Fiji help/input/and opions

[bluesplash94]

Looking at doing a trip to Fiji and do not know anything about the area. So I thought I would start here and get input from folks that have been there or are from there to help along. Figured I would get better info to start with from here than the standard gooogle search. Guess I will start with a little bit about my dive buddy and I. She is n her late 20's and is an insturctor and has been diving for 5 year with over 1000 dives doing rec. diving. I am in my early thirdys I am an dive con. been diving for around 10 years and also have over 1000 dives. I am do tek diving 300 plus feet and cave diving. We do not have a time set or location just know we want to go. so here is a list of questions to start with and I welcome all input .

Land based or live aboard?
Best time to to go?
When is the "wet season"
Good sites/towns to go to?
What to expect cost wise?
Resort/liveabroads that would be suggested?
Water temps onaverage?
weather conditons during different seasons?
dive shops to use?

Just basic random stuff anything that anyone thinks of that is not listed please share. This will be the first trip that we do that is not thru our LDS so just trying to get a feel for it.
thank you all in advance for your help and input.

 

[OnTheSpot]

My preference would be a liveaboard trip as they visit the more isolated sites that are not accessable from resorts. A combination of liveabaord and a resort stay would be ideal - you would be well advised to ensure any trip here includes these excellent areas:

Taveuni and the Koro Sea: The Garden Island past which runs the Somosomo Strait whose soft coral splendour allows Fiji to lay claim to being 'The soft coral capital of the world'. The waters around Taveuni and south into the Koro Sea are rich and nutrient-filled, supporting large marine ecosystems which means lots of great dive sites.

Kadavu - The real Fiji, away from the big resorts where life can go at the pace you want and where the diving feels like the last frontier. Eco-friendly resorts, local culture and plenty of breathtaking dive sites in and around the well-known Great Astrolabe Reef.

Viti Levu - Special mention must go the shark feeding dives conducted in the waters off Pacific Harbour. You can have heart-stopping moments with the bosses of the ocean and just off Fiji's main island. Read about our very own experience here: The Best Shark Dive in the World.

Beqa Lagoon - Just south of Viti Levu lies Beqa Island, one of the most popular Fiji scuba destinations for those seeking to avoid a domestic flight. There are a range of good dive sites around the lagoon and the islands that fringe it. You can expect pinnacles, plenty of soft corals and even wreck dives.

 

[fiji_diver]

Hi
OnTheSpot has given a good summary.
To that I would add the Lomai-viti islands and the Bligh Water passage. This is dived by the liveaboard boats but can also be got to from a few resorts.
If you let me know your rough budget I can suggest an itinerary.
Are you into Photography?

Cheers
Greg

 

[bluesplash94]

Thanks for the input. We have not set down and figured out budget as of yet did not really know where to start planning due to not knowning much about the area. She like to take photos, me and photo gear... not a good combo... think I could flood one in a rain storm! lol

 

[parrotheaddiver]

I have been on landbased and liveaboard.... I loved loved loved the liveaboard The Nai'a Liveaboard Scuba Diving on NAI'A - Fiji and Beyond we dived the Bligh waters and loved it.....best liveaboard and crew I have ever used....also have stayed on Taveuni and have also stayed on Vanua Levu....

 

[Doubler]

From Undercurrent:
Fiji's weather presents a real mixed bag. The choice is often between good visibility and cool water or warm water and calmer seas with less visibility. June through October is the dry season when the water is the clearest, but it's also at its coldest and the winds kick up. Water temperatures can sink into the low 70s during this time of the year, making it necessary to drag out the full wetsuits. November brings a transition period. The water warms up, the winds die down, and the plankton blooms, lowering the visibility. By January and February, the water has warmed back up into the low 80s. The rains pick up and the hurricane season is on (December through March). Counting Tonga and Samoa, the area gets about five cyclones a year. It's a risky time to try to catch good diving weather. Because the winds kick up so much in February and March, some resorts pick these months to close down for repairs. During April and May, the wind, and therefore the seas, become calmer and the water remains warm, but the plankton bloom cuts down on the underwater visibility. Of course, this offers the best odds of seeing large plankton eaters. The best time to go depends on your preferences: warm, calmer, cloudy seas, or clear but cold water.

If you are planning on a "Diving" vacation where the focus is on the underwater realm definitely go the Liveaboard route. You will be at the best sites and get more dives in. The Nai'a without a doubt is one of the top five in the industry. There is also and Aggressor and Dancer Fleet boat available. If you want "touristy" stuff with some diving, go land-based. I'd be booking the Nai'a.