We Sailed to the Equator to Avoid Cyclones. We Were Wrong. ⛈️⛵ They told us cyclones don't form this close to the equator. They told us we were safe in the Solomon Islands. But as the barometer began to drop and the sky turned a bruised purple, we realized we were sitting directly in the path of a developing tropical system. In this episode, our journey through the stunning Marovo Lagoon takes a sharp turn from paradise to survival. Before heading for shelter, we experienced the incredible hospitality of the Solomon people. From our friend Stevenson—who saved us with a "feast" of smoked fish and cassava cake when we were nearly out of food—to the villagers of Cheke, who traded us weeks' worth of fresh produce for a single fishing lure. With the latest weather charts confirming the worst, we retreated deep into a remote river system to hide among the mangroves. For a week, we hunkered down as the storm intensified around us. But surviving the wind and rain was only half the battle; an unexpected encounter up the river forced us to make a hurried exit back to the open sea. Previous Video → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Pu3JSmskm4 ⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 | The Warning: An Impossible Storm 00:15 | [Intro Sequence] 00:45 | Stranded & Hungry: A Miracle from Stevenson 02:15 | Tracking the Low: Breaking the Rules of the Equator 03:10 | Survival Prep: Provisioning at Cheke Village 04:20 | Trading for Life: Sago Seeds and Local Abundance 05:30 | The Art of the Solomons: Wood Carvings 06:10 | Finding Shelter: Seeking a Hole in the Mangroves 06:40 | The Forecast: Facing Our First Cyclone on a boat 08:05 | The Eye of the Storm: An Eerie, Dead Calm 08:40 | Intensifying: The Long Wait Up-River 10:30 | Escape from the River: Unexpected Guests 14:30 | After the Storm: Freediving Karikana Island 🎥 Episode 5 – Sailing Solomon Islands Become part of the crew 💡 PATREON ☞ https://www.patreon.com/c/onceuponareef ☕ Support Our Journey ☞ https://buymeacoffee.com/onceuponareef Or 🎁 Send us a gift ☞ https://throne.com/onceuponareef 🌍 Follow us: 📸 INSTAGRAM: @onceuponareef & @wheres.poppy 🎥 Poppy's YouTube Channel ☞ https://www.youtube.com/wherespoppy 📧 BUSINESS INQUIRIES - onceuponareef@protonmail.com Hey there, we’re Ryan and Poppy, a couple of adventure junkie sailors out to explore the most amazing reefs and islands in the world. We hope by documenting everything this lifestyle encompasses, we will inspire, raise awareness and support on going research to do our part in protecting these natural life systems. Subscribe if you’re on board! 📍Location: Marovo Lagoon, Western Province, Solomon Islands #sailingvlog #SolomonIslands #onceuponareef#SailingAdventure #Cyclone #MarovoLagoon #SurvivalAtSea #BoatLife #StormPreparation #SouthPacific

Swimming with Dolphins in Crocodile Territory 🐬🐊 | Marovo Lagoon There is a place in the Solomon Islands where the reef drops into a thousand meters of blue, and the water is shared by the ocean’s most playful creatures—and its most feared predators. In this episode, we arrive in Marovo Lagoon, officially the world’s largest saltwater lagoon and a place of staggering biodiversity. We began our journey in the open ocean, jumping off the boat into "the big blue" to swim alongside a pod of dolphins, watching them play beneath our bow. But as we moved deeper into the lagoon toward Pore Pore, the atmosphere changed. The locals here live in a delicate balance with Saltwater Crocodiles. We received some sobering advice: "They are everywhere, but you can still swim... just keep an eye out." From seeing their eyes glowing in the dark to feeling that unmistakable "crocky" instinct while freediving a deep reef wall, this episode is a reminder that in the Solomons, you are always part of the food chain. Previous Video → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDveJUsXXhs ⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 | Swimming Over the Abyss 01:00 | Bow-Riding: The Intelligence of Dolphins 02:30 | Entering Marovo: The World’s Largest Saltwater Lagoon 04:00 | [Intro Sequence] 04:30 | Living with Giants: Local Crocodile Wisdom 06:30 | The Wall: Freediving the Outer Reef Drop-offs 08:25 | The Banded Sea Snake: Beautiful but Deadly 10:15 | The "Crocky" Feeling: When It’s Time to Leave the Water 🎥 Episode 4 – Sailing Solomon Islands Become part of the crew 💡 PATREON ☞ https://www.patreon.com/c/onceuponareef ☕ Support Our Journey ☞ https://buymeacoffee.com/onceuponareef Or 🎁 Send us a gift ☞ https://throne.com/onceuponareef 🌍 Follow us: 📸 INSTAGRAM: @onceuponareef & @wheres.poppy 🎥 Poppy's YouTube Channel ☞ https://www.youtube.com/wherespoppy 📧 BUSINESS INQUIRIES - onceuponareef@protonmail.com Hey there, we’re Ryan and Poppy, a couple of adventure junkie sailors out to explore the most amazing reefs and islands in the world. We hope by documenting everything this lifestyle encompasses, we will inspire, raise awareness and support on going research to do our part in protecting these natural life systems. Subscribe if you’re on board! 📍Location: Marovo Lagoon, Western Province, Solomon Islands #sailingvlog #SolomonIslands #onceuponareef#MarovoLagoon #SailingAdventure #Freediving #Crocodile #Dolphins #OceanExploration #SouthPacific

