ALCYONE  cross again the  Bligh waters; this time we  reach the Yasawas and the touristic zone; The good reasons for the success of these islands: Dry weather, water clarity, easy acces from Nadi airport...  2 unpleasant surprises on this short passage are waiting for us n not because of the wind:

First above the water onboard in The very delicate passage out of the reef (16 58 '525S -178 34'048E) wich convince me to use the easier Yadua passage next time...The coral was not far at all. despite Helena n Jim watching iyhe bottom n the front. The biggest danger comes from the uneven clarity of the water...the most dangerous of all situations...as you believe it's ok and it's not !

Second surprise is underwater, as with just a few remaining days with Jim on board we decide to find a spot for spearfishing; the dying trade wind give us the time to anchor on the leeside of a isolated reef south of round island:16 51' 994S - 177 41 074E.

Imediatly we are in the water to reach an attractive spot: A kind of  natural swimming pool inside the reef formation: 2-3 m of water, with bright sand bottom n a super visibility...when a huge size shark come from the back on our right, slowling patroling along the side of the shallow pool...like us. This shark had nothing to do with the usual reef sharks (white and black tips or even grey shark wich bother us when we spearfish), with the pectoral fins much more oriented to the bottom and this enormous size , bigger than all creatures we saw in the water up to now; no doubt: its a tiger shark...

We stopped; the monster continue at the same speed n slowly disappeared as if had no interest to us. But this end immediatly our spearfishing party; the boat is quite far to reach n it's give us the time to decide that the dinght must be with us  when we go spearfishing so far from the cat.

A very dangerous passage through the south est reef of Vanua Balevu...safer to use Yadua pass

Yasawa big "Bula"... today was a very good day as with calm sea, they could go very far to catch fishes...

...with special offer,  but no miracle: just below resort buying price...to pay expensive gas.

Sawa i Lau famous coral formations: when sun play with sand and water.

custom...

...or prepared cocktail in a cruiser's friendly resort ?

Cruising evolution..Fijian fine hospitaliy in Nanuya resort,  who miss it in the blue lagoon ?