Diving in Fiji

[Cobby]

Hello
We've got a week's stopover in Fiji enroute to spending a year in Oz. We'll be arriving in Fiji on Dec 30th. Can anyone recommend which island/resort to stay at - ideally not too long a transfer time as we'll have 2 kids in tow who will probably be pretty crabby after a long flight!
Cheers

[Keith Whittaker]

Get a local hotel in Nadi for ur 1st night then get on the big yellow catamaran up to the Yasawa islands, The further up the chain you go, the less "organised" everything is. Wonderful friendly people,( many of the smaller island resorts are owned and run by the locals. ), crystal clear waters, fantastic diving. You'll wish that you had a weeks stopover in Oz prior to a year there!!!


I am incredibly jealous

keith

[tugboat sue]

We stayed and got married at the Sonaisali Island just past Nadi, about 1 hr from the airport, did our first try dive at this resort, very pretty gardens decent food and staff are wonderful.
Although it was 3 years last December since we were at the resort so things may have changed

[Pro Dive Europe]

Some of the best diving in Fiji is on Rainbow reef (Pretty big as it is 35km long)

Nadi is a very busy, dusty town with a number of businesses and is by no means a wonderful place to visit, budget accommodation; it is conveniently located close to the airport.

I have no experience of other centres/islands, but our centre on Taveuni accommodates both divers and non-divers. Diving the reef can be done from Vanua and Taveuni.

On your return watch out, the baggage is limited however I would definitely make sure you have your heavy items in carry on. Baggage weight is limited to 25kg including scuba. Excess baggage costs $2.88 per kg Fiji and they want the money!

[Snash]

This is a cut and paste from an earlier post of mine about our stay in Fiji.

<paste>

Stayed on Castaway island and did some diving there,

As little Pete says the soft corals are fantastic almost unreal. Think fake plastic corals you see in some fish tanks (alongside plastic skulls and old wrecks (complete with rigging )) and you get the idea. I often had to convince myself they were not fake.

Operation is pretty slick there (think speedboat with twin 200's - ). Tended to do 2 dives (one early in the morning - advanced) and later in the morning (suitable for all).


Small fish thingys were superb, less impressed wih big stuff - for that go to Raratonga. Still as a stopover on the way back to blighty, it is a good palce to unwind and chill.

<paste>

the island is quite family orientated with a kids club and activities and separate meal times at dinner.

Welcome to Castaway Island, Fiji

Cheers

Snash

[Dibbler]

Well I've run out of people around me to tell/annoy.
I'm off to Treasure Island Then Musket Cove (West Islands) on the 7th July for our Honeymoon. Best thing is Missus has looked into the 'Unlimited Diving' package and suggests I buy that... How Good is that !!!!!

[Fiji Dave]

Cobby,

check out this place - Fiji Diving, Fishing and Accommodation - Matava Resort, Kadavu

It's on the island of Kadavu (pronounced Kandavu - fijians prnounce d'd as nd's!) and it just superb. You can probably get flights out to kadavu from Nadi or Suva the main capital (about 2-3 hours drive by taxi from Nadi)

The resort is superb, traditional thatched fijian bures (pronouced 'burray') and they are based right by the Great Astrolabe Reef - possibly one of the best places in the world to dive.

I'd agree with what a couple of other have said in that I wouldn't stay in Nadi - it's not the best place in the world, just a small town, although if you do end up there then I recommend a visit to the temple at one end of the main high street, it'll while away half an hour and it's a great building to look at.

There are quite a few places along the south coast of Viti Levu (the larger of the two main fijian islands) - and there are all ranges of places to stay from backpacker hostels to 5 star luxury.

Pretty much wherever you choose to stay you'll have a great time.


..oh...and can I say how much I hate you!

[Repetitive Diver]

There are load of options in Fiji. The previous post mentioned Matava Resort - Kadavu is great for diving and Matava is a fine resort - very atmposhperic - as long as you dont need Ac/Electricity. There are other options on Kadavu.

Taveuni and Vanua Levu also have plenty of options with excellent diving and chouices between luxury, comfort and budget.

What about a liveaboard. many of Fiji's best sites are away from the main islands and are best dived from a boat. There are not that many in Fiji but they are excellent.

More info here: Fiji Scuba Diving - Taveuni - Kadavu Island

Good luck

[BJ]

As you probably know Fiji is composed of a lot of islands. Although I do not disagree with people's recommendations above, they are being totally impractical for you in that you have not time for additional flights with your crabby (you said it!) kids.

Since you will land at Nadi, I suggest you go to Beqa Lagoon and dive with Benqa Adventure Divers.
DIVERNET- Diving with the BAD BOYS - Sharks in Fiji

[ianwheeldon]

Another vote for Beqa lagoon. I thought the coral and viz there was much better the the yasawas.