Forbidden Knowledge? How to Survive Anywhere Using Only Plants 🌿 What if the pharmacy and the grocery store were replaced by the forest floor? Inspired by the book "The Last Wild Island," we journeyed to Tetepare—the largest uninhabited island in the South Pacific—to document a vanishing way of life. Under the guidance of our local expert, Towomy, we went deep into the primary rainforest to learn the ancient secrets of the Solomon Islands. From "Natural Wound Glue" that can close a deep cut, to a plant so powerful it is used to help regrow broken bones, the biodiversity here is a living medical journal. But it’s not just about healing; it’s about survival. We discover how to find water in a pinch, how to forage for wild food, and the traditional customs that have protected these people for centuries—including the eerie "Sea Spirit Deterrents" and the history of the headhunting spears. This isn't just a travel vlog; it’s a tribute to the conservation battle to keep this virgin rainforest standing and a look at the wisdom we lose when these forests disappear. Previous Video → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPYqXm2LovY ⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 | Tetepare: A Mission to Save the Wild 00:50 | Forest Pharmacy: Healing Bruises Fast 02:00 | Warning: The Stinging Plant 02:20 | [Intro Sequence] 02:50 | Lost Customs: Ancient Dating Rules 04:20 | Stop the Bleed: Nature’s Living Gauze 05:40 | Survival 101: Finding Clean Drinking Water 07:00 | The Earth Oven: Plants for Baking Meat 07:40 | Engineering the Jungle: Building Dugout Canoes 10:00 | Spiritual Protection: The Sea Spirit Deterrent 10:50 | Nature’s Stitches: How to Glue a Wound Shut 11:30 | Weapons of the Past: Bows & Headhunting Spears 12:30 | Respiratory Relief: Medicine for Whooping Cough 15:10 | The Sandpaper Leaf: Nature’s Finishing Tool 16:00 | Foraging: What’s Actually Safe to Eat? 18:15 | Walking Through the World’s Last Virgin Rainforest 18:35 | Bone Setter: The Plant That Heals Fractures 19:25 | Marine Repairs: Patching Canoes with Sap 20:30 | Shelter Building: The Perfect Thatch Roof 🎥 Episode 3 – Sailing Solomon Islands Become part of the crew 💡 PATREON ☞ https://www.patreon.com/c/onceuponareef ☕ Support Our Journey ☞ https://buymeacoffee.com/onceuponareef Or 🎁 Send us a gift ☞ https://throne.com/onceuponareef 🌍 Follow us: 📸 INSTAGRAM: @onceuponareef & @wheres.poppy 🎥 Poppy's YouTube Channel ☞ https://www.youtube.com/wherespoppy 📧 BUSINESS INQUIRIES - onceuponareef@protonmail.com Hey there, we’re Ryan and Poppy, a couple of adventure junkie sailors out to explore the most amazing reefs and islands in the world. We hope by documenting everything this lifestyle encompasses, we will inspire, raise awareness and support on going research to do our part in protecting these natural life systems. Subscribe if you’re on board! 📍Location: Tetepare Island, Western Province, Solomon Islands #sailingvlog #papuanewguinea #onceuponareef#Bushcraft #SurvivalSkills #SolomonIslands #Ethnobotany #JungleSurvival #NaturalMedicine #Documentary #Tetepare

