TC Ana!

Ana, one hour ago.

 

Well, well.

 

This sure has been interesting.

Ana has kept on strengthening and just as it was reaching the coast, it turned into a Cat2 and left a swath of destruction tracking right across Viti Levu before exiting somewhere in between here and Suva just an hour or so ago - and lemme tell 'ya it ain't over quite yet!

We're mostly fine, but Pacific Harbour looks like a battlefield and will require a massive cleanup - once the electricity and water are back which considering the widespread damage may well take a week over here and much longer in Vanua Levu.

And that might not be all!

Like anticipated, we may well be in for another helping. 

The ocean remains hot, and the convergence zone keeps on spawning tropical depressions - and much like I said, there's a real chance that one of them could develop into yet another bloody cyclone!

 

Ana in blue close to the center - the other blue smudge is Tropical Depression 07F = TD07F.

Case in point, see below - click for detail!

Some forecasts already have a real monster drift over to Vanua Levu where it would linger for days - the good news being that this is merely a forecast, and that those are prone to changing.

Hopefully this time for the better!

 

 

So fingers crossed.

Be it as it may, you peeps in Fiji: stay vigilant and always, always prepare - by now we should all know that these suckers are fickle at best, and that they can change in the blink of an eye!

 

You know what to do!

Another bloody Cyclone?

Source.

 

And here we go again.

Not that I'm in any way surprised.

It has been unrelentingly hot hot hot, and this is now the unavoidable consequence - and to make matters worse, the forecast has an uncanny resemblance to the forecast for Yasa that subsequently completely changed course and ended up ravaging the North.

There's good and bad news.

The good news being that so far, it only looks like a Cat1 that may wander south between Viti Levu and Vanuatu - the bad news being that the ocean is bloody hot and that consequently, the sucker has every opportunity to develop into something much more threatening, and to change course like last time.

You know what to do!

 

PS - What a mess!

We're pretty much stuck in the turbulent convergence zone where making accurate forecasts is even more difficult - and now Windy has it like this.

Remember?

 

PPS - Bingo.

Now Metvuw and Windy seem to be in agreement that this is gonna be our future.

What a fucking fiasco - click for detail!

 

Anyway, as always we will see.

Best of luck everybody! 

 

PPPS - There you have it: it is now a Cat1 called Ana. 

The good news is that it is rather weak - the bad news being that it'll likely track smack across Viti Levu straight to Suva, and that it'll dump shitloads of rain. 

And to add insult to injury, it also looks like in a few days, there could be another depression, or even cyclone following right in its footsteps!

Never a dull moment huh.

 

Click for detail!

 

Playing with Sharks!

Source - and here - and here - click for detail!

 

Hah - watch this.

And here she is on Shark Reef in all her glorious pinkness, a couple of days later - watch in 1080 and full screen.

Of course she did stand out like a sore thumb. 

And of course she did catch the attention of our big, bold and very dominant Shark Icon Tip. Talk about being given a haircut - and then watch how her nephew Jono barely avoided smacking her with his heavy video housing on top of it! 

But of course Valerie would have it no other way!

Anyway, it has been loads of fun.

Valerie, and Ron have been our best friends literally forever, and every visit is always a great joy and an honor, too - and having been chosen to be featured in her movie, doubly so.

And now the whole big shebang has been completed - and apparently it is great, to the point that is has been selected to screen at the prestigious Sundance Festival. Considering the mess in the USA, I expect the event to be largely virtual, and that one will be able to watch the movie online, possibly even outside of the US - so there.

And if not, make sure you don't miss it.

Valerie is one of the true diving Legends, and then some - and what makes this movie so unique is that much of her adventurous, passionate and fascinating life has actually happened on camera. And now the public will be able to actually witness it, which could not have come soon enough - especially when compared to the exploits of today's forgettable self promoting Shark charlatans and media whores!

So thank you to Producer Bettina and Director Sally - this is really very much appreciated.

But I'm digressing as always.

Enjoy Valerie's movie!