Aussie traveller left at sea during snorkelling excursion

By James Harrison

An Aussie traveller has revealed how her husband was left behind during a snorkelling excursion with Captain Cook Cruises Fiji in May, only to be saved by a random fishing boat.

The traveller, Bev Morris, said that her husband Barry Morris spent 30 minutes floating off the ocean on a privately owned Fiji island Nanuya Levu after a charter boat left him behind.

Bev told The Daily Mail that she was shocked when other tourists on the excursion arrived back to the cruise ship, but her husband was nowhere to be seen.

Barry was still in the ocean at this point with a broken snorkel mask and was saved by a fisherman who happened to be cruising by. Bev contacted Captain Cook Cruises Fiji with her complaint following the week-long voyage.

She was told that the cruise line would improve its procedures and introduce headcounts on excursions of that nature. But what shocked Bev was that a similar incident had occurred after Barry’s ordeal.

Justine Clark and her two sons, Felix, 18, and Max, 20, got stranded in the middle of the ocean after their charter boat during a voyage with Captain Cook Cruises Fiji in August.

Justine Clark and her two sons (Justine Clark)

The family had to begin swimming towards the nearest island – approximately 20km away – before being picked up by a garbage boat collector.

Bev was upset to hear this “after the cruise company promised me it would never happen again.

“How can a tender boat miss four people, including the divemaster?” Bev said.

“Someone is going to drown out there. The cruise company needs to step up procedures before they lose someone.

“It’s not good enough. This shouldn’t have happened twice.”

Following Barry’s incident, the cruise line apologised and refunded part of the cost of his cruise.

“For well over 20 years Captain Cook Cruises Fiji’s number one priority has been ensuring the enjoyment, health and welfare of the people that travel and dive with us,” a Captain Cook Cruise Fiji spokeswoman said.

“We have been in close contact with the passengers and understand their concerns. We have strict protocols in place and will continue to work make sure that every experience meets our and our passengers’ expectations.”

The Daily Mail reported that emails from Captain Cook Cruises Fiji to Bev said her husband swam away from the group and missed boarding the boat.

“We are sorry that this mishap occurred and please be assured we have since thoroughly worked through the headcount procedures with the crew,” the company’s general manager wrote.

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Barry Morris Bev Morris Captain Cook Cruises Fiji Nanuya Levu