Why This Island Refused to be Logged... 🌴 In a region where ancient forests are rapidly disappearing, one island stands alone. Welcome to Tetepare, known as the "Last Wild Island." After a challenging sail through the unpredictable winds of the Solomon Islands—accompanied by a pod of spinner dolphins—we finally arrived at this conservation miracle. Tetepare is the largest uninhabited tropical island in the Southern Hemisphere, and walking through its primary rainforest is like stepping back a thousand years. While much of the surrounding archipelago has been logged, these giant trees remain standing thanks to a community that chose preservation over profit. But being "wild" comes with a literal bite. In this episode, we trek into the jungle at midnight to find the world’s largest land-living arthropod: the Coconut Crab. The night took a tense turn when we returned to the water’s edge only to find our path blocked by salt-water crocodiles. With no other way back to the boat, we had to find a way to reclaim our kayaks and paddle through the very water where the shadows were moving. Previous Video → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J11bGAbcaUA ⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 | Chasing the Wind: Sailing the Unpredictable Solomons 01:00 | A Morning with Spinner Dolphins 01:50 | [Intro Sequence] 02:30 | Tetepare: The Last Wild Island 05:30 | Giants of the Rainforest: Walking Among Ancient trees 08:00 | Aerial View: Life on the Equator 09:15 | Conservations fighting chance: The Tetepare Story 11:30 | Midnight Hunt: Tracking the Giant Coconut Crab 14:25 | The Stand-off: Crocodiles in the Dark 🎥 Episode 2 – Sailing Solomon Islands Become part of the crew 💡 PATREON ☞ https://www.patreon.com/c/onceuponareef ☕ Support Our Journey ☞ https://buymeacoffee.com/onceuponareef Or 🎁 Send us a gift ☞ https://throne.com/onceuponareef 🌍 Follow us: 📸 INSTAGRAM: @onceuponareef & @wheres.poppy 🎥 Poppy's YouTube Channel ☞ https://www.youtube.com/wherespoppy 📧 BUSINESS INQUIRIES - onceuponareef@protonmail.com Hey there, we’re Ryan and Poppy, a couple of adventure junkie sailors out to explore the most amazing reefs and islands in the world. We hope by documenting everything this lifestyle encompasses, we will inspire, raise awareness and support on going research to do our part in protecting these natural life systems. Subscribe if you’re on board! 📍Location: Tetepare Island, Western Province, Solomon Islands #sailingvlog #papuanewguinea #onceuponareef#Tetepare #SolomonIslands #SailingDocumentary #RainforestConservation #CoconutCrab #WildTravel #SouthPacific

We Found Paradise... And The World's Most Dangerous Neighbors 🐊 Remote, rugged, and breathtakingly beautiful—welcome to the Solomon Islands. In this episode, we drop anchor in a place where time seems to have stood still. From our very first trade on the water to discovering the deep-rooted history of WWII , our arrival in the Solomons has been nothing short of surreal. But life in paradise isn't all palm trees and turquoise water. With a ripped sail to repair on a patch of grass and our food supplies dwindling to almost nothing, the reality of remote sailing starts to set in. Just when we thought we were in trouble, the incredible local community stepped in with a gift that kept us going and showed us a secret hidden spot that refreshed our motivation. Previous Video → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWlIM0XVtxU ⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 | The First Trade: Entering the Solomon Islands 04:00 | Intro Sequence 04:30 | Finding Paradise: WWII History & The Copra Trade 06:50 | Sail Repairs: DIY Maintenance in the Wild 08:50 | Slacklining, Empty Pantries, and an Unexpected Gift 10:00 | Hidden Oasis: The Jungle’s Secret Swimming Hole 12:30 | Crocodile Territory: Navigating Predator Waters 14:10 | The Kids of Rendova: A Village Welcome We’ll Never Forget 🎥 Episode 1 – Sailing Solomon Islands Become part of the crew 💡 PATREON ☞ https://www.patreon.com/c/onceuponareef ☕ Support Our Journey ☞ https://buymeacoffee.com/onceuponareef Or 🎁 Send us a gift ☞ https://throne.com/onceuponareef 🌍 Follow us: 📸 INSTAGRAM: @onceuponareef & @wheres.poppy 🎥 Poppy's YouTube Channel ☞ https://www.youtube.com/wherespoppy 📧 BUSINESS INQUIRIES - onceuponareef@protonmail.com Hey there, we’re Ryan and Poppy, a couple of adventure junkie sailors out to explore the most amazing reefs and islands in the world. We hope by documenting everything this lifestyle encompasses, we will inspire, raise awareness and support on going research to do our part in protecting these natural life systems. Subscribe if you’re on board! 📍Location: Rendova Island, Western Province, Solomon Islands #sailingvlog #papuanewguinea #onceuponareef#SailingAdventure #SolomonIslands #OffGridLiving #TravelDocumentary #BoatLife #Expedition

