Diving Fiji 2ND week in October

I will be stopping in Fiji for a week upon my return from Tonga. I am looking for a place to do some wall diving as well and any other type of diving available.

There are some nice threads here but am looking for any other info as well. It would be nice to find a place to snorkel from the hotel or resort to get aquainted with my housing before or after ACUBA diving.

A place called Susie's on Taveuni (I think) was recommended, but I have no true preferences other than being relatively easy to access form the airport, inexpensive and safe.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Hi Bob -

Can you elaborate on the area(s) in Fiji which you are planning on visiting? I am presuming you are planning on staying in/around the Denerau area (just west of Nadi) or are you open to travelling about?

1) My understanding is that the diving is good on a liveaboard around the top/left part of Fiji, great soft corals + such - but that doesn't fit your need for snorkelling

2) If you consider flying to Taveuni, there's a resort there called Paradise Taveuni. Not cheap, but worth it if you like shore dives (not snorkelling) and great dives around the area

3) If you want snorkelling, anywhere around the Mamanuca Islands will be good for you - there's plenty of small reefs just outside your door, easy snorkelling and decent number of accommodation options

Cheers,

~ Frank

I doing a quick trip to Fiji...arrive 10/3 and go directly to Taveuni for a few days... staying at Paradise. .. then flying to the main island for a few days before heading back to the states on 10/10.

If you decide to stay on the main island, just find a resort along the coral coast and you can dive Beqa. Wadroika Resort has a really good week dive special running now... it's around $800 or so all inclusive for a week.

The diving off Taveuni is fantastic!!!

Hi Bob -

 

Can you elaborate on the area(s) in Fiji which you are planning on visiting? I am presuming you are planning on staying in/around the Denerau area (just west of Nadi) or are you open to travelling about?

 

1) My understanding is that the diving is good on a liveaboard around the top/left part of Fiji, great soft corals + such - but that doesn't fit your need for snorkelling

2) If you consider flying to Taveuni, there's a resort there called Paradise Taveuni. Not cheap, but worth it if you like shore dives (not snorkelling) and great dives around the area

3) If you want snorkelling, anywhere around the Mamanuca Islands will be good for you - there's plenty of small reefs just outside your door, easy snorkelling and decent number of accommodation options

 

Cheers,

~ Frank

So sorry Frank, I did not clearly state my intentions. My plan is to SCUBA dive and if time allows, I would snorkel in the shallows before or afterward. I know very little about Fiji at all. Someone mentioned the name Taveuni as a destination which, I think, is where Susie's is located. I understend It's a qucik flight from the main island to Taveuni.

AM looking for a way to get there and a place stay and to dive from once I arrive.

Thanks so much.

Ahhhh - all good Bob. Thanks for clarifying intentions.

You can google any of the names below and they should return some information about the operator.

As someone else posted on this, you will need to take a flight over to Taveuni which is north-east of Nadi (International Airport). Not sure how much luggage you'll have, assuming you have your own gear, you will need to be careful about weight restrictions as the flight is on a small plane and they weigh your check-in bags ... AND YOU ! You can fly Air Pacific which is the national Fijian carrier - we flew with them and they are just fine.

Taveuni is great for diving - I've not heard of Susie's, so I will abstain for making any commentary to be fair. My girlfriend & stayed at Paradise Taveuni (1 hr truck transfer through the island to the resort) which seems to be more for couples/families than single divers but don't let that deter you. It's run by an Aussie couple who purchased the resort, so they are english speaking & are nice to chat with. I also believe there's another operation on the island (plantation something?).. the pro with staying with Paradise Taveuni is that they are located in the south-east corner of the island where there is plenty of good shore dives + close (<10 min) boat rides. Note that the only notable exception to the close proximity of the diving is the actual Great White Wall dive, which was quite a ways away but a fabulous dive - it's a deep dive (25+m) however has spectacular soft coral growth, including "white" coral that looks like snow underwater. Awesome stuff !

A week seems ample time, you should be able to do 4 (2 boat dives, 1 shore dive, 1 night) dives per day and a dive master should be able to go as your buddy whenever you decide to go. When we were there (Sept 08) a dive master would be happy to go with you on your shore dive, so you are pretty much guaranteed an automatic dive buddy.

Hope this helps.

So sorry Frank, I did not clearly state my intentions. My plan is to SCUBA dive and if time allows, I would snorkel in the shallows before or afterward. I know very little about Fiji at all. Someone mentioned the name Taveuni as a destination which, I think, is where Susie's is located. I understend It's a qucik flight from the main island to Taveuni.

 

AM looking for a way to get there and a place to dive from once I arrive.

 

Thanks so much.

I doing a quick trip to Fiji...arrive 10/3 and go directly to Taveuni for a few days... staying at Paradise. .. then flying to the main island for a few days before heading back to the states on 10/10.

 

If you decide to stay on the main island, just find a resort along the coral coast and you can dive Beqa. Wadroika Resort has a really good week dive special running now... it's around $800 or so all inclusive for a week.

 

The diving off Taveuni is fantastic!!!

SeaFan.

It looks like Susie's is now called Paradise Taveuni. That's the second recommendation for that place. Have you stayed there before? It may just be easy to make a reservation there and be done with it.

