This is our second Mahi Mahi of the trip. We caught it on the way from Tonga to Fiji. The steaks keep us eating fish for weeks. . Can you say "Butter and Garlic- YUM"?
These really neat islets dot the sea everywhere here in Tonga. many have caves under them like the photo of the undersea cave below. The whale watch group we used took us to this cave after sighting whales all morning. Inside the waves built up pressure and a fog formed like a cloud. Each time the wave rose it fogged over and when the wave fell away the fog cleared instantly. We could feel the pressure in our ears. The entrance is 8 feet down and 15 feet back under the sheer cliff face. I and all the kids entered the cave with our wonderful guide Izzy.
This is us by the boat getting out of the water after seeing the caves.
The crew on whale watch duty. We sighted about eleven humbacks. All the animals were moving fast that day and it was a challenge to get up beside them and into the water before they swam away. Here is Ben looking for whale spouts.
Steve had to wear a wetsuit as the water was quite cool in Tonga. Even with the suit this poor guy was shivering
Juli was having a really good time despite the rough seas. She had no problems with her stomach this day.
I spent the morning chatting with Andrew and Izzy about their experiences with the whales, commercial fishing and about Andrews brother, a gold prospector in Australia who discovered the "Hand of Australia" a 9 pound solid gold nugget shaped like a human hand.
The outside of swallows cave. The roof is lined with small swallows that hang batlike. Tonga is home to the flying fox a large fruit bat. We heard them in the forests but never did sight any of them.
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