J. Hunter Pearl Farm

The resort offers many different adventure/excursions that you have the option to sign up for.  Yesterday we went on our first one to the J. Hunter pearl farm in town.  J Hunter makes some incredible and well known Fiji pearls.  While they are mainly black, there is something about the Fiji oyster that allows it to make pearls in a true rainbow of colors.  None of them are died unlike other pearl farms.  Some scientists think it might have something to do with the very hot, hot springs that flow into the sound around the island.  

We were able to see the entire process of pearl farming process from how they catch baby oyster larva, to cleaning the adult oysters, to moving them to the adult farm.  The most interesting part was actually seeding the oyters.  They fly in Japanese pearl experts that sit in this little hut and basically artificially inseminate the oysters.  Did you know that ALL cultured pearls are not 100% pearl? (At least according to our pearl guide).  Being a jewelry lover/maker, i was surprised to learn this and somewhat disappointed.  They start with a bead that is made up of 100% mother of pearl shell.  

The Japanese experts are set up at their work bench with all their tools.  They look like a cross between an expert jeweler and a doctor.  They gently pry open the oyter shell about an inch.  They then use these long thin tools to gently move apart the oyster flesh to find the "pocket" and drop in the shell bead.  They then close them up and put them in a pile to go back into the ocean.  If they oysters they are working with are already seeded, they first remove a pearl.  The bead they then slip back in is slightly larger in size than the pearl they bring out.  Fiji is also known for its LARGE pearls.  Fiji workers clean the shells of the oysters to make sure they stay healthy, the hut had several cleaning shells as we walked through.  We were allowed no flash photography and only hushed voices so as not to harm or disturb the oysters.  This oyster farm provides work for many of the native workers.  

Cleaning Station in Oyster Hut

Oysters!

Freshly removed pearls in alllll sorts of awesome colors

We were then loaded on to a boat to go visit the under water farms in various stages of age/life.  Justin was able to take some video and some underwater footage as he snorkeled through part of the farm.  Due to all the rain, the water was murky so I opted to stay in the boat and look for flying fish. Yes that's right, you read right.. FLYING FISH.  I spotted a few on our boat ride out to the farm.  They are the coolest thing we've seen so far.  Probably one of the coolest things I've ever seen.  To make one more Harry Potter reference, they reminded me of the golden snitch.  They were small, fast, and a fun blue color.  They "flew" above the water longer than I had expected they could.  They looked happy and magical.  Definitely one of those things that makes you think you are in never never land. I tried hard to capture them on camera, but have had no luck yet.  We get a few more boat rides while we are here so I will try again.  

We met a few of the workers that were stationed at platforms out in the water or on a moving boat that was in charge of cleaning every one of the millions of oysters they had under water.  Not a bad place to have your "office" if you ask me.  The process however, takes years and is very detailed.  The end product however, the pearls, are stunning and VERY expensive, even here! I was shocked.  Hundreds of dollars for a low grade pearl.  

View of mainland from the boat

Justin is currently out on his first scuba trip.  I have stayed behind since I can't dive.  I think I will head out on the boat with him tomorrow though, so I can get some snorkeling in.  The under water life here is apparently insanely awesome.  I can't wait to see his footage from his dive today.