Dive Review of
Fiji Aggressor II in
Fiji and Tuvalu

Bahamas, Bay Islands, Belize, Cozumel, Tortola, Sea of Cortez,
Australia(Great Barrier Reef & Coral Sea)

Dive Conditions

No deco diving; return to the boat with 500 psi  

[None]  

Overall Rating

     The water temperature was an unremitting 75 degrees.  Wearing 5/3
fullsuits and 5mm hoods, we envied fellow divers who also had vests and
core warmers.  So why did we, who are both complete wimps about beng cold,
do all twenty-five dives the boat offered?  Because Fiji offered the best
diving we have done in our five years of diving.  The reef structures were
healthy and inhabited by a wealth of marine life.  We swam trough an
extravaganza of soft coral punctuated by numerous anemones, healthy hard
corals, large gorgonians, and numerous crinoids.  Last year, diving for a
week in Australia, we were delighted to see three lionfish and a single
clown triggerfish.  In Fiji we saw literally dozens of common lionfish (two
dozen at Manta Rock alone), about a dozen spotfin lionfish, and one rather
uncommon twinspot lionfish.  Clown triggers showed up on about half of our
dives.  We saw nudis galore, including one huge pleurobranch.  Over a half
dozen varieties of shrimps and crabs were sighted.  We saw several
free-swimming feather stars.  There were clouds of anthias, butterflyfish
of every persuasion, filefish, dartfish, leaf scorpionfish, a couple of
Papuan scorpionfish, and much, much more.  Four hawksbill turtles showed
up, and there was often a black- or whitetipped reef shark in the
background. We actually learned to recognize several different varieties of
anemonefish. Blue ribbon eels were less skittish than expected.  While the
diving was excellent and the visibilty usually very good, we did work hard
for our soft corals.  There were currents and surge, sometimes fairly
strong, on most dives.  The beauty and richness of sites like Jim's Alley,
Kansas, Keenan's, and the Ningali Wall were well worth the effort. 
     And now about the boat.  We have made ten liveaboard trips on seven
different boats.  The Fiji Aggressor was, quite simply, the best.The cabins
were clean and comfortable with more storage than we've had on other
boats(and we were in a basic cabin). Each cabin has an individual
thermostat. The dive deck was well arranged, and Ulai kept our tanks filled
promptly to 3000 psi+. The salon and dining area were very comfortable. The
Fiji Aggressor carries a full complement of safety equipment and boasts a
good library of marine ID books.  The food was delicious and apparently
endless in quantity.  We were always offered seconds.  The day began with 
a continental breakfast before the first dive.  Next came the real
breakfast, cooked to order for each diver. Lunches were hot and different
each day.  Between the two afternoon dives, fresh baked goodies like
brownies or banana bread were served.  Dinner was always three courses,
beginning with homemade soup and ending with fresh-baked desserts. 
Desserts were always accompanied by ice cream.  I thought homemade
cheesecake a la mode was a bit over the top, but I ate every bite.  Entrees
at dinner included the best rack of lamb we have ever eaten, steak, fresh
fish, and curry.  Chef Luke even baked fresh bread.  The crew was
outstanding and all were divers.  Captain Ned was personable and friendly. 
He promised us that at the end of the week our minds would be reeling with
all the creatures we had seem.  He spole the truth.  The boat moved to a
different site for almost every dive.  DM's Scott and Mosese gave thorough
briefings.  Both were excellent divemasters.  Scott especially was very
generous in pointing critters out to us. The Fiji Aggressor carries only
ten divers, so dive sites were uncrowded.  Most dives were done from the
back of the boat.  There was one dinghy out and dinghy back dive and three
others on which we rode the dinghy out to the site, then swam back to the
boat.
     For our group, the village visit on Gau Island was a high point of the
week.  The Fijians were very hospitiable.  The beauty of their singing
moved me almost to tears.  But few guys wanted to give up beer for kava.
     This report is far too long, but we are, three weeks after the fact,
still feeling very privileged to have been diving in Fiji.      

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