be convertible into a Kingsize bed if needed, porthole.

2 Double Staterooms :
Lcated on the lower deck, each cabin comes with a Kingsize bed and an additional single bunk bed, porthole.

2 Twin Staterooms :
Lcated on the lower deck, each cabin comes with two single bunk beds, porthole.

Diving

• 3 dives per day + alternating additional sunset/night dives.
• 1 Check dive will be provided on the embarkation day.
• Only 1 - 2 dives will be provided on the last diving day.
• All diving will provide experienced guide to lead the dive.

Other information

• Nitrox：Available with additional charge
• 15L Tanks：Available with additional charge
• REBREATHER Dive：Available with additional charge
• Dive Equipment Rental：Available with additional charge
• Dive insurance：Divers must have valid dive insurance
• Wi-Fi Internet ：Available with additional charge
• Laundry Service：Not available at the moment
• Massage Service：Not available at the moment
• Payment on board：Cash(USD/FJD), credit cards
• Crew Number：14, include 2 dive guides

FIJI SCUBA DIVING EXPEDITIONS

The NAI’A itinerary appeals to both experienced and beginning divers. Until NAI’A opened up flourishing new areas, few people had ever experienced the untamed diving Fiji has to offer. Rob and the NAI'A crew have explored all corners of the country diving on nearly every promising reef or passage. The standard itinerary encompasses the absolute pick of that crop. And the daily schedule is carefully designed to provide maximum quality time underwater.

On many boats a "seven-day" charter includes seven nights but only five full dive days plus one dive on the sixth day (and you are asked to go ashore for dinner on the final night). By contrast, a NAI’A seven-day charter has seven nights and six full dive days plus a dive on the first afternoon aboard. Our 10-day trips schedule nine dive days plus the first afternoon dive. A much more accurate assessment of the value of a trip is to consider the cost per dive day.

The best dive sites are the Fijian islands and barrier reefs near Vatu-i-ra in Bligh Water and Namena, Wakaya, and Gau in the Koro Sea. On 10-day charters we have more time available to dive other reefs in the Koro Sea, some of them near Namena and others near nowhere!

White-tips and grey reef sharks are pretty much everywhere and our most reliable sites for hammerheads are the offshore seamounts of Mt. Mutiny and E-6, as well as the Namena Marine Reserve and Wakaya. When Howard Hall and his crew were diving deep to make the IMAX film *Coral Reef Adventure*, they often encountered giant schools of scalloped hammerheads, but they were below 275ft! We regularly see the singletons or small schools that come up to have a look at the funny things blowing bubbles up shallow. NAI’A divers often encounter resident manta rays feeding in the outgoing current or getting cleaned at offshore cleaning stations or, like this one, coming by to say hi! Barracuda schools circle the deepwater seamounts are always keen to check out a diver.

Day 0 :
Guests should fly into Nadi Airport (NAN) one day before the cruise. Before departing the airport, please change some money at the bank in the international terminal.

Day 1:
Your cruise aboard NAI’A begins at the Lautoka Wharf at 2:00 pm on Saturday. The crew will provide transport from Nadi-area hotels and the airport at about 1:00pm. Once onboard you will receive an orientation while your luggage is taken to your stateroom. Divers will set up their gear right away in preparation for a checkout dive the first afternoon. After setting up your dive gear, light snacks will be served as we make our way to the dive site.

Day 2 - Day 7 / Day 9:
NAI’A’s precise itinerary is weather dependent, however the first location will provide ideal checkout dive conditions – close to Lautoka, relatively shallow and calm. Diving in Fiji can be challenging due to strong currents and deep drop-offs. If you have not been diving in a while or have difficulty maintaining good neutral buoyancy, we suggest taking a refresher course before your trip. You will enjoy the diving more, take better pictures and, of course, avoid damaging Fiji’s precious coral reefs.

There are no handicrafts for sale in the villages we visit, but you may find time to go to the market before or after your trip. For purchases of anything on land, the currency used in Fiji is the Fiji dollar. This may be exchanged at the airport and in towns, plus withdrawn from ATMs. Please note that handicrafts merchants, taxi drivers, etc. do not accept credit cards. Check xe.com for the most up to date exchange rate.

Day 8 / Day 10:
On the day the charter ends, continental breakfast will be available before we bid you farewell at 8am. Air-conditioned vehicles will transfer you to your hotel in Nadi hotels or to the airport.

EMBARKATION & DISEMBARKATION

Your cruise aboard NAI’A begins at the Lautoka Wharf at 2:00 pm on Saturday. We will provide transport from Nadi-area hotels at about 1:00pm. If you plan to arrive in Fiji one or more days prior to the charter, you should book Friday night in a Nadi hotel or arrive at the Nadi airport from the outer islands the day before your charter starts. If you arrive in Fiji on Saturday morning, you will probably want to book a day room in Nadi in which to rest until pick-up time at about 1:00pm. Please make sure to notify our office of your pick-up location well in advance.

On the day the charter ends, continental breakfast will be available before we bid you farewell at 8am. Air-conditioned vehicles will transfer you to your hotel in Nadi or to the airport. If your flight home departs in the evening, we recommend you book a day room where you can store your luggage while you tour for the day and relax and shower before the flight.