Kryssa
Contributor
The family is considering a 7-day Captain Cook Reef Endeavour trip next year and my husband and I are wondering what kind of diving we could expect.
Dive Fiji off Captain Cook Reef Endeavour?
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cbm32
Contributor
Taking a quick look at their website, it appears as though the quality of diving will be very much dependent on which itinerary you book.
I would think you would want to book the Cultural or Heritage options if your main concern is the diving. Either of those would provide world class diving.
If Fijidiver sees this thread and responds, you will get a much more authoritative evaluation of the relative merits of the Cultural and Heritage routes. In case he does not....
The Heritage cruise looks like it spends more time in the heavily trafficked Tavenui and Savusavu areas. One of the reasons they are heavily trafficked is that they present fantastic diving, including the Great White Wall and Namena Marine Preserve (you can easily find information on these areas on google). This route also makes a stop in the Laveuka and Ovalau area....hopefully to dive the Wakaya Passage where you have a good chance of seeing great hammerheads and manta rays. Wakaya is fantastic diving and is only frequented by a couple of liveaboards, Wakaya resort (VERY Pricey), and Naigani Island resort (small family friendly resort that has only started really emphasizing their diving this past year or so. They recently were given an Award of Excellence by Trip Advisor).
The Cultural route appears to cover more ocean. It also passes through the Tavenui and Savusavu areas but does not spend as much time there, and no stop in the area where you could dive Wakaya passage either. On the other hand, this route takes you to some places that are a bit harder to get to and so they see far fewer divers. It looks to me like the highlight of this route may well be Yadua Island. I havent been lucky enough to dive there (with a non diving wife liveaboards are not something I have done yet) but I have heard really great things about the diving there....I cant wait to get a chance to dive it in in the future.
If you decide what route you will be taking, or have any more specific questions, feel free to ask. If you get lucky fijidiver will stop in and get you much more detailed info (especially on Yadua, which he knows well).
I would think you would want to book the Cultural or Heritage options if your main concern is the diving. Either of those would provide world class diving.
If Fijidiver sees this thread and responds, you will get a much more authoritative evaluation of the relative merits of the Cultural and Heritage routes. In case he does not....
The Heritage cruise looks like it spends more time in the heavily trafficked Tavenui and Savusavu areas. One of the reasons they are heavily trafficked is that they present fantastic diving, including the Great White Wall and Namena Marine Preserve (you can easily find information on these areas on google). This route also makes a stop in the Laveuka and Ovalau area....hopefully to dive the Wakaya Passage where you have a good chance of seeing great hammerheads and manta rays. Wakaya is fantastic diving and is only frequented by a couple of liveaboards, Wakaya resort (VERY Pricey), and Naigani Island resort (small family friendly resort that has only started really emphasizing their diving this past year or so. They recently were given an Award of Excellence by Trip Advisor).
The Cultural route appears to cover more ocean. It also passes through the Tavenui and Savusavu areas but does not spend as much time there, and no stop in the area where you could dive Wakaya passage either. On the other hand, this route takes you to some places that are a bit harder to get to and so they see far fewer divers. It looks to me like the highlight of this route may well be Yadua Island. I havent been lucky enough to dive there (with a non diving wife liveaboards are not something I have done yet) but I have heard really great things about the diving there....I cant wait to get a chance to dive it in in the future.
If you decide what route you will be taking, or have any more specific questions, feel free to ask. If you get lucky fijidiver will stop in and get you much more detailed info (especially on Yadua, which he knows well).
slightlymadmike
Registered
Bula from Fiji!
Viti Water Sports took over the diving this year for Captain Cook Cruises, and are working hard to build up a comprehensive portfolio of exceptional dives, particularly for the longer 7 day trips, which visit some amazing dive locations. This is taking a bit of time as we only go on each trip once every 2 months!
On board we have a PADI Instructor as well as a Dive Master, brand new Scubapro gear and our own compressor. You are very welcome to bring your own equipment, and we give you a reduced dive price for that (see the Captain Cook (Fiji) website for details).
Our choice of dive sites is often limited by weather (where Reef Endeavour can anchor) and time - we are sometimes constrained to not travel too far from the 'Mother Ship', so places like Wakaya, whilst fantastic, are often too far from where the ship is anchored. We always strive, however, to give the best possible diving within the limitations put on us. You have to remember that we are a Cruise Ship that offers diving, not a dedicated dive live-aboard. This way you get the best of both worlds!
If you need any more specific information, I'd be happy to help. Just email me direct - mike@vitiwatersports.com
Cheers!
cbm32
Contributor
Hmmmmmm not sure that a died in the wool diver ends up with the best of both worlds in that scenario. For most dive nuts I know there is only one world that counts much and it is a very very wet one 
I personally would probably be ok with what you describe, but only because my wife is a non-diver. This kind of cruise would keep her happy while letting me get in SOME decent diving I assume. So I do see that there is a market for it. But when I spend the money to fly to Fiji with diving being my primary priority, I dont think I would choose this option. I would spend the extra cash for on a dedicated dive liveaboard or just go with a land based resort that can pretty accurately tell me the dive sites I will get to and what they are like. If you know where to go there are much better valuesthan this option and better diving (at least based on what slightlymadmike added to the thread.
I personally would probably be ok with what you describe, but only because my wife is a non-diver. This kind of cruise would keep her happy while letting me get in SOME decent diving I assume. So I do see that there is a market for it. But when I spend the money to fly to Fiji with diving being my primary priority, I dont think I would choose this option. I would spend the extra cash for on a dedicated dive liveaboard or just go with a land based resort that can pretty accurately tell me the dive sites I will get to and what they are like. If you know where to go there are much better valuesthan this option and better diving (at least based on what slightlymadmike added to the thread.
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