18 Oct 2016

Traditional Island Welcome for Expedition on Bipi Islands

After a restful night at sea sailing northwards we awoke to find that the Spirit of Enderby had made excellent speed and we had arrived earlier than expected at the Bipi Island anchorage. A short zodiac ride across the fringing reef and we were greeted on the golden sand beach by hordes of excited school children in traditional attire. The first order of business was an island "christening" or blessing on the shoreline before we walked enmasss to the school grounds where there was a welcome speech. This was followed by Bipi Islands lively dancing set to the rhythmic beating of the great slit drums. Afterwards there was food tasting and a chance to visit the school and Catholic church - from there many from aboard the Spirit of Enderby explored with new found friends. An interesting and welcome development on the island is that Melanesian Megapodes have returned to the island and are actively nesting which offered some great views of the birds which were quite unafraid and foraging in the back garden alongside the chickens. Just as our morning ashore was coming to an end the rain arrived... and it arrived in profusion, soon we couldn't see the ship for the rain. Suitably refreshed we returned to the ship just as the hour long warm shower started to ease. During the afternoon most of the group took the opportunity for a first snorkel experience along the shores of Bipi Island and were rewarded with clear waters, some beautiful corals and a good diversity of reef fish species. Others headed back to Bipi to continue their explorations with a walk around the island. By 1700 all were back aboard and we bid farewell to the flotilla of dugout canoes that had been standing by at the ship for the day, all skippered by eager young local navigators.