Your Crew
The Surprise Crew is made up of a selection of the most qualified,
service orientated and personable Fijians that can be found in the
South Pacific. They are totally professional in all aspects of their
work and bring with them that world known friendly smile that Fiji
is known for.
MASTER - NEAL ADAMS
Captain Neal is married with one young daughter. He met Patsy his wife in 1998 while working in the Caribbean. They were married 6 months later before relocating to New Zealand late in 1999. Isabelle came along 4 years later.
His love of boating began when he was a teenager in the notorious “P” Class sailing dinghy. It was a handful of years later, after a career in computer software, that he took up a professional sailing in the Meditarranean.
Since then Neal has spent years delivering and chartering yachts in the Caribbean, North America, and the Pacific.
Neal has a passion for cruising and chartering and has a knack for making people feel comfortable and enjoy their time while on board.
He also enjoys the friendliness of the Fijian people and has identified this as contributing to the success of M.V. Surprise.
CHIEF ENGINEER - JOSEPH SAMUELA
Joseph has joined us recently and is a young, hard working energetic
member of the crew. He is a Class 3 commercial engineer and joins
us with a background of training on overseas commercial vessels and
also a good grounding in the tugboat and salvage industry He gives
us great support in tender driving and assisting with all the watersports.
Joseph is married with two young boys and is of Rotuman, European
descent. He is very personable and has a good rapport with the crew
and guests
CHIEF OFFICER - FRANK JOHNSON
Frank Johnson is Chief Officer of the MY Surprise. He was born in Suva on the 21st of November 1980 and has lived there all his life. Franks family comes from the old capital Levuka on the island of Ovalau. His great (×3) grandfather traveled all the way from Scotland to set up his trade as a carpenter in Fiji where he married a Fijian lady. A lot of parts Europeans have the same history and many are related. Some of the relatives include the Mcgoons, Wilsons, and the Hennings just to name a few. He has a Class 3 Watch keeper’s ticket and loves the sea very much.
2nd ENGINEER - AME NACOKTU
Ame started his sailing career with Blue Lagoon Cruises as a greaser and worked his way up to Chief Engineer during the eleven years that he worked in the cruise ship industry. He then furthered his qualifications in the diving field and achieved an open water diver certificate.
The Commercial Salvage company Marine Pacific then hired him as Chief Engineer for 10 years.
Ame is great on the guitar and Ukulele so he will be a welcome addition to the Surprise Band. Also a great fisherman who owns his own fishing boat. A father of three and a grandfather he is a mature and highly respected member of the crew.
CHEF - MANASA HERITAGE
Fijian with a welsh grandfather Married with 4 children and lives
with his wife Litia in Lami. In his youth he was a talented wood carver.
Has spent his whole life as a chef and seaman working in the early
days with Dilman Tanker and Gas ships plying the world. Has a great
deal of experience cooking for European officers and their guests.
For the past 10 years he has produced gourmet meals for a live aboard
dive vessel, which has also been involved in expedition work. Manasa
is very flexible and can produce any menu to personal requirements.
A great seaman with a lively sense of humour.
HEAD STEWARD - MOSESE MARAWAI
Mosese Marawai comes to Surprise
as a steward who has been employed in the live aboard dive boat and
expedition yacht industry for 12 years. During that time he sailed
as steward and lately as Bosun Mo comes from the tiny island of Komo
in Lau, which is the most remote eastern part of Fiji. Humble courteous
and with the biggest smile he is welcomed aboard by all the crew having
sailed with him for at least five years. He is the leader of the Surprise
band and plays guitar and ukulele with great expertise. Our last guests
tried to lure him away to record in Boston!
LAISA LAWELUA - STEWARDESS
Laisa is married and raised 3 boys in Fiji. She hails from the
tiny island of Oneata in Lau and has always loved being on the water.
Laisa began working on Super yachts in 1996 and has joined the Surprise
with her big smile and always happy personality. She enjoys reading,
music, quilting and sharing a bowl of Kava with Captain!
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