25 Oct 2016

Ritual Blessings and Outrigger Canoe Rides on Nissan Island

This morning we crossed to Bougainville Province and arrived at Nissan Island which is in the middle of the Buka Channel between New Ireland and Bougainville.  It is one of only two atolls that we visit on this voyage and it quite an exposed oceanic island so it is a great contrast to the other high islands that we have been visiting.

Leaving the ship there was some swell at the gangway for the first time on this expedition but once inside the lagoon this quickly dropped away and it was beautifully calm for our landing at Bileal Village. A ritual blessing and cleansing was our first welcome ashore and then we were treated to some excellent dancing featuring the local Nissan Island mythologies with snake and eagle dances. This took place while we were gathered beneath the large trees that line the shores and was an event for the whole village so those not performing were pressing in around us and climbing the trees for a better view of proceedings.  At the conclusion of festivities folks headed off with one of the many tour guides to explore the village and island, some found their way (with local guides) to a Glossy Swiftlet nesting cave while others were treated to outrigger canoe rides in the lagoon.  

After a return to the Spirit of Enderby for lunch the more confident snorkellers headed to the reef edge and were treated to a spectacular dropoff where the edge of the island plunges nearly directly to 2000 meters deep and hanging above the reef edge.  It felt like you were perched on the edge of the abyss.  After sampling several sites we found an area with nice healthy coral and were lucky enough to have several white-tipped reef sharks swim by, as well as watching a large Hump headed wrasse.  We are now sailing towards Arawa on Bougainville for a last big day of exploring in Papua New Guinea. 

Photo credit (from file/previous voyage): Heritage Expeditions