We set out for a 300nm passage to the Solomon Islands, but the ocean had other plans. What started as a frustratingly slow crawl to Grassy Islet—taking an entire day just to cover the first 15 miles—quickly turned into a sailor's nightmare. In the middle of the night, the "no wind" struggle vanished, replaced by violent, unpredictable squalls. We fought the elements for hours until the sound we dreaded most echoed through the dark: the screecher finally gave way. With 300 miles of open ocean to cover and a damaged sail, it was a challenging time to say the least. From the exhaustion of the storm to a breathtaking 3:00 AM arrival guided by dolphins and shooting stars, you really seem to experience the full spectrum of life out here. Previous Video → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyifApWYrJE ⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 The Calm Before the 300nm crossing 01:30 15 Miles in 24 Hours? A Frustrating Start ⚓ 04:30 Using Nature’s Sensors: The Feather Trick 05:40 DISASTER STRIKES: A Ripped Sail & The Midnight Squall ⛈️ 07:30 Safety First: Why We Finally Got Harnesses 09:50 The Final Stretch: Guided by Dolphins & Stars ✨ 🎥 Episode 0 – Sailing Solomon Islands 📍Location: Western Province, Solomon Islands Become part of the crew 💡 PATREON ☞ https://www.patreon.com/c/onceuponareef ☕ Support Our Journey ☞ https://buymeacoffee.com/onceuponareef Or 🎁 Send us a gift ☞ https://throne.com/onceuponareef 🌍 Follow us: 📸 INSTAGRAM: @onceuponareef & @wheres.poppy 🎥 Poppy's YouTube Channel ☞ https://www.youtube.com/wherespoppy 📧 BUSINESS INQUIRIES - onceuponareef@protonmail.com Hey there, we’re Ryan and Poppy, a couple of adventure junkie sailors out to explore the most amazing reefs and islands in the world. We hope by documenting everything this lifestyle encompasses, we will inspire, raise awareness and support on going research to do our part in protecting these natural life systems. Subscribe if you’re on board! #sailingvlog #papuanewguinea #onceuponareef

Stone axes? Retired from daily chopping, but cherished heirlooms—flaked from river rock, vine-lashed, worth a bride price. And bagi? Real banana seed beads, worth a pig or canoe. Kids inherit them like gold. Cash? Never needed here. Full Ep21: Making Bagi — The Ancient Shell Money of Papua New Guinea 👉 Watch now: https://youtu.be/JdbKFFGBd34 #StoneAxe #Bagi #PapuaNewGuinea #VillageWealth #RealPNG #sailingvlog #onceuponareef

Summary... (add time-stamps, change episode number, add location) No matches, no lighter—just two sticks and pure skill! Watch my friend spark fire from scratch using ancient PNG friction technique. 🔥 Mind-blowing survival mastery! Full Ep20: Inside Papua New Guinea’s Hidden World of Black Magic & Sorcery 👉 Watch now: https://youtu.be/G5dPPklxl48 #FrictionFire #FireFromScratch #PapuaNewGuinea #SurvivalSkills #PrimitiveFire #sailingvlog #onceuponareef

Insane traditional fishing in Papua New Guinea! Feathers mimic squid bait, rock in coconut leaf sinks it—tug drops the rock, feathers bob like prey! 🪝 Mind-blowing indigenous hack from Papua New Guinea. Full episode: Village Life in Remote Papua New Guinea | Lost Traditions & Ancient Skills (Ep19) 👉 Watch now: https://youtu.be/RAMj6v6wWjo #PapuaNewGuinea #TraditionalFishing #IndigenousKnowledge #FishingHack #Onceuponareef #sailingvlog

