Fiji Aggressor or New Zealand in October

[NTSilver]

We are looking to add on before or after a trip to Tonga in early Oct 09. I was initially thinking NZ, but after doing some research it looks easier, flight wise, to fly to and from Tonga to Fiji versus NZ. My husband likes the big stuff, I like anything that will stay still long enough to let me take it's picture. I am especially attracted to the colorful soft corals that Fiji advertises. It looks like the Fiji Aggressor III has availability the week after which would work perfectly. Thanks in advance for your thoughts or suggestions.

 

[scubapatton]

Fiji has some GREAT diving.. White Wall near Taveuni Island is great (a deep dive with a sheer wall of soft white coral that actually makes the entire wall look white).. another shallower dive in the area called Mini-White Wall. Seems like fun trip - Fiji and Tonga....

funny thing about the history of these two nations is they used to be at constant war with one another.... would be nice to see both countries within a 2-wk period...

 

[gwklein]

I was in Fiji the early part of March on the Nai'a, which has a similar itinerary in the Blight waters as the Aggressor. Most of my diving has been in the Caribbean and I was blown away by the soft corals, the amount and variety of fish, the health of the reef, and the friendliness of the Fijian people. I saw lots of sharks (grey reef, white-tip, and one hammerhead), many eagle rays, a few giant grouper, and lots of humphead wrasse, all of which should interest your husband. On the same dive, though, you could see innumerable nudis, pipefish, dart fish, and anemone fish, all which seemed to enjoy having their pictures taken. Make sure you take a good safety sausage since the currents can be extremely strong. On the Nai'a, all diving was from a skiff which followed you on the dive. When you surfaced, the skiff moved to you to pick you up before the current could carry you away. I highly recommend Fiji and the Nai'a and would love to go back, but the long flights from the east coast can do you in.

 

[michael71]

I spent 2 weeks in Fiji in 06 an HIGHLY recommend it to any diver.

We did 1 week at Garden Island resort on Taveuni (Aqua-Trek). The resort is great. Clean, nice, simple and relaxed. You do 2 dives a day in the Somosomo pass, and it is truely the best soft coral diving in the world. Lots to see and amazing colors. I didn't see an abundance of "large stuff" that your husband may be looking for, but was never disappointed (they do get larger animals...anther group saw tigers the day I was on the white wall...just not as consistant). On land there's lots to do...short easy hikes to waterfalls, and an natural water-slide, kayaking, etc.

The second week we were in Pacific Harbor. This is another one of Aquatrek's dive outfits, but they do not run the hotel here. The hotel is The Pearl. It's more "5 star" / sheik than Garden Island, and almost lost some of the "Fiji feel". Food was over priced and mediocre at best; had most of my meals at Art's Village down the road. For my next trip I'll stay down the road at Uprising Beach Resort.

The dive outfit is great and they run a shark dive twice a week. Lot's of 9ft + sharks. At the time they had some tiger sharks coming in regularly, but I've heard the frequency may have diminished (3 out of 5 dives maybe). If you go, be sure to do the river rafting of the Upper Navua Gourge (fiji adventure, fiji family vacations, fiji honeymoon packages, fiji travel package - rivers fiji also on the Pearl property)

Both dive operations were top notch, professional, safe, and fun. They're always listed in Rodales' reader's choice.

I was talking w/friends about it last week...they said the greatest compliment (that I'd never realized) is that 2 years later I can still remember the name of every divemaster, waitress, desk clerk, and local that we met. Truely the friendliest place I've been