Fiji April 2010 Info Needed

[Travelnsj]

I am thinking of going to Fiji around April 1st thru the 16th. I am looking to stay at Ono Island and then going to Wananavu on Viti Levu. Questions:

1. What are the water Temps in April? (i've read the graphs they all say mid 80"s) would rather hear from personal experience.
2. Anybody been to Wananavu? and how did you like it as my goal is to dive the Bligh waters.
3. What is the weather like?....again I've read the Fiji annual weather reports and they say mild conditions.

Any info would be appreciated

 

[Wiggsy]

Good question! Firstly, it will be quite a bit warmer at Wananavu than at Ono as Ono is a lot further south and the Kadavu trench is normally 1-2 degrees cooler than up north....Temperatures vary quite a bit from year to year - I have found the best source by far to be the Realtime SST (Sea surface temperature) data recorded and updated at Beqa Lagoon every day. The graphs go back a few years so you can see the trends. Visit
NOAA Coral Reef Watch Time Series Graphs .
I have dived Wananavu twice at Easter time, and remember it to be very warm - lycra suit was ample for me though a lot wore 2-3 mm suits. I guess water temp would have been around 28-29 degrees C. Ono would be cooler as explained earlier, both above and below the surface.

I have dived Kadavu several times in July, September and December and have always opted for at least a 3mm suit (sometimes in July really needed a 5mm). Re Wananavu - yes...a good choice. A nice resort though it lacks a decent beach and onsite snorkelling... But my favourite is still Beqa Lagoon Resort for various reasons. It has the best shark dive in the world and I think the soft corals are damned near as good as the Bligh Water - depends on how far our you manage to go I guess.

The weather in April will be quite warm - still just coming off the summer season - you might get the last of the heavy rains, but I would think this is a great time to be hear as you will still have near summer water temperatures and that means nice warm water and generally very good vis.

 

[Travelnsj]

Thanks Wiggsy....Heard from Ono this AM and they said the waters are usually around 29c the first couple of weeks of April and the weather is generally calm....That will work!

 

[skynscuba]

It is going to vary from year to year, and from location to location, but here's a link:

Fiji Water Temperature - NAI'A Liveaboard Scuba Diving

 

[Fiji Dive Guy]

I agree with Wiggsy in that Kadavu will be a degree or so cooler, but both should still be over 80F (27C). I was just at Wananavu a couple of months ago, and although under new management and with a new dive op (Kai Viti is no longer operational, but Ra has taken over with a new boat provided by Wananavu Dive) they continue to improve and I had a great time. They don't dive out in the Vatu-I-Ra all the time, and as I recall there is a surcharge when they do. April weather is usually pretty good, but just like the rest of the world Fiji's weather is less predictable now than it was 5-10 years ago. I've been in Fiji in Apr/May for the last few years and I've seen some late season storms come though.

 

[Travelnsj]

Fiji sive guy.....what were the water temps?

 

[Fiji Dive Guy]

When I was last to Wananavu in May this year the water temps were 80-81. The last time I was in Kadavu close to your time frame was Apr of last year, and it was 79-81.