🇫🇯️ Lautoka, Vuda marina and Astrolabe reef

After a stop in Lautoka at anchor again at Vuda point outside Vuda marina. Back after a year in this familiar place. I help Patti to bring her and her luggage ashore and onward to her boat on land. Everywhere I go people recognize me and that feels very welcoming, like home. Thank you Vuda staff!

🇫🇯️ Lautoka, Vuda marina and Astrolabe reef images/2025/ast/20.jpg — then on to Vuda marina to bring Patti back and of course many sailors also recognise me from last year

From Vuda point it is motoring along the south coast of Viti Levu to Astrolabe reef, can only sail the last bit

🇫🇯️ Lautoka, Vuda marina and Astrolabe reef images/2025/ast/van.jpg — at anchor near Vuro island Astrolabe reef

🇫🇯️ Lautoka, Vuda marina and Astrolabe reef images/2025/ast/v1.jpg — now thats what I call a dream island

Mantas in the shallow water at the north side of the island

🇫🇯️ Lautoka, Vuda marina and Astrolabe reef images/2025/ast/m1.jpg — look at those amazing creatures

🇫🇯️ Lautoka, Vuda marina and Astrolabe reef images/2025/ast/m2.jpg — their wingspan is around 2 meters

🇫🇯️ Lautoka, Vuda marina and Astrolabe reef images/2025/ast/m3.jpg

🇫🇯️ Lautoka, Vuda marina and Astrolabe reef images/2025/ast/ban.jpg — Yasmin makes delicious banana bread

🇫🇯️ Lautoka, Vuda marina and Astrolabe reef images/2025/ast/27.jpg — that diving suit fits like a glove

🇫🇯️ Lautoka, Vuda marina and Astrolabe reef images/2025/ast/1.jpg — Yasmine does a PADI Open Water dive course at Oneta resort on the east side of Ono island, Astrolabe reef

🇫🇯️ Lautoka, Vuda marina and Astrolabe reef images/2025/ast/kav1.jpg — then on to Kavala bay on the north of Kadavu island

🇫🇯️ Lautoka, Vuda marina and Astrolabe reef images/2025/ast/kav2.jpg — pretty rainbows every day here

🇫🇯️ Lautoka, Vuda marina and Astrolabe reef images/2025/ast/w1.jpg — a local brings us to a hidden waterfall and we have a swim

🇫🇯️ Lautoka, Vuda marina and Astrolabe reef images/2025/ast/w2.jpg

🇫🇯️ Lautoka, Vuda marina and Astrolabe reef images/2025/ast/kavwaterf.jpg

🇫🇯️ Lautoka, Vuda marina and Astrolabe reef images/2025/ast/w.jpg — the next day another nice walk, 5km over land from Kavala bay to South Kadavu

🇫🇯️ Lautoka, Vuda marina and Astrolabe reef images/2025/ast/n1.jpg — the sun just shows itself, waking up at Naiqoro pass South Kadavu. I snorkeled yesterday and it is beautiful under water here

🇫🇯️ Lautoka, Vuda marina and Astrolabe reef images/2025/ast/n3.jpg

🇫🇯️ Lautoka, Vuda marina and Astrolabe reef images/2025/ast/jim.jpg — fisherman Jim came by and we traded fish hooks against green bananas and papayas

🇫🇯️ Lautoka, Vuda marina and Astrolabe reef images/2025/ast/n2.jpg

Yesterday we changed anchorage and went snorkeling in Naiqoro passage. So much current! We had to hold on to rocks then get into the dinghy again. Fiji fishermen catched a 2 meter murray eel with a brown black leopard like skin and some red snapper with their spear guns

🇫🇯️ Lautoka, Vuda marina and Astrolabe reef images/2025/ast/cab.jpg — a Swedish born Fijian brought us papaya, banana and this cabbage patch

🇫🇯️ Lautoka, Vuda marina and Astrolabe reef images/2025/ast/n4.jpg — we share the anchorage with another Amel Super Maramu

🇫🇯️ Lautoka, Vuda marina and Astrolabe reef images/2025/ast/naisos.jpg — through Naiqoro passage out to sea, then in sgsin through another passage near Soso