Kids hand-carve ukuleles, trade whole chickens by canoe, fish with feathers + a rock! 🪝 Ancient “bagi” coral money, traditional drumming, and a forgotten way of life. Pure magic! Full raw adventure live NOW on YouTube 👉 https://youtu.be/RAMj6v6wWjo #PapuaNewGuinea #VillageLife #TraditionalFishing #SailingAdventure #sailingvlog #onceuponareef

Local kids in Motorina Village, Papua New Guinea, carve ukuleles from jungle wood + fishing line… then jump on our boat for an epic jam session! 🎶 Most musical island yet! Full episode: Village Life in Remote Papua New Guinea | Lost Traditions & Ancient Skills (Ep19) 👉 Watch now: https://youtu.be/RAMj6v6wWjo #PapuaNewGuinea #PNG #HandmadeUkulele #BoatJamb#sailingvlogb#onceuponareef

Traded for huge megapode eggs in PNG—laid in compost mounds, not nests! Villagers dig them from warm, decaying piles (no brooding, just nature’s incubator). 50% bigger than chicken eggs, ultra-rich yolks. Insane flavor! Full Ep20: Inside Papua New Guinea’s Hidden World of Black Magic & Sorcery 👉 Watch now: https://youtu.be/G5dPPklxl48 #MegapodeEggs #MoundNests #PapuaNewGuinea #VillageTrade #PNGDelicacy #sailingvlog #onceuponareef

Our friend in Papua New Guinea hand-carves custom wooden bowls, plates, forks, and spoons from a single jungle log—using only traditional tools over 7 days! 🪚 Pure skill, zero machines. Full Ep20: Inside Papua New Guinea’s Hidden World of Black Magic & Sorcery 👉 Watch now: https://youtu.be/G5dPPklxl48 #WoodCarving #HandmadeBowls #PapuaNewGuinea #TraditionalCraft #PNGSkills #sailingvlog #onceuponareef

Simple living, rich tradition — join us in Papua New Guinea as we cook over the fire in a handmade clay pot and experience the rhythm of island life. The morning begins with a canoe pulling alongside our boat — locals bring us one of our favourites: fresh baked cassava pudding, still warm from the fire. Not long after, they return with live mud crabs they’ve just caught by hand along the mangroves — strong, fast, and very much alive as they make a chaotic escape across the cockpit. Out here, life moves with the tides. People grow up on the sea, learning to sail, fish, and navigate from a young age — skills passed down through generations. We often talk about how it feels being here; how the community looks out for us with such care that it reminds us of being “cubs” — protected, guided, and watched over. Later, we go ashore to a small fishing outpost. Along the coast, local fishermen have built simple structures — a hut for sleeping, others for drying fish over the fire, or taking shelter when the weather turns. These places tell stories of everyday island life — resourceful, communal, and deeply connected to the ocean. We light a fire and cook in a traditional clay pot, a vessel shaped entirely by hand from local clay, then fired and hardened over coals. These pots are more than cooking tools — they hold deep cultural significance and are used during weddings, funerals, and feasts of importance. Each one represents care, continuity, and the sharing of life’s most meaningful moments. As evening falls, we return to our floating home to tackle a small but steady task — repairing wood rot on the boat, keeping her ready for the next crossing. A day of fire, craft, and quiet purpose — moments that remind us why this life at sea feels so rich and full. 🌀 A story of craft, simplicity, and connection in the islands of Papua New Guinea. 🔥 Episode 22 – Sailing Louisiades, Papua New Guinea 📍 Location: Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea 🎣 Themes: Traditional Cooking, Clay Pot Traditions, Island Culture, Ocean Communities, Simple Living, Sailing Life ⏱️ Timestamps: 0:00 – 🍮 Fresh baked cassava pudding & live mud crabs delivered by canoe 1:52 – 🐚 Life at sea & being cared for like “cubs” 2:52 – 🎥 Intro video 3:18 – 🥥 Coconut plantation — a way to provide water during droughts 4:10 – ⛵ Sailing culture — learning the ocean from childhood 7:12 – 🛖 Exploring the fisherman’s huts ashore 11:05 – 🔥 Cooking on the fire in a traditional clay pot 13:06 – ⚙️ Boat repair — fixing wood rot aboard 🫶 Support Our Journey: 💡 Patreon → https://www.patreon.com/c/onceuponareef ☕ Buy us a coffee → https://buymeacoffee.com/onceuponareef 🎁 Send us a gift → https://throne.com/onceuponareef 🌍 Follow Our Adventures: 📸 Instagram → @onceuponareef & @wheres.poppy 🎥 Poppy's YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/wherespoppy 📧 Business Inquiries: onceuponareef@protonmail.com Hey, we’re Ryan and Poppy — two sailors exploring the remote islands and reefs of the Pacific. Through stories like this, we hope to share the beauty, culture, and simplicity of life at sea while raising awareness for the fragile ecosystems and communities that sustain it. 🧭 Subscribe and join the voyage! #PapuaNewGuinea #IslandLife #TraditionalCooking #ClayPot #OnceUponAReef #SailingDocumentary #PacificIslands #CulturalHeritage #SimpleLiving #AdventureTravel

