Pink Anemonefish in Fiji’s pristine waters – Image: Captain Cook Cruises Fiji/Australia
Fiji’s expedition cruise specialists Captain Cook Cruises Fiji has named May ‘Marine Month’, as small ship MS Caledonian Sky’s seven-night voyages to the Lau archipelago welcome esteemed marine biologist guest lecturers onboard. Cruise guests can play their part in hands-on coral reef regeneration on the beautiful Tivua private island.
Dr Anne Hoggett AM and Dr Lyle Vail AM are joint Directors of the Australian Museum’s world-renowned Lizard Island Research Station (LIRS). Together, they develop and manage the internationally-renown coral reef research facility on the northern Great Barrier Reef. Since starting at LIRS in 1990, the couple has pioneered the study of marine science research activities on the Great Barrier Reef involving leading scientists from all parts of the globe.
Anne and Lyle will be onboard the seven-night Remote North Discovery Expedition departing May 18, 2024.
Dr Penny Berents is one of Australia’s leading marine scientists and Senior Fellow at the Australian Museum with more than 40 years’ experience in research and diving. Penny is a scuba diving instructor and experienced boat handler and has led many research and educational field trips to estuaries, temperate reefs and coral reefs in Australia and the Pacific, including the Great Barrier Reef, the Coral Sea, Ningaloo, Fiji, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Timor Leste and Pohnpei.
Penny will be onboard the seven-night Southern Lau Expedition departing May 25, 2024.
Onboard MS Caledonian Sky, the team of Fijian marine biologists is integral to each journey. Guided diving, snorkeling and onboard lectures provide the perfect environment for learning by experience. Guests enjoy up-close and personal encounters with marine life as the ship journeys through more than 90 reefs and islands across its range of itineraries. Guests can get involved in Citizen Science activities onboard, recording fish and coral sightings on the dedicated iNaturalist Captain Cook Cruises marine project platform.
MS Caledonian Sky is Captain Cook Cruises’ new flagship in the Fiji islands – Image: Captain Cook Cruises
The ‘Buy a Coral, Build a Reef’ project for guests at our private Tivua Island has seen thousands of hand-planted coral fragments grow into more mature corals that are then replanted on the reef. Visits to Tivua Island are included on several of the ship’s multi-day itineraries, while day-sail opportunities are a great way for visitors to the mainland to take part in this rewarding Citizen Science initiative.
Hands-on conservation opportunities
Captain Cook Cruises Fiji Executive Chair Alison Haworth West said guests would have a wonderful opportunity to learn and also personally participate in the rejuvenation of reef systems in Fiji and the South Pacific.
“We want to look after our oceans and environment and involving our guests in that process makes a wonderful difference,” Haworth West said.
Guest Lecturer Dr. Alison Green on a research dive in Fiji – Image: Captain Cook Cruises
For those looking to travel outside of May, Dr Alison Green, an esteemed marine scientist with more than 30 years’ experience, will be joining the Northern Lau departure on June 8. Dr Green has supported coral reef conservation and management in every coral reef region in the world and has expertise in coral reef fish ecology, monitoring, and designing marine protected areas (MPAs) to benefit both people and nature. (NN – 03-04-24)