Anyone else make a recommendation?

Thanks again.

Another way to go might be to take a transfer (2.5hr) from Nadi down to Beqa Lagoon.

They have a world class shark dive there through Beqa Adventure Divers.

The manager Andrew will help you with any details and since your in Fiji, it's not to be missed.

You would avoid the small plane and attendant luggage issues.

It's safe, well run and spectacular. They also do wreck and reef dives.

We went on the front of our Nai'a trip in June. Just my 2 cents.

John

SeaFan.

 

It looks like Susie's is now called Paradise Taveuni. That's the second recommendation for that place. Have you stayed there before? It may just be easy to make a reservation there and be done with it.

 

Anyone else make a recommendation?

 

Thanks again.

This will be my first time visiting this resort... I have stayed at Garden Isle before.

I think the best thing would be for you to just hire a cab to take you from Nadi over to the coral coast and dive beqa. The shark dive is great and like biminitwist said, you don't have to take the smalle plane over to taveuni. The reason my trip will be so short is that I'm doing a fam to check out a few of the resorts and dive operations.

Next time I bring a group there I plan on having them spend 5 days diving both islands.

How about Levuka in Ovalau? I will go there diving for a few days also on mid October. Hope that I can have a few dives in Wakaya Passage.

Another way to go might be to take a transfer (2.5hr) from Nadi down to Beqa Lagoon.

They have a world class shark dive there through Beqa Adventure Divers.

The manager Andrew will help you with any details and since your in Fiji, it's not to be missed.

I am thinking Beqa Lagoon is a place/location. But, there is also a Beqa Lagoon Resort. Is this what you are referring to? I do not see where Beqa Adventure Divers has lodging? I have sent an e-mil, but as yet have had no reply.

The quest continues.

I am thinking Beqa Lagoon is a place/location. But, there is also a Beqa Lagoon Resort. Is this what you are referring to? I do not see where Beqa Adventure Divers has lodging? I have sent an e-mil, but as yet have had no reply.

 

The quest continues.

That confused me as well.

Both dives are conducted from Pacific Harbor from either Aquatrek or Beqa Adveture Divers (B.A.D.) http://www.fiji-sharks.com/. We did both as the BAD trip was full one day and they were very different. I'd give the edge to BAD since the feed in a preserve and the sharks were bigger but both were great.

Beqa Lagoon Resort is actually located on the island of Beqa and requires a boat ride there from Pacific Harbor. The resorts in Pacific Harbor were;

Lagoon Resort USD$50-100

The Pearl South Pacific USD$101-200

I believe the Pearl was nicer but we stayed at the Lagoon Resort since the BAD operation were on the premises.

Nice to walk over and get on the boat after breakfast. The Lagoon Resort was fine but the hot water supply was brief, staff were outstanding.

Google Pacific Harbor Fiji and a host of activities will come up.

Something must have gone wrong with your e-mail as Andrew from BAD http://www.fiji-sharks.com/

was very fast to reply and handled every detail including our transportation from Nadi. Our friend got scammed by a Taxi and paid $180 US to get transfered (one way) over from NAdi when ours was included with our stay at Pacific Harbor including two shark dive days (usually one reef and one shark) and the transfers back. We did their 3 day add on and actually ended up with an extra day when Air Pacific changed our flight at the last minute.

Good Luck. John

That confused me as well.

Both dives are conducted from Pacific Harbor from either Aquatrek or Beqa Adveture Divers (B.A.D.) http://www.fiji-sharks.com/. We did both as the BAD trip was full one day and they were very different. I'd give the edge to BAD since the feed in a preserve and the sharks were bigger but both were great.

Beqa Lagoon Resort is actually located on the island of Beqa and requires a boat ride there from Pacific Harbor. The resorts in Pacific Harbor were;

 

Lagoon Resort USD$50-100

The Pearl South Pacific USD$101-200

 

I believe the Pearl was nicer but we stayed at the Lagoon Resort since the BAD operation were on the premises.

Nice to walk over and get on the boat after breakfast. The Lagoon Resort was fine but the hot water supply was brief, staff were outstanding.

Google Pacific Harbor Fiji and a host of activities will come up.

Something must have gone wrong with your e-mail as Andrew from BAD http://www.fiji-sharks.com/

was very fast to reply and handled every detail including our transportation from Nadi. Our friend got scammed by a Taxi and paid $180 US to get transfered (one way) over from NAdi when ours was included with our stay at Pacific Harbor including two shark dive days (usually one reef and one shark) and the transfers back. We did their 3 day add on and actually ended up with an extra day when Air Pacific changed our flight at the last minute.

Good Luck. John

I missed this when you posted John. Too late for me, but will help others, I'm sure.

I am staying at Wadroika Resort, per SeaFans plug. Cheap, all inclusive, including meals, and transport. I am mainly interested in the Shark Dives, and "regular" dives can be upgraded. I hope that is true! We shall see.

You make a good point about eating breakfast and walking over to the boat without the transfer hassles.

I didn't hear back from Beqa Lagoon Resort either, as well as a couple of BackPackers in Nadi. Hmmm, interesting, I must be doing something wrong. I will shoot B.A.D. another e-mail and make sure I can upgrade.

Good info ... thanks.