Diving (and not diving) on a cruise in New Caledonia and Vanuatu

[CJS]

I just got off Voyager of the Seas that sailed from Sydney yo Noumea, Port Vila, Lifou and Mare. I had arranged diving in Port Vila and Lifou.

In Port Vila I dived with Nautilus Watersports. They were great. It was just me with a dive guide and boat guy and we dived the Konanda wreck and then Twin Bommies. There were no other divers on either site. As we got out from the second dive another boat with about a dozen divers arrived; this was the 'ship tour dive'.
Between dives I was fed fresh pineapple and delicious chocolate cake and had a great chat with the crew, who were super friendly. Back at the dock I rinsed my gear and they organised a water taxi to get me back to the ship. It was a very pleasant day.

I had arranged to dive Lifou with Lagoon Safaris. They had been difficult to contact. They said we needed four divers. I had found one other guy and we both agreed we were willing to pay double, but when I emailed this news to the dive shop, they said they had enough people. We made clear what time the ship arrived and they confirmed that all would be good, if we could be on the first tender, which we were. When we arrived there was nobody who turned up to meet us. Their boat was sitting in the bay and we found the shipping container and shed that was the dive shop, but all was deserted. I ended up lugging my gear back to the ship and then just doing some snorkelling with the family. Did see some sea snakes at least!

 

[Mike1967]

In Port Vila I dived with Nautilus Watersports. They were great. It was just me with a dive guide and boat guy and we dived the Konanda wreck and then Twin Bommies.

Did my first dive ever with them 2 years ago and these two dives a year later, they're great.

snorkelling

I couldn't find any scuba available at Lifou, had some awesome snorkelling there though. Hope you met the turtles?

 

[CJS]

Did my first dive ever with them 2 years ago and these two dives a year later, they're great.

I couldn't find any scuba available at Lifou, had some awesome snorkelling there though. Hope you met the turtles?

I didn't, but my wife and daughter did, so I saw the video.

 

[DiscoVolante46]

Lagoon Safaris will leave you stranded!

Shame on me for ignoring bad reviews that said they don't show up. That's exactly what happened to me. I dragged equipment and cameras 8,800 miles to from Washington, DC to New Caledonia, only to be a no-show. After numerous emails (translated to French, because they don't speak English) to coordinate the date and time of the arrival of my cruise ship, Lagoon finally gave me instructions to be on the first tender off the ship and they would be waiting for me at the pier (only one, so no mistaking) with a black Zodiac. I did exactly as instructed and they failed to appear. I waited for 1 hour and gave up. I had nothing to do with a heavy backpack of equipment for the rest of the day. The rest of my party went on a lovely excursion of the island. Definitely the low point of my journey to the South Pacific. They had my phone number and they could have called or texted. To leave a customer behind without as much as an apology is deplorable. Shame on you Lagoon Safaris. Book your dive with Lagoon Safaris at your own risk!!!

 

[CJS]

Lagoon Safaris will leave you stranded!

Shame on me for ignoring bad reviews that said they don't show up. That's exactly what happened to me. I dragged equipment and cameras 8,800 miles to from Washington, DC to New Caledonia, only to be a no-show. After numerous emails (translated to French, because they don't speak English) to coordinate the date and time of the arrival of my cruise ship, Lagoon finally gave me instructions to be on the first tender off the ship and they would be waiting for me at the pier (only one, so no mistaking) with a black Zodiac. I did exactly as instructed and they failed to appear. I waited for 1 hour and gave up. I had nothing to do with a heavy backpack of equipment for the rest of the day. The rest of my party went on a lovely excursion of the island. Definitely the low point of my journey to the South Pacific. They had my phone number and they could have called or texted. To leave a customer behind without as much as an apology is deplorable. Shame on you Lagoon Safaris. Book your dive with Lagoon Safaris at your own risk!!!

At least they are consistent!