dive resort advice

[yellowfish]

We are going around and around trying to decide where to go late June/early July for a couple of weeks of diving. We were going to go to Fiji/Nakia, but by the time we decided they were booked.
We are looking for a resort with a great dive operation that takes out small groups (no more than 12 on a boat?) and has great snorkeling as well. We have been thinking of Fiji as I said...should we look at a resort in the island groups there? Or Moorea/Bora Bora (seems very expensive compared) or even Cook Islands (any ideas there? how is the coral and marine life there?). Would prefer not a mega resort, but we do like a nice room, great food. But the diving is key. The main diving is not focused on shark diving, or big current diving (although I know there is a possibility of some current/drift diving...that is Ok, but not roller coaster going so fast you can't watch anything current). Any ideas? i would really appreciate your experience and suggestions. Thank you.

 

[wader]

My wife and I just got back in March from Taveuni. It would meet all of your needs and is priced fairly. We stayed at the Garden Island Resort. You can read my report in this sub forum. We had no regrets.

 

[1davey]

I went to Matava Eco resort on Kadavu. Small operation about 12 bures. I went last Aug. and it was outstanding. If you are there as you said for the diving this is the place. Never had more than 6 of us on the dive boat. 3 to 4 on most dives. The dive masters were outstanding. They were great at pointing out the small critters. All you have to do is let them know what you would like to see. The dive sites were in 15 mins. of the resort with the exception of Manta Reef it was about 20 mins. It is a manta cleaning station and it lives up to its name. it was the best dive encountered I have ever had. You can check out the video clip in my Gallery here on Scuba Board under 1 dwyatt my photos first video clip titled Manta Flyby. The food is served family style and is very good, fresh and plenty of it. The staff is outstanding! They treat you like family. I think that it will be humpback whale season there. The mothers do there calving there sometimes in the lagoon in front of the resort. I am looking forward going back there. Here is a link to there website: MATAVA RESORT, Kadavu: Fiji scuba diving vacations, Fiji snorkeling, Fiji game fishing.

My e-mail address is 1davey@comcast.net if you want more info.

 

[mutt]

If you check tripadvisor.com and search for Mai Dive, you will find accurate (and wonderful) descriptions of this small, friendly dive resort.

 

[Frosty]

I dived from Plantation island resort In Fiji in October. It isn't exactly a dive resort but it does have a dive centre as part of the resort. The diveing was great and the staff were fantastic.I can't in honesty say the gear is up to scratch though.They have a double hull ally boat that takes up to 12 divers but I've never seen it with more than 6 divers at a time.
On Rarotonga there isn't a dive resort as such. But there are 7 dive companies operating there -keep in mind you can drive round the island at 30mph in about 30 minutes and all the dive operators do pickup/dropoff.
I literally just got back from doing 8 dives around rarotonga varying from 15m down to 40m and I enjoyed every one of them hugely.
I dove with Cook Island divers. Their dive gear is up to date and in good repair.
They operate 3 decent sized inflateable boats to suit the size of the dive group. The biggest dive group I dove with was a total of 6 divers including the DM.
The biggest number diveing at the same time was 12 but that was a 2 boat dive. So although we anchored up fairly close together the two groups never actually dove together.
I can't comment on the other dive operators on the island from personal experience I'm sorry

 

[yellowfish]

Thanks for all the input. It seems like the diving is going to be different dependent on where in Fiji you stay/dive. I will write a trip comment after we are back in July.

 

[1davey]

yellowfish, where you located in Oregon? I live in Carlton. Also have you figured out where you are going yet?

 

[DIVEME]

have you had a look at Fiji Beach Resort Accommodation Fiji Diving Wedding Honeymoon - wananavu Beach Resort - great diving and resort.
if you have dove kadavu and tavenui - this is better...better package!
stay away from the yawasa's and mamanucas for diving - head north to the suncoast

 

[dive travel goddess]

If you aren't staying at Volivoli Beach Resort, Rakiraki on the main island of Viti Levu, diving the Bligh Waters with their in- house dive operator Ra Divers, you won't get the best resort and best diving in Fiji. I hope you discover that in time. Newly built accommodations all with ocean views and air-conditioning. We've been there twice since Oct 2009 and will be going back June 2012. This resort is just starting to market to the US dive traveler. So you won't run into hordes of divers yet at this place but that won't last once the word gets out. YouTube - ‪Fiji: Volivoli Beach Resort & Ra Divers In The Bligh Straight‬‏

 

[Scuba Susie]

I dived from Plantation island resort In Fiji in October. It isn't exactly a dive resort but it does have a dive centre as part of the resort. The diveing was great and the staff were fantastic.I can't in honesty say the gear is up to scratch though.They have a double hull ally boat that takes up to 12 divers but I've never seen it with more than 6 divers at a time.
On Rarotonga there isn't a dive resort as such. But there are 7 dive companies operating there -keep in mind you can drive round the island at 30mph in about 30 minutes and all the dive operators do pickup/dropoff.
I literally just got back from doing 8 dives around rarotonga varying from 15m down to 40m and I enjoyed every one of them hugely.
I dove with Cook Island divers. Their dive gear is up to date and in good repair.
They operate 3 decent sized inflateable boats to suit the size of the dive group. The biggest dive group I dove with was a total of 6 divers including the DM.
The biggest number diveing at the same time was 12 but that was a 2 boat dive. So although we anchored up fairly close together the two groups never actually dove together.
I can't comment on the other dive operators on the island from personal experience I'm sorry

Dear Kazbanz,
Great post. Can you make any recommendations of where to stay on Rarotonga? Had planned on diving with Cook Island Divers!
Thanks
Susie