Checking out the Riri blue hole


Another rainy morning but the forecast was for clearing by 11am, making our planned trip to the Riri blue hole a possibility. We would get patches of sun and then it would fill right back in to complete cloud cover. I held out hope and around 11 we saw some blue sky and decided we were going no matter what.…

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Maleluvu blue hole experience


Hopes were high to dinghy up to the Maleluvu blue hole today and with fingers crossed we had our coffee and breakfast. Around 8am the call was made, we were going for it. It was a bit of a bash heading to the mouth of the river with the wind still kicking up chop between islands. Around the shallow sandy…

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First stop in Oyster bay


A couple of low keys days due to weather, the biggest excitement was our move up to Oyster Bay, leaving the soon to be crowded Palikulo bay (14 boats ended up waiting out the wind there). It was just a nine mile hop but it did have one tricky entrance over the reef where we saw only 1.1 meters below…

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Exploring Palikulo bay


Carl was hit with a possible minor cold so plans where changed, delaying our move to Oyster bay. I spent a good chunk of the afternoon paddleboarding to shore and then walking the beach. A number of groups were hanging out, some fishing, some listening to music, and some just lounging around. I reached a spot where the beach disappeared,…

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Snorkeling Million Dollar beach


Dugongs spotted! As we enjoyed our morning coffee on the bow, I spotted a dugong twice as it surfaced for a breath. A bit far to swim to it so just a spotting. But they are around. Late morning we piled into the dinghy with our snorkeling gear. Families were enjoying the Sunday day on the beach as we laced…

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Swamped by a massive wave


Lots of discussions on plans the last couple days, with an eye on what the weather would let us explore. After downloading the files it was clear that going to Rano, where SV Nimrod had an incredible traditional dance presented by the Smol Nabas in 2016, was not in the cards. A huge bummer as it was the highlight of…

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Another villager’s power issues


We had read that a “Spirit Cave” was at the next stop. Wanting to squeeze it in today we made an early start for the 30sih mile passage. Soon enough the anchor was set and an outrigger was headed our way. A short conversation led us to realize; this was the chief’s son, he gifted us two pamplemousse, and there…

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A traumatic day with a happy ending


Did the tagline get you to click? Well before I get into that I want to start with an awesome morning. What made it awesome? Around 10am I noticed an outrigger with four ladies and a boy paddling towards us. Upon their arrival, they presented a bag to us with bananas and coconuts in it as a gift. How incredible…

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Best dive in Vanuatu!


With plans to snorkel a reef that had excellent reviews we made an early move eleven-ish miles north. As soon as we were comfortable with the anchor we paddled into shore. It took a bit of searching but we found a very direct route with a steep up and a steep down into the village in the next bay. A…

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Rainy day blues


A rainy start to the day lowered our expectations for getting off the boat. Around lunch time there was a break in the clouds which enabled Roxy to get us moving. We hopped in the dinghy to the village at the point of land we rounded coming into the bay. A plan was hatched for me to hustle in an…

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