Our boat glided through the warm turquoise seas that encompass Fiji's paradisiacal Mamanuca and Yasawa archipelagos. It's a coastal landscape freckled with idyllic islands where green palm trees give awning to the tranquil ocean lapping gently upon sandy beaches.
This two-hour voyage with South Sea Cruises was to reach the spectacular Kuata Island, where I was to engage in an up-close snorkeling encounter with sharks. Little did I know, this journey would help me to discover a new style of underwater diving as well.
Our group converged at a meeting point overlooking the scenic bluffs of Barefoot Kuata Island. This modest resort is perched atop a panoramic cay that affords dazzling views of the southernmost Yasawas.
Meanwhile, it's the coral reefs encircling these tropical islands that make Fiji one of the most sought-after destinations for snorkeling and scuba diving in the South Pacific.
We joined our local guides at the resort for a short briefing before a motorboat transported us to the snorkeling site they had chosen. Having lived near the ocean their entire lives, they understood the tides and knew where the marine life would be most abundant.
Just as they'd anticipated, the reef was teaming with Whitetip Reef Sharks (Triaenodon obesus) and Blacktip Reef Sharks (Carcharhinus melanopterus). These curious creatures are not dangerous to humans. They can vary in length up to five feet and are endemic to the temperate waters of Oceania.
To make our shark encounter even more memorable, our guides offered to bring our waterproof cameras to the ocean floor. We watched from the surface as they held their breath for 5-10 minutes at a time, diving to depths of 15-20 feet.
Almost as impressive as the sharks was the ability of our guides to swim among them. Their lung capacity and aquatic aptitude was profound. One guide used my GoPro to capture amazing video as he swam side-by-side with the sharks, detouring only to explore the reef's undersea caverns.
"Fijians are good in the water," explains Hyden Chen, Sales Executive and Dive Instructor for The Barefoot Collection and Crystal Blue Safari, "Most of them live on the small island surrounded by the ocean; the sea is their swimming pool!"
The Fijian word for diving is nanu, but in terms of scuba, our guides had practiced a skill better known as freediving. Many dive instructors in the Yasawa Islands take a freediving course to master advanced techniques for duck-diving, finning, streamlining, and equalization.
"You can learn this under the careful watch and instruction of a qualified instructor," advises Lauren Mossop, Sales Manager for The Barefoot Collection, "However, you must never practice the art of freediving unless you are a certified freediver."
"We are excited to teach you more about freediving," adds Hyden, who encourages those who are interested in freediving to pursue their certification in Fiji, "and open up a brand new underwater world!"
As a lifelong fan of mermaids, the concept of free diving is one of intrigue that may be well worth pursuing. In the meantime, I was fortunate to return from the Yasawa Islands with some incredible footage. I used it to create a Fiji music video, what a fantastic way to remember my shark encounter!
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