419 Dive Log Australasia AUGUST 2026

myself wondering how comfortably modern digital photography and island simplicity could coexist. As it turned out, remarkably well. The resort consists of just ten traditional Fijian bures scattered discreetly across the forested hillside. A bure (pronounced ber-ray ) is Fiji’s traditional thatched dwelling, but these were considerably more comfortable than the word “hut” might suggest. Polished mahogany floors reflected the afternoon light filtering through louvered windows. Spacious bathrooms, comfortable queen and king beds, and wide verandas overlooked the sea. Everything felt handcrafted rather than manufactured. Luxury here wasn’t measured in marble countertops or room service. It was measured in silence. Each package included all meals, served family-style on the covered deck adjoining the bure levu , the resort’s large communal gathering house. The food quickly became one of the week’s unexpected highlights. Much of it came directly from the resort’s own organic gardens. The seafood arrived fresh from surrounding waters, often caught only hours before it

appeared on the table. The sashimi served that first evening remains among the finest I’ve eaten anywhere in the world. There was no elaborate presentation. It didn’t need one. Fish that fresh speaks for itself. The chef happily accommodated every dietary preference among our small group, but I decided early in the week to simply eat whatever appeared in front of me. It proved to be an excellent strategy. Not once was I disappointed. Dinner lingered long after the plates had been cleared. Divers are natural storytellers. Perhaps it comes from spending our days in places few people ever see. The table eventually fills with tales of close encounters, impossible photographs, equipment failures, and fish that somehow become larger with each retelling. Some stories were undoubtedly improved by memory. No one seemed to mind. Eventually the evening dissolved into quiet conversation as guests drifted back toward their bures. With no streetlights, each of us selected one of

Fiji’s Golden Blenny

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Dive Log Australasia #419 August’26

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