Studying at Cloudbreak U

My shot of Mick Fanning's classic wave from when they were shooting "Missing." Photo: Dave Nilsen

Sally Fitzgibbons setting up for the barrel. I got dragged over the reef from this wave, but it was worth it. Photo: Dave Nilsen

This was what made my entire trip – getting to watch Kelly get spit out of a kegging barrel at Cloudbreak from the safety of a Jet Ski. Photo: Dave Nilsen

Dane Reynolds doing what he does best. Photo: Dave Nilsen

John John was in Fiji for a few days practicing for the Hurley Pro when I managed to get this one at Cloudbreak. Photo: Dave Nilsen

Looking out of one at Cloudbreak. This was a very small day so I shot some empties. Photo: Dave Nilsen

This is what Restaurants looks like when it's on. A perfect barrel with tons of people trying to get the shack of their lives. Photo: Dave Nilsen

This was a choppy day at Cloudbreak so I decided to try to take some shots underwater. This one came out best. Photo: Dave Nilsen

This was the day they shot Mick Fanning's "Missing" at Cloudbreak. This was one that went unridden. Photo: Dave Nilsen

Shane Dorian had so many good waves this day and made the best of every one. Photo: Dave Nilsen

This is Wilkes Pass, one of the right-handers in Fiji. This day was perfect – it was super glassy and we were the only boat here. Photo: Dave Nilsen

This is Isei Tokovou, one of the local Fijians that shreds Cloudbreak. It was awesome to watch the local guys surf there because most of them have the wave pretty dialed. Photo: Dave Nilsen

This is my friend Eric waiting for a wave at a break called Lighthouse. Usually, the water here is not nearly this clear so it's pretty amazing to see it like this. Photo: Dave Nilsen

This was a spot called Desperations. It's pretty far from the other waves and not visited often so the water is very clear. Photo: Dave Nilsen

An empty at Restaurants. Not something I saw a lot of this day with almost 50 people in the water. Photo: Dave Nilsen

Just an empty at Cloudbreak with the boat from Namotu watching. Photo: Dave Nilsen

This is Joan Cervello from Spain who was here at Cloudbreak on a surf trip with his friends. Believe it or not, I took this with my eyes closed because I didn't have goggles and I wear contact lenses. Photo: Dave Nilsen

This is Nate. I met him after this wave and he told me that he worked on Tavarua. Just another day at the office for him. Photo: Dave Nilsen

This was looking back on the lineup at Cloudbreak from the top of a wave on a decent size day. I had already been floored by a wave so I was swimming outside to catch my breath when I took this shot. Photo: Dave Nilsen

The lineup at Tavarua Right – one of the few right-handers in Fiji that not many know about. Photo: Dave Nilsen