My ScubaBoard Invasion 2019 Fiji Trip Report
Maduro Dive Fanta-Seas was the choice for our Travel Agent. Richard’s Expertise helped us to choose the best resorts and the best deal for ScubaBoard. And his agent, Roxanne was there along the way helping to take care of all the bookings for the group, to answer questions, assist with travel insurance and airfares for our crew of 42. Although, there was some difficulty working with Fiji Airlines, their website, and their booking policies things went fairly smoothly. All the transportation scheduled to and from the resorts went well also. We appreciate everything Maduro Dive Fanta-Seas did to help make this trip another successful ScubaBoard Event!
Our accommodations for the 1st week were at Beqa Lagoon Resort nestled on Beqa Island, Fiji. As we arrived by boat, we were greeted from the shore by the lovely singing voices of the resort staff. Once on land, the resort staff welcomed us with a drink and a smile while helping us check in. Our bure was clean and with a nice layout as a home away from home for the week. There was also a lovely patio with a small pool overlooking the water. Our room was always well maintained by the staff all week. The Crew members had plenty of room to spread out at the resort and the grounds were well kept in their rustic setting. You could relax by the pool while enjoying drinks from the bar listening to the water lap the shore or enjoy the private outside areas of their own bures. The lagoon was a wonderful place for snorkeling and other water activities they offered including shore diving. Spa services were available throughout the week and many of the crew enjoyed massages and such including the free offered foot massage. The entertainment staff held many activities during the day and evening to make the stay enjoyable and to help us soak in the Fijian culture. The customary beating of the log would announce an activity would be starting. There were village and school visits, fire walking, dancing, singing, kava drinking and more. The serving staff was so friendly and worked very hard to take care of us. For the meals, breakfast was buffet style. They did cook eggs to order or an omelet for breakfast in addition to the buffet. For lunch and dinner, you selected your choices from 2-3 options at the beginning of the day. We found the meals to be for the most part tasty, varied and beautifully presented.
One of the things that stood out the most was the genuine friendliness of the staff and the Fijian people. They were always smiling and worked their way into our hearts. The Beqa Resort Manager, Wayne, Filo with Guest Services and all the Staff did an outstanding job of taking care of our group for the whole week. We cannot thank everyone enough for all their hospitality and efforts!!! On the very last evening, The Chairman did have a mishap and broke his leg. They did their best to get him to the hospital and stayed with him for several days through his surgery. This is the very reason to insist you have Dive and Travel insurance.
The Beqa Lagoon Resort has its own dive op on site, and they were the host for our diving and snorkeling. Aaron worked with us in advance with information on the boats and preplanning. He worked with us to embrace our whole diving social motto. All the staff was so friendly and helpful throughout the week. Most of the staff were from the local villages and you really get a feel of their close-knit family atmosphere of their team. We had 36 divers and they handled us efficiently boarding the boats all week long. They also made sure to have tanks available for as much shore and night diving as the group wanted to do on the house reef. Most of the dive sites were very nice, healthy, and absolutely beautiful. There was some noticeable damage from a previous typhoon, but overall plentiful fish and a variety of corals. Our special treat was the shark dives were we enjoyed seeing tigers, bulls, lemons, white tips, and nurse sharks along with local critters during our stay. We just couldn’t get enough and schedule an additional 2 shark dives because it was so incredible to see those animals up-close and personal! This is a bucket list dive and not to be missed!
The ScubaBoard Invasion and our vision of diving social is not your normal dive group, but they kept up with us and made for a fantastic week of diving and snorkeling! Vinaka our friends as we can still hear your lovely voices as you sang to us as when we departed! And I know our flowers returned to the shore as we hope to also do one day.
Our accommodations for the 2nd week were at Volivoli Resort, Fiji. We arrived by bus and were greeted by the lovely resort staff. They welcomed us with a drink and a smile while helping us check in and complete paperwork. We were then directed to our Bure. Our very spacious room was clean with a nice layout as a home away from home for the week. There was also a private patio with a pool overlooking the water. Our room was always well maintained by the staff all week.