Locals surprised us with a mystery bag… and it was CRAWLING with LIVE mud crabs! 😱🦀 🌴 Watch the full story → Clay Pot Fire Cooked Feast (Ep22) on our channel Once Upon A Reef. 👇 Subscribe for more island adventures and reef stories. Support the journey and come get involved on Patreon 💙 #OnceUponAReef #PapuaNewGuinea #MudCrabs #IslandAdventure #HiddenParadise #PNG #TropicalVibes #ReefLife #OceanAdventure #PacificIslands #NatureLovers #OffGridLiving #SurvivalCooking

A hidden limestone cave deep in Papua New Guinea. Guided by the village chief, we trek barefoot over sharp limestone rock before diving into the crystal water with local kids. 🌴 Watch the full story → Guided by Village Chief to Secret Limestone Cave (Ep17) on our channel Once Upon A Reef. 👇 Subscribe for more island adventures and reef stories. Support the journey and come get involved on Patreon 💙 #OnceUponAReef #PapuaNewGuinea #LimestoneCave #HiddenParadise #BlueCave #IslandAdventure #CaveSwimming #PNG #TropicalVibes #ReefLife #OceanAdventure #PacificIslands #NatureLovers #TravelShorts #OffGridTravel

Deep in Papua New Guinea’s island chain, we uncover ancient traditions still alive today — from stone axes to the making of Bagi, the shell money that continues to shape island life. Join us for a rare look into real island life and the cultural exchanges that still define this remote corner of the Pacific. 🌴 Don’t forget to subscribe and sail with us as we explore more untold stories from the sea. As we sail across the turquoise waters of Papua New Guinea, our lines go tight — three big pelagics, mackerel and tuna, strike while we make our way toward the remote island of Panawina. But as the day unfolds, something unusual happens — no canoes, no visitors. In a region where hospitality is a way of life, silence often means something deeper. Later, we learn the village has been caught in local tensions linked to sorcery — a reality still deeply woven into life in these islands. That evening, a kind man finally paddles out to meet us — a village pastor with a warm smile. We gift him the fish we caught, and in return, he welcomes us ashore. At his home, we’re shown an ancient tradition — the making and meaning of the stone axe, once a vital tool and powerful trade item, symbolizing strength, skill, and ancestral connection. That evening, he shares a rare and beautiful tradition — the ancient art of making Bagi, also known as Mwali, the traditional shell money of the Milne Bay region. Using simple handmade tools, he crafts this valuable currency from the chama shell, a large red shell they dive for in deep waters. 🐚 About Bagi: Bagi are carefully shaped and polished shell disks or segments, usually strung together into a necklace-like form. Each polished shell piece represents wealth, status, and social connection. These shells are shaped, smoothed, and strung by hand — a form of traditional currency that has been used for generations to trade food, pigs, sailing canoes, and even for bride price — a timeless system of universal exchange that still binds communities together today. What began as a simple sail and a few fish became a journey into the heart of a living culture — one still bound by generosity, craftsmanship, and the rhythm of the ocean. 🌀 A story of connection, belief, and timeless exchange in the islands of Papua New Guinea. 🐚 Episode 21 – Sailing Louisiades, Papua New Guinea 📍 Location: Panawina Island, Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea 🎣 Themes: Traditional Money, Bagi (Mwali) Shell Currency, Stone Axe Traditions, Island Culture, Sorcery Beliefs, Sailing Adventure, Papua New Guinea Documentary, Milne Bay Culture ⏱️ Timestamps: 🐟 0:00 – Poppy reels in her first mackerel and tuna as we sail toward Panawina Island, Papua New Guinea ⛵ 1:35 – Once Upon a Reef intro — life and travel by sailboat through remote Melanesia ⚡ 3:36 – Why no one visited us — uncovering local conflicts tied to sorcery and belief 🍲 6:41 – Sharing a meal and stories with the island’s pastor and his family 🪓 7:07 – Discovering the ancient craft and meaning of the traditional stone axe 🐚 7:24 – The making of Bagi (Mwali) — how the people of Papua New Guinea still create and use their traditional shell money 🕯️ 8:27 – Traditions when someone passes away — how belief and custom guide village life 🫶 Support Our Journey: 💡 Patreon → https://www.patreon.com/c/onceuponareef ☕ Buy us a coffee → https://buymeacoffee.com/onceuponareef 🎁 Send us a gift → https://throne.com/onceuponareef 🌍 Follow Our Adventures: 📸 Instagram → @onceuponareef & @wheres.poppy 🎥 Poppy's YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/wherespoppy 📧 Business Inquiries: onceuponareef@protonmail.com Hey there, we’re Ryan and Poppy, a couple of adventure-loving sailors exploring the most remote reefs and islands in the world. Through our sailing documentaries, we hope to inspire, raise awareness, and support ongoing research to help protect these natural life systems. 🧭 Subscribe and join the voyage! #PapuaNewGuinea #Bagi #TraditionalMoney #SailingDocumentary #IslandLife #ShellMoney #OnceUponAReef #PacificCulture #AdventureTravel #CulturalHeritage

