November 3 – 9, 2013
By our third day here it was apparent that with summer getting closer, the current weather pattern was here to stay. Of course the most noticeable change was the higher heat and humidity. During our time here it would get pretty hot during the day. Part of the reason for this was the trade winds had died down, making the water here glassy and clear. This made for some beautiful scenery. (Below, photos of the still water during our time in Leleuvia—click to enlarge and scroll through this and any of the photo galleries that follow.)
This seasonal weather also meant more squalls, and a passing shower would mean a welcome break from the heat.
The combination of clouds and sun could be very beautiful. There were times when the water sparkled like diamonds…
And cloudy evenings could take on an ethereal glow…
Whatever the weather in Leleuvia, afternoon clouds would always build up over the big island of Viti Levu just west of us, and every night there would be a thunderstorm. It was far enough from us that we could enjoy the show without worry of the lightning being too close.
With days this warm we snorkeled pretty much every day; and thankfully there were plenty of good spots. By evening things cooled off, but it was still warm enough to realize we needed bigger fans on the boat. Still, we were having a good time and decided to stay for the following weekend’s lovo dinner. Our friends on Meikyo took off for Suva, leaving us pretty much the only boat in the anchorage. This happens a lot at the end of any given season, and generally it’s a very relaxed and peaceful time for us. –Cyndi
Update: We visited Leleuvia in 2018 and while it’s still beautiful, it does have a few issues. If you’d like to read about them; see the bottom of this post: Good-Bye Leleuvia
