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The Galapagos Islands are one of the world's most beautiful and magical places. Part of Ecuador, much of these islands form a wildlife sanctuary and national park, protecting the unique plant and animal species, as well as the complex ecosystems here. These islands are young in Geological terms, possibly having formed as recently as 8 million years ago. Isabela and Fernandina, the youngest of the main islands are still being formed due to active volcanos that still spew lava, causing further growth. These islands were formed when molten lava forced its way up through the tectonic plates far below the surface of the ocean. As the lava cooled, islands were born, giving rise to the name "Islands born of Fire". The land here is mostly hostile and dry, with fresh water being scarce in many places throughout the islands. Rain is sparse on the coastland, but plentiful in the highlands during the wet season. The animals have had to adapt to water being unreliable, which makes the islands uninhabitable for all but the hardiest. Humans likely found these islands long ago, but until the 1500s, lack of water made it impossible for them to settle. The animals here have all arrived on the air or ocean currents. The journey from the mainland is a long one and most would perish in the attempt. Those that made the crossing developed new means of finding food and staying hydrated or else they too, perished. Join these explorers as they visit Santa Cruz, San Cristobal, Fernandina, Wolf Island, Darwin Island and other places, taking you on a journey over land and beneath the waves to meet some of the world's most incredible animals up close. You'll see giant Galapagos tortoises, brown pelicans, sally lightfoot crabs, blue-footed boobies, male frigates, land iguanas, a newly hatched frigate, massive whale sharks, curious dolphins, playful sea lions, and surgeon fish. A school of golden rays explodes from the sandy bottom, penguin on the hunt passes by, an orca, the world's most accomplished predator fills the camera, and a Pacific green turtle glides past. Spotted eagle rays, hammerhead sharks, and Galapagos sharks drift on the current. A massive school of big eyed jacks pins a diver against the rock wall. A marine iguana frantically gathers algae before the cool water drives it to the surface to reheat. Take a glimpse of the recently fallen Darwin's arch, one of the most recognizable dive sites in the world.

Papua New Guinea is a group of islands that form a country near Australia. It is a remote and beautiful land, full of mystery. One of these mysteries surrounds the wreck of a Japanese Zero that sank on December 26th, 1943. Tomiharu Honda left the air base in West New Britain on a mission over Kimbe Bay. Neither Honda or his fighter plane ever returned to the base. Sixty years after Honda's final mission, Papua New Guinea fisherman, William Nui, was freediving for sea cucumbers. He saw the shadow of the plane in the water deep beneath him. A superstitious man, Nui was frightened by the image and believed he had seen the outstretched arms of a ghostly figure. He summoned the courage to dive deeper and take a better look. Nui saw that the shape was a wrecked fighter plane. Nui told the story of what he had found and word made it to Max Benjamin, the owner of Walindi Dive Resort. Walindi is partnered with the Febrina liveaboard. Max dove on the wreck and made careful observations. He found the throttle in the off position and the flap controls set to reduce the airspeed of the plane. This suggested the plane had run out of fuel and that Honda must have intentionally coasted in for a water landing, a dangerous gamble, with water landings resulting in disaster more than 80 per cent of the time. Honda had skillfully guided his plane to a spot in Kimbe Bay close to shore. Managing to bring the plane to a stop undamaged, Honda was able to swim to shore as it sank. But it seems that Honda's troubles did not end when he reached the island. Max Benjamin recorded the serial number of the plane. He found no visible signs of damage from combat. Max checked archives and historical records, finding that Honda had been considered missing in battle. He had never found his way back to Japanese territory. Accounts of villagers suggest that Honda had made his way to Talasea, a nearby village and that he was helped back to his base. This is contradicted by wartime records. Local legend tells us that Honda might have hidden out in the jungle for the rest of his life, ashamed to return and admit that he had lost a plane as a result of being lost and running out of fuel. A darker tale involves Honda being eaten by a tribe of cannibals on one of the islands. Honda's true fate will never be known. His plane is slowly being covered by sponges and coral as time passes. It serves as a fascinating and mysterious site for scuba divers. The F.V. Febrina and it's Captain, Alan Raabe take their Kimbe Bay tours to this site.