Life beneath the waves

By Ana Niumataiwalu
Thursday, November 13, 2008

MEET Joseph Donne. The man whose life is defined by the treasures of the underwater world.

Having dived to the ocean bed for a couple of years he still looks forward to each day at work like it was his first.
The humble 25-year old dive instructor of Reef Safari out on the South Seas islands in the Mamanuca group says he just loves his job.
But he is quick to declare that his path has not been an easy one, both personally and professionally.
Joe, as he is prefers to be called by everyone, be it the house guests or day trippers on South Seas islands, is no stranger to the oceans.
Now based at South Sea islands in the Mamanucas, originally hails from Plymouth, England.
He grew up in a family who had a history line of sailors, boat builders and marines and everything else to do with the ocean in England.
But he said rather than being above the water he preferred working under water. He is the youngest of three siblings and was educated in Plymouth where the rest of his family currently resides.
"After completing my education in Plymouth I had undertaken some dive instruction courses in England before moving to Australia when I was 18 years old," he said.
"I had also worked at the east and west coast of Thailand.
"I spent about two years there before moving to Fiji. I worked at the Reef Safari Australia and Whitsunday island before moving to Fiji."
Joe moved to Fiji in September last year and has now made the island paradise as he calls it his home.
"I have been in and around the water all the time," he said.
"My family has a line of sailors and even marines but I preferred to be under the water then above it.
"I prefer the tropical reefs because they are much warmer compared to the ones back home."
As a dive instructor at the island Joe looks after the scuba diving, snorkelling, yellow submarine tours. He says it's an interesting job because on the one hand tourists not only come for the sun surf and sea or the friendly locals but also to be educated on the underwater world of Fiji's tourism.
"While they enjoy their stay they also get to learn about our marine life here in Fiji," he said.
"Many are interested to learn about it. Most of them don't realise that there's more to the trips then just the vacation you also get to learn things about the land and sea.
"Here at Reef Safari we do two trips in the morning and in the afternoon on the yellow submarine."

Life beneath the waves - Fiji Times Online