🇫🇯️ Lautoka, Vuda marina and Astrolabe reef images/2025/ast/sosos.jpg — Soso village

🇫🇯️ Lautoka, Vuda marina and Astrolabe reef images/2025/ast/vuk.jpg — a tamarind tree in Vukavu

🇫🇯️ Lautoka, Vuda marina and Astrolabe reef images/2025/ast/school.jpg — Soso primary school

🇫🇯️ Lautoka, Vuda marina and Astrolabe reef images/2025/ast/s.jpg — we speak to the headmaster, they would like the kids to visit the boat

🇫🇯️ Lautoka, Vuda marina and Astrolabe reef images/2025/ast/s1.jpg — and so it happens the next day

🇫🇯️ Lautoka, Vuda marina and Astrolabe reef images/2025/ast/s2.jpg

🇫🇯️ Lautoka, Vuda marina and Astrolabe reef images/2025/ast/s3.jpg — Look captain Neptune as teacher!

🇫🇯️ Lautoka, Vuda marina and Astrolabe reef images/2025/ast/s4.jpg — our reward comes from the school garden

🇫🇯️ Lautoka, Vuda marina and Astrolabe reef images/2025/ast/sunr.jpg — another beautifull sunrise

🇫🇯️ Lautoka, Vuda marina and Astrolabe reef images/2025/ast/br.jpg — making morning bread

🇫🇯️ Lautoka, Vuda marina and Astrolabe reef images/2025/ast/a8.jpg

🇫🇯️ Lautoka, Vuda marina and Astrolabe reef images/2025/ast/pum.jpg — pumpkin curry!

🇫🇯️ Lautoka, Vuda marina and Astrolabe reef images/2025/ast/ter.jpg — and pumpkin teriyaki

🇫🇯️ Lautoka, Vuda marina and Astrolabe reef images/2025/ast/kava.jpg — our temporary crew member from Vukavo near Soso teaches us how to prepare a bowl of kava

🇫🇯️ Lautoka, Vuda marina and Astrolabe reef images/2025/ast/a3.jpg — and every day

🇫🇯️ Lautoka, Vuda marina and Astrolabe reef images/2025/ast/a4.jpg — into that beautiful under water world!

🇫🇯️ Lautoka, Vuda marina and Astrolabe reef images/2025/ast/a2.jpg — Yasmin

🇫🇯️ Lautoka, Vuda marina and Astrolabe reef images/2025/ast/1a.jpg — Elaine

🇫🇯️ Lautoka, Vuda marina and Astrolabe reef images/2025/ast/a1.jpg — and Stefan

🇫🇯️ Lautoka, Vuda marina and Astrolabe reef images/2025/ast/a5.jpg — there is a large cabbage patch near Soso pass

🇫🇯️ Lautoka, Vuda marina and Astrolabe reef images/2025/ast/a7.jpg

🇫🇯️ Lautoka, Vuda marina and Astrolabe reef images/2025/ast/a6.jpg

🇫🇯️ Lautoka, Vuda marina and Astrolabe reef images/2025/ast/vun1.jpg — at anchor close to Vunisea to stock up

🇫🇯️ Lautoka, Vuda marina and Astrolabe reef images/2025/ast/a9.jpg — Galoa island anchorage reminds me of Kyles of Bute in Scotland or those sweet water lakes like Lago Maggiore South of the Alps

🇫🇯️ Lautoka, Vuda marina and Astrolabe reef images/2025/ast/a10.jpg — it is calm the coming days so we leave Galoa island for a quiet anchorage at Manta reef

🇫🇯️ Lautoka, Vuda marina and Astrolabe reef images/2025/ast/a13.jpg — anchored in sand 13 meter deep about 300m from the reef

🇫🇯️ Lautoka, Vuda marina and Astrolabe reef images/2025/ast/a11.jpg — as usual there is nobody there

🇫🇯️ Lautoka, Vuda marina and Astrolabe reef images/2025/ast/a12.jpg — we have the whole reef to ourselves😃

outside the passage near Manta reef