Fiji is Paradise

Hi everyone! For the next two weeks I'll be doing a marine conservation and diving volunteer program with Vinaka Fiji on the little island of Drawaqa in the Yasawas region of Fiji. I seriously can't believe I am here. I am pinching myself constantly to remind myself that this is real! My lifelong dream of studying the marine biology of coral reefs has finally come true!! Woo!

I arrived yesterday in a little boat and hopped off onto the white sandy beach at Barefoot Resort. My super cool volunteer coordinators (a retired couple from New Zealand) met me and explained a little about what I'm going to be doing. Basically this:

Manta Rays, happy dance!!!

Then they sent me to my hostel dorm room, which turned out to look like this:

The window on the right is where my bed is :)

With this view:

Mind blown.

Today I started learning some of my reef fish species in preparation for starting the official marine biodiversity surveys tomorrow. I have to memorize the 27 species of butterfly fish here in Fiji, so all morning I studied this card, and then went out snorkeling to find some in the wild. I saw 16 of the 27 species on 3 snorkel trips today.

The place I'm staying is also a hotel, so there is a ton of other fun stuff to do as well. Since it was Sunday here, and technically my day off, I tried to fit in as many fun things as possible too! Me and one of my new friends circumnavigated the island in a kayak, which took about 2 hours! Then we went snorkeling and then a bunch of us went rappelling on a cliff at sunset! It was a great day for sure.

Can't wait to see what the next two weeks will bring!