3 weeks in Fiji in November

[snowdiver]

My husband and I are planning on heading to Fiji for 3 weeks in November into the first week of December. I was hoping for a bit of advice. Time is running out and my research hours are limited... and yes - there is a ton of info out there... hard to sort through it all. Here is what we are looking at...
- dates are fairly flexible within a 28 day period.
- We would like to do 3 different places as we've never been to Fiji before and would like to experience as much as possilble.
- A live aboard is a bit out of our price range.
- Not into big resorts - prefer smaller dive resorts - closer to the culture of Fiji -
- mid range - not big bucks but not backpacker either...
- good dive operator
- we are looking to dive as much as possible
- should I try to book on my own with all the transfers etc or should I use an agent of some sort? Any recommendations?
- so far Beqa Lagoon resort is the only place that I think is a for sure...
Any suggestion or advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[diveborg]

If a liveaboard is out of your price range and you still want to dive the Bligh Water (and you should want to), then spend some time at Wananavu and dive with Kai Viti divers I believe that they are the only dive op that will make the trip out there from shore.

 

[Papa_Bear]

Will be there at the same time and if you call 951-682-DIVE Tony can give you all the info you need. We will be doing BLR plus exactly what your looking for! Come join us!

 

[borisphotosafari]

I spent 6 weeks diving around Fiji last year.

I did a liveaboard, Naia, and it was very nice. The boat and staff made the trip memorable. Sometimes they have great last minute deals.

On Kadavu with Wasilima resort, which is remote, boat access. Awesome staff, great food, priced well, dive shop next door, best hard coral I ever seen. I would recommend it. Locals treated me like family. Hard to leave.

Taviuni, Garden Island resort, hotel and diving were good, clean and professional, great staff. Worth visiting the beautiful island.

Didn't stay at Beqa Lagoon Resort, $$$, but stayed in Pacific Harbor and did shark feed dives with Beqa Adventure Divers. Great experience, 8 varieties of sharks up close and personal. Also did a couple of days of reef diving there and it was good.

Fiji has a couple of local airlines and makes short flights easy and can be booked online. Sometimes they run on island time but it's Fiji.

Fiji is all about the local people. They are friendly, helpful and make your stay awesome. I didn't want to leave.

 

[Luko]

Then Waisalima is made for you!
Mo and the fijian staff are doing a great job on this quaint part of Kadavu, I swear you'll be shedding a tear mor more at the time you leave your new fijian family. Besides that ther's nowhere more fijian than Kadavu island, you must go there. Check their website Waisalima.

I also second Kaiviti divers for their impeccable organization, and awesome dives in the northern Viti Levu waters, but I would rather try some more authentic accomodation on Nananu-I-Ra than Wananavu which is great but quite pricey and too "sanitized" for my tastes.

I have written a full report on my fijian dives last feb.

 

[boarder06]

A great budget option is bus/ferry from Suva (or anywhere else on Vitu Levu) to Levuka on Ovalau. It's the old capital and very charming. No white sand beaches though. The locals are super friendly. Budget but OK accom in the "colonial" Royal Hotel and great diving with Noby and Andrea from Ovalau Watersports.

Another nice place is Dolphin Bay Divers. They are on Vanua Levu and will pick you up from Taveuni. They are in a very nice remote location, which I did prefer over Garden Island resort (next to a fuel depot). They are the closest operator to the sites in the Somosomo straight (White Wall etc.). Roland knows his stuff and is a very safe and enthusiatic dive instructor. Enjoyed his thorough briefing and relaxed pace.

I have stayed at Waisalima a few years back and enjoyed it. Very relaxed place. Diving there has changed hands. So can't say much about it.

Blight Water passage with Kai Viti is great but $$$. They only go to Bligh Water on 3 dive days when enough divers are around. We met some very disappointed divers who were promised the Bligh Water passage and ended up diving around Nananu-I-Ra, which you can do cheaper with the other local operator. It worked for use though. Safe on accom and stay on Nananu-I-Ra at Betham's. Kai Viti will pick you up from the Jetty at Betham's (Kai Viti's owner lives nearby). Get prices sorted with Kai Viti ahead of time. We found that they will try to overcharge when approached locally.

Kimi, a German dive instructor, came out with a book about Fiji diving. I can't post the link due to forum restrictions, but try a Google search for "Nimmerfroh Dive Productions". It covers the locations mentioned above. Most dive shops sell it locally but it is available from the web site if you want to know what you are getting into

Don't waste your money diving out of Nadi or Denerau! Also, be aware that this might not be the greatest time in terms of viz. I have been during that time and although had to dodge the odd cyclone have always enjoyed it. Just be flexible. I have never booked anything in advance. YMMV.

Cheers,
Steff

 

[snowdiver]

Thank you everyone who added to this thread... your thoughts were much appreciated. We are now booked and impatiently waiting for the end of November to arrive. A big thanks to PapaBear. I took your advice and called Tony and we will be joining your group on our second week - so we will see you then! It was actually through Tony and a few other connections that started there that things actually got pulled together. We are heading to Kadavu (Matana), Beqa(Beqa Lagoon) and then Taveuni (Paradise Taveuni) for the final week. I will post a report when we get back. Again - thanks for the help...

 

[Papa_Bear]

SD, it was great to meet both of you and I hope your last week was as good as ours
We went to Wananavu Beach Resort and wow! I am pulling the pictures together now! It was great diving with you three, then two, hope we can all get together in the future!
Two Tanked Productions HD & SD Underwater Productions and video services

 

[Papa_Bear]

I have finished the video of the first week and it includes a new Tiger shark named Carey! Two Tanked Productions HD & SD Underwater Productions and video services

 

[Eli24]

If you're looking for a good liveaboard, try the Fiji Aggressor 2. It sleeps 10 and does everything from dift diving to reef diving and wreck diving