The Crew members had plenty of room to spread out at the resort and the grounds were spacious, very well kept and lovely. You could sit, swim, and relax by the pool while enjoying drinks from the bar. Or enjoy the private outside areas of their own bures. The dive and beach area was a wonderful place for enjoying all water activities they offered including shore diving. Spa services were available throughout the week and many of the crew enjoyed massages and such. The entertainment staff held many activities during the day and evening to make the stay enjoyable and to help us soak in the Fijian culture. There were village visits, dancing, singing, kava drinking and more. Many evenings, there was a bonfire on the beach along with activities to enjoy. The special Fijian dinner and singing, the stunning sunset cruise and star gazing at night were some of our favorite memories. The serving staff was so friendly and worked very hard to take care of us. For the meals, some breakfast items were buffet style. They also included many items to order from the breakfast menu in addition to the buffet. For lunch and dinner, you selected your choices from the menu in addition to a special of the day. We found the meals to be so delicious, plentiful and beautifully presented. And the deserts were through the roof!
Volivoli continued to show us the beautiful hearts and genuine friendliness of the Fijian people. The Volivoli owner, Nick, Steve, and resort managers Simon and Geraldine were always available and attentive to every detail of our stay. Their Staff also did an outstanding job of taking care of our group for the whole week including a layed up Chairman. A very special thank you to Nick, Simon, Geraldine, and their staff!
Ra Divers were on site, and they were the host for our diving and snorkeling. All I can say is what a pleasure and attention to detail from start to finish. Simon worked with us in advance with information on the boats and preplanning. All of the staff was so friendly and helpful throughout the week. Most of the staff was from the local villages and you really get a feel of their close-knit family atmosphere, which we loved. We had 36 divers and they handled us efficiently boarding the boats all week long. Ra Divers made sure to have tanks available for as much shore diving as the crew wanted to do on the house reef. The dive sites were very nice, healthy, and absolutely beautiful. We enjoyed seeing some of the bigger animals like turtles and eagle rays along with the amazingly colorful local critters during our stay. And the famous Bligh waters were just gorgeous! The soft coral was absolutely exquisite! Moonie (ScubaBoard’s Mascot), even earned his open water certification! He’s now official, haha! We cannot thank everyone enough for all their hospitality and efforts!!! Vinaka to our friends till we see you again!
We would like to say a very special thank you to all the wonderful ScubaBoard Invasion 2019 Prize Sponsors who donated Prizes for the Crew to win. We had fantastic prizes to give away like trips, gear, and gift certificates from Beqa Lagoon Resort, Clearly Cayman, Hotel Cozumel & Resort, Dive Paradise, Ikelite Underwater Systems, Mares, Divers Direct, Dive Right in Scuba, Scuba.com, and Scuba Toys. Check out the SB Invasion 2019 Sponsor's Page to see all the generous donations and the lucky crew who won! What wonderful generosity and support from all of these great
SB Invasions Sponsors. You Guys and Gals ROCK!!!
In closing, ScubaBoard's owner,
@The Chairman (Pete),
@Moonie (ScubaBoard’s Mascot), my husband
@cardzard (Dennis) and I want to sincerely thank all the ScubaBoard Members, their Families, and Friends who truly made this year’s Invasion such an enjoyable and memorable event. We couldn’t have asked for a better Crew! We always love the ScubaBoard camaraderie! All the laughs and memories are priceless!
We’ll be heading for the 1st time to Little Cayman Beach Resort next for ScubaBoard SURGE 2020 and then off to our friends in Roatan at Anthony’s Key Resort for next year’s ScubaBoard Invasion 2020. And as always
@Moonie, ScubaBoard’s Infamous Mascot has already confirmed he will be attending both events. We hope to see you there at the next ScubaBoard diving social event!
Our philosophy is that it’s the people and the experiences we have together are what make life priceless! We love Diving Social and sharing our passion for diving. We wouldn't want it any other way.