On a remote island in the Pacific, we helped the village chief build his traditional sailing canoe — a story that connects to a secret cave hidden deep in limestone cliffs 🪨⛵ On Panasia Island, far from the rest of the world, the village chief is hand-crafting a traditional sailing canoe the same way it’s been done for generations. We offered a few power tools to help — blending old wisdom with a touch of modern convenience. What makes this moment even more special is that this same chief guided us to a secret limestone cave in our main episode. 🎥 Watch the full story here: 👉 Guided by Village Chief to Secret Limestone Cave (Ep17) This is what adventure is really about — connection, culture, and the ocean. 🌊 Subscribe to follow our voyage as we sail across the Pacific sharing real stories. 📍 Location: Panasia Island, Louisiade Archipelago ⛵ Expedition: Traditional canoe building with the local chief 🧭 Theme: Culture · Sailing · Documentary · Adventure #OnceUponAReef #SailingAdventure #PacificIslands #TraditionalCanoe #Documentary #SailingLife #IslandCulture #OffGridAdventure #PanasiaIsland #OceanStories #LimestoneCave #VillageChief

With the village chief’s permission and a written note, we paddled across open ocean to reach an island hiding ancient skull caves 💀🏝️ With the village chief’s permission and a written note, we paddled across an open channel to a remote island where skull caves are hidden deep in the limestone. No one truly knows the full story — some say sacred burial, some whisper of rituals or sorcery. Whatever the truth, standing there feels like stepping into another time. 📺 Watch the full story in: 👉 Adventures in a Traditional Sailing Canoe (Ep18) 📍 Location: Panasia Island, Louisiade Archipelago 🧭 Theme: Exploration · Culture · Mystery · Sailing Adventure #OnceUponAReef #SkullCave #AdventureTravel #PanasiaIsland #PacificIslands #SailingAdventure #PapuaNewGuinea #IslandLife #CulturalExploration #TravelDocumentary #HiddenCave #OffGridAdventure

Three people. One two-person kayak. A crossing we’ll never forget. We paddled over shallow reef and into the deep open channel between islands — chasing whispers of ancient skull caves. What started as a wild idea quickly turned into one of those “too late to turn back” moments. By the time we reached the island, the kayak was barely afloat. 📺 Watch the full story on OnceUponAReef — “Adventures in a Traditional Sailing Canoe (Ep18)”. #AdventureTravel #KayakLife #IslandExpedition #ReefCrossing #SkullCave #OnceUponAReef #OpenOcean #WildJourneys #TravelVlog #IslandAdventure