Beqa Lagoon Resort trip report

[Wiggsy]

Hi all,

I have a new favourite spot in Fiji. My first trip to Fiji was honeymoon diving at The Coral Coast (everyone's gotta start somewhere!) That was where the love affair with Fiji began. Since then, I've run 6 trips to Kadavu (diving at Matava Resort; Dive Kadavu and Nagigia Island); 2 trips to Wananavu, Raki Raki; and 2 trips to Naigani(which up until 3 weeks ago I ranked as my personal favourite). Naigani has brilliant diving and a superb location with top dive sites only five minutes away from the white sand beach.
But now I've been to Beqa and I'll be going back. We stayed at Beqa Lagoon Resort - it won "World's Best Dive Resort" in 2002 as voted by SCUBA DIVER mag; and the way I see it, its only got better since then. This was the best dive resort I've ever been to - great service and the friendliest staff with superb 5 star gourmet meals. Swordfish steaks in macadamia sauce followed by Chocolate souffles! And all presented like a first class restaurant - I've never been anywhere before where my group took photos of the food and then would look at it smugly, before reluctantly destroying the wonderful presentation! And a full service dive operation where you don't lift a tank or change a BCD (unless you're anally retentive and insist on doing such things!)
The diving was fantastic - the best soft corals and the biggest gorgonian fans I have ever seen - we dived a seamount threee hours out to sea (where we later gamefished and caught a 28 kilo Wahoo.) We had 50 metre vis; turtles all over the place and gorgonians that 4 divers could disappear behind! But most dive sites are only 30 minutes from the resort - so 2 dives each morning before lunch back at the resort. Beqa'a also easy to get to - a 2.5 hour coach trip from Nadi followed by a 3/4 hour boat trip - so no need to overnight in Nadi or pay through the nose for expensive inter-island flights.
And this was actually cheaper than Kadavu (where we went 2005); Naigani or Wananavu! We had 10 boat dives for $200 (AUD) - special group rate!
I've got a second group of 23 going beack there in the September hols - wish I was going!

Wiggsy

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

[moeronn]

Sounds like a great trip and fantastic diving. I'm heading to Fiji for my honeymoon in (gasp) just under three weeks and will be staying on the Corral Coast for a few nights before heading to Matamanoa. We're planning on diving Beqa, but are kind of confused on the dive operations there - it seems as if there are two different Aqua-Treks. Which one did you use? Were they based on the island or in Pacific Harbour? Any additional info you could provide would be much appreciated.

 

[Wiggsy]

We used the dive op at Beqa Lagoon Resort which was 5 star (huge flybridge type boats - spacious but slow); and loved the diving. Aquatrek have a operation at Pacific Harbour (there are a few Aquatrek operations in Fiji) as do Beqa Adventure divers. Both share the Shark dive rights - Aquatrek do an all in feed..Beqa Adv Divers do a more controlled hand feed.
Both are much more expensive that what we paid at BLR, but we had a very special group deal. The diving around Beqa is great - superior to that near the coral coast or at Matamanoa. Fantasy and John's Tunnel are just brilliant.

 

[D_O_H]

Thanks for the report. I'm also heading down there in three weeks for my honeymoon.

I can hardy freaking wait.

 

[sasscuba]

Awesome!

 

[WizFromOz]

We used to stopover there for a picnic barbecue, nothing like grilled fresh fish on your own little desert island, that does only have ONE palm tree on it!

It's about a third of the way back to Pacific Harbour, and is really just a sand cay on a sea mount.

Sounds like you had fun

DSAO

WizFromOz

 

[Wiggsy]

No - but we did go to a tiny sand bar/coral cay on top of a seamount way out between Vatulele and Kadavu. It was a white speck on the horizon after and hours sailing past Yanuca. This was where we fished and dived - it was just a fantastic experience. Longtoms sliced up the surface chop as Wahoo chased them from all directions. Going back next year....twice!

Must dive Joe's Best and Circus Circus again. ANd net to mention John's Tunnel and Fantasea - which has the best soft corals and gorgonians I have ever seen. And the dive operation at BLR is wonderful - the staff just can't do enough to help - smiles all around (although there were tears when we left!)

 

[RockyHeap]

One bad thing about Beqa lagoon resort is the cattle boats they run, we counted 14-16 divers on the tenders that they shuttle people from the beach and back to the dive boat. In June of 2005, 3 out of their 4 big boats were broke down, so maybe they were cramming everyone onto one boat who knows.

We stayed next door at Kulu Bay Resort, and had the whole dive boat to me and the wife during 16 dives there. Kulu Bay only has 7 bures, each an easy 1000-1100 square feet each so its quiet and private which is much different than Beqa lagoon which is more clearcut and mowed grass.

Either resort is much better than staying on the main land though and just diving the Coral Coast or around Nadi .

 

[Wiggsy]

When I was there my group was 27 divers spread out over 2 boats. The third one is being serviced and will be back on the water. But we never felt crowded at all - the boats are huge and could easily handle 20 divers - 13/14 divers was no worries.

 

[caringbah]

Still only 2 boats working but they reckon they are getting 2 more boats,