Every day we have to commute out to Makalati (Fijian for Moon Reef) in order to collect data on the dolphins. This is our vessel: a 15-foot, un-sanded wood-bottomed skiff that isn’t much better than a dingy.

Bruiser with Meli, our “skipper”.

The journey is 7.3 km (4.5 miles) one way and the swells between the beach and reef are awful…every single time! We have kindly renamed the boat “Bruiser” because your butt, back, elbows, and every other part of your body will be thoroughly bruised after a day’s commute. Forget staying dry. That isn’t even worth discussing.

So, basically, we all sit in the fetal position on the floor of the boat, bracing ourselves for the next swell and blast of cold salt water to come streaming down our backs while praying for it all to be over soon. Eyes open risks a thorough optical salt water cleansing. Eyes closed risks a bout of sea sickness. Bottom line: the commute sucks. Every. Single. Time. I don’t have pictures of the worst moments, because I was too busy trying not to be bounced overboard! And don’t even say, “But you’re in FIJI!! It can’t be that bad.” It is. Every. Single. Time. Even paradise isn’t perfect.

However, the horrific commute is quickly forgotten when we arrive at the reef and these guys are there to greet us:

The white on the right of the picture is the bow of “Bruiser”.

The following two pictures are not mine. They are borrowed from a friend with an underwater camera. She simply leaned over and put her arm in the water. Yes…they do come that close! The dolphins will occasionally approach the boat out of curiosity or to ride the wake for a bit. That is the magic of a population of intelligent organisms left un-touched by tourism!

How awesome is this?!!

Another plus: Moon Reef Cafe! The ladies in the kitchen send us out every day with a waterproof “goodie box” and a thermos!

It is pretty awesome to have cake and hot drinks for breakfast in the middle of a remote reef off the coast of Fiji while dolphins swim around the boat. Even if it is simultaneously pouring rain.

And it is pretty amazing to end a workday with this, even if it means more rain is on the way…

Ok dolphins, see you tomorrow…if I survive the commute!