We commenced our day with an early morning snorkel on a beautiful island reef. Small groups of guests moved with the gentle current on the edge of the drop-off. The marine life was abundant and diverse.
After breakfast, and when the tropical storm passed, we all crossed on a Zodiac from National Geographic Orion to the small village of Utupua where we were greeted by enthusiastic locals. A group of ‘warriors’, young and old, ran at each Zodiac in an exhilarating and light-hearted display. Everyone was thrilled with the show.
We were treated to a welcome song and cultural dance, then we presented educational material to the chief and village teacher. An exploration of the village followed where we got to know the people, their lifestyle, and made new friends.
