adpfam
Contributor
So the cyclone was a bit of a surprise , but i just found out that there is a Typhoid break out complicated by the recent weather we wont be able to get vacinated in time to go . what elso could go wrong ?
Fiji :Just when i thought it couldnt get worse
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WhaleSharker1
Registered
Have you ever been there in January. or have you ever been there what can you tell me about the diving ?
January will be hotter than Hades and super humid because it is their summer.
The diving is totally super!!! I can't say enough about how great it was. The islands are all protected from the ocean's worst swells due to their volanic nature. We were there March '09 and were enthralled. Took Air Pacific from Los Angeles, slept the whole night, landed at 8am. Awesome!
The diving is totally super!!! I can't say enough about how great it was. The islands are all protected from the ocean's worst swells due to their volanic nature. We were there March '09 and were enthralled. Took Air Pacific from Los Angeles, slept the whole night, landed at 8am. Awesome!
OP
adpfam
Contributor
jax hope for calm seas PDC our two week stay the port was closed 5 days due to high swells and wind jan feb diving was ok murky some days as they were busy replacing the beach .cozumel was great who are you diving with ?
seattitude
Guest
Just got back 2 days ago after 3 weeks in Fiji. Week 1 on Peter Hughes Island Dancer, week 2 at Bequa Lagoon and week 3 at Paradise Taveuni. We were at Paradise Taveuni when the category 4 cyclone Tomas hit. We were actually in the eye. Very scary! I think we were the first ones to get off the island on Thursday. Things looked almost normal in Nadi. The Fijians are amazing people and despite the destruction they put a smile on their face and carry on.
seattitude - I am going to the two resorts you went to - Paradise and Beqa, as well as another. I am sorry to hear your timing with Tomas was less than desirable. On the bright side, now you have an adventurous story to share! I have watched several videos/interviews with the Taveuni Fijians - and you are right they still have smiles and seem to be carrying on just fine despite the destruction.
I was wondering if you might have any tips for me - I have never been to Fiji before and any insights you can offer about those two resorts would be appreciated. (I have read quite a bit on Beqa here - but really nothing on Paradise.)
Thank you!
I was wondering if you might have any tips for me - I have never been to Fiji before and any insights you can offer about those two resorts would be appreciated. (I have read quite a bit on Beqa here - but really nothing on Paradise.)
Thank you!
seattitude
Guest
Bequa is a much larger resort than Paradise. We had an ocean front bures and loved it. The cool water dipping pool was wonderful on those hot nights. The food was very good - especially the deserts. Do not miss the shark dive. We were very lucky and saw 2 tiger sharks on the day we went. Even without the tiger's it would have been a great dive because of all the bull and lemon sharks. It's hard to believe that you can feel safe with all those mouths full of teeth just a few feet in front of you. The only thing I thought they could improve on is a better rinsing area for gear and cameras.
Paradise is a very special place. Allen and Terri and their staff will do all they can to make you feel comfortable. Unfortunately, the cyclone changed our itinerary. We only got in one shore dive and then the cyclone was approaching. They had taken the boats to a safe harbor. The house reef was like hard coral Disneyland before the cyclone. My husband snorkeled their after the cyclone and said there was a lot of damage - so sad. I have to say that if I had to be in a category 4 cyclone I was in a good place. Allen kept us constantly updated and put in many hours keeping us safe and comfortable. They still prepared full meals although we told them we would have been happy with something simple. We were never without power or water during the storm. Within 24 hours of the cyclone we were able to move back into our bures. They hired many people from the village to get the resort looking nice and getting things back in order. We were happy with the food on the simpler meal plan. It is easy and not expensive if you want more to eat. The drinks are reasonably priced. The bures are traditional Fijian so don't expect air conditioning. There are ceiling fans that do a reasonable job. We absolutely loved the outdoor shower in our bure. There is also an outdoor jacuzzi but it never worked out for us to use it. I enjoyed a very nice massage - Star is great. I hope that we will be able to go back some day and enjoy all that Taveuni and Paradise have to offer - without a cyclone.
Paradise is a very special place. Allen and Terri and their staff will do all they can to make you feel comfortable. Unfortunately, the cyclone changed our itinerary. We only got in one shore dive and then the cyclone was approaching. They had taken the boats to a safe harbor. The house reef was like hard coral Disneyland before the cyclone. My husband snorkeled their after the cyclone and said there was a lot of damage - so sad. I have to say that if I had to be in a category 4 cyclone I was in a good place. Allen kept us constantly updated and put in many hours keeping us safe and comfortable. They still prepared full meals although we told them we would have been happy with something simple. We were never without power or water during the storm. Within 24 hours of the cyclone we were able to move back into our bures. They hired many people from the village to get the resort looking nice and getting things back in order. We were happy with the food on the simpler meal plan. It is easy and not expensive if you want more to eat. The drinks are reasonably priced. The bures are traditional Fijian so don't expect air conditioning. There are ceiling fans that do a reasonable job. We absolutely loved the outdoor shower in our bure. There is also an outdoor jacuzzi but it never worked out for us to use it. I enjoyed a very nice massage - Star is great. I hope that we will be able to go back some day and enjoy all that Taveuni and Paradise have to offer - without a cyclone.
Seattitude, when you were leaving Taveuni, did you notice if the islands vegatation was decimated or was it more like a lot of trees blown down but over-all the plants looked like they would survive?
I am scheduled to go to Maravu the middle of April and am wondering if re-scheduling is something I should pursue. My wife does not dive and we choose Taveuni based on the topography, fauna, waterfalls and over-all "Garden Island" beauty factor as well as the diving for me. Wondering if we gave it a few months maybe things would be better? Then again, we may not actually have any option to re-schedule and may wind up going anyway. Just curious if the island's plants are pretty much laid waste or not. Any info is appreciated, thanks.
I am scheduled to go to Maravu the middle of April and am wondering if re-scheduling is something I should pursue. My wife does not dive and we choose Taveuni based on the topography, fauna, waterfalls and over-all "Garden Island" beauty factor as well as the diving for me. Wondering if we gave it a few months maybe things would be better? Then again, we may not actually have any option to re-schedule and may wind up going anyway. Just curious if the island's plants are pretty much laid waste or not. Any info is appreciated, thanks.
seattitude
Guest
Hi cbuck1962, I can only report on our resort and the road to the airport. There were lots and lots of downed trees. Many of the trees and shrubs that had leaves have been stripped. But... it's the tropics. I noticed a tropical plant outside our bure that had been damaged in the cyclone so they made a clean cut a few feet above the ground. Overnight there was about 4" of new growth. At Paradise in the 2 days after the cyclone they were replanting the flower beds with plants they got from the property further inland. They say all they have to do is stick it in the ground and it will grow. I'm sure that in a very short time it will all be lush again. Your best bet would be to contact the resort and maybe they can provide photos and updates.
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