2/7/24 – 6/7/24

With the wind predicted to strengthen and back to the north we had opted to visit North Minerva which was reputed to have more protection than South Minerva. We anchored in around 12 metres of water in the North East corner of the reef.

We had not seen another boat since leaving New Zealand so it made a pleasant change to have a few neighbours. Most were on their way to Tonga – for which Minerva is a more logical stop over.

Jonathan’s drone footage shows how large the atoll is and how the coral reef beautifully encircles it.

For our first night without three hour watches we treated ourselves to a celebratory drink and smoked some of the skipjack tuna on the BBQ.

We had a fabulously quiet and peaceful night in stark contrast to the slamming, lurching, rolling nights we have experienced recently. So with everyone well rested we prepared the dive gear. A dive on a remote coral atoll was one of the prime motivators for our detour.

Unfortunately Sue had a migraine so just Nigel, Jonathan and Claire headed off in the dinghy to pass through the reef entrance and dive on the outer wall of the reef in absolutely stunning conditions.

The diving was incredible. Amazing visibility, stunning coral, sharks, groper and large trevally as well as a kaleidoscope of colourful small fish living in amongst the coral. Nigel came across a huge turtle dozing peacefully at about 10 metres – nobody believed him!

The experience felt slightly surreal when we considered the consequences of the outboard motor not starting as the wind took us away from the reef.

The next day was a little overcast and the wind had picked up but we were determined to snorkel on the broken remains of a steamer that we could see near our anchorage.

A visitor from another boat had told us that there was nothing to see but we are so pleased that we ignored him. The wreck was in three separate parts and we snorkelled over each. Lots of fish life, clams and coral as well as interesting pieces of wreckage to try to identify.

Pizza for dinner. It wasn’t from a takeaway – and definitely not delivered.

The next day we planned to leave before an approaching weather system trapped us here for several days. Before we left, we went to fill our dive bottles. With a newly installed compressor matched to a newly installed generator, what could possibly go wrong? It ran for about 3 minutes before cutting out. We tried many times before giving up and deciding it could wait until we got to Fiji.

A last minute weather update from Bob (McDavitt or “MetBob“, our weather planner) led to us changing plans. A strong front with impending “squash zones” is supposed to pass near us tonight bringing high (and unpredictable) winds. We will have one more night here in Minerva and leave first thing tomorrow morning.