FIJI in One Week

[scubajcf]

Leaving for Fiji on 28 DEC 2006
First time Fiji visit!!!
Staying on Taveuni at the Garden Isle Resort.

Any tips on Shore Diving, Excursions, Night Life, etc. are appreciated.
Any comments on Taveuni or Garden Isle Resort?
Heard about some political unrest, is that disrupting tourism at all?

Have a great New Year. Thanks for your help!!!

John

 

[Jcsgt]

Have a great trip!

We're heading to Garden Isle Resort in March, so I'll be interested to read your trip report when you return.

Safe diving!

 

[robint]

I'll be waiting for a trip report and lots of photos when you get back! We are planning a trip to Fiji sometime in Spring!

robint

 

[almitywife]

dont worry about the latest coup....its practically a non event

go, enjoy and come back to let us know all about it

cheers

 

[scubajcf]

Thanks for the input. Will post a report when I get back.
Packing today. Anyone know the water temps in Fiji this time of year.

jcf


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[msyentah]

The shore diving from the garden resort is not good. A short dingy ride to the nearby tiny island is great for snorkling.

There's a natural water slide nearby. The local kids are amazing, diving from a cliff in to a tiny pool below.

Be sure to take a ride to the falls. Really amazing. There are three sets of falls. It's a bit of a hike to the second and a helluva hike to the third. Be sure to wear sneakers and pants if you're hiking to the third.

The horseback riding was wonderful. They arranged it for us at the hotel. But bring purell along. We all fed the horses carrots, which they weren't even interested in eating, got saliva on our hands and all got deathly sick a few days later. Some say it was the food on Kadavu, but I think it was the horses.

The food at the Garden Island resort is amazing, btw. We all actually gained weight the first week.

 

[skynscuba]

Anyone know the water temps in Fiji this time of year.

According to bigblueplanet.com, Taveuni is typically 84 in January.

For where the Nai'a goes, http://www.naia.com.fj/research/water.html

I have no idea whether temperatures this year are typical.

 

[RockyHeap]

Just got back from 2 weeks in Fiji, one week on Taveuni and walked through and drank a fiji bitter at the Garden Isle resort..................resort is stretching it a bit, motel on the side of the road is a better synopsis. I'm glad we didn't stay there I'll say that, we stayed at Maravu which was nice, but not worth the money $$$.

Water temps were 82-84. Taveuni is great diving, get ready for some whipping currents around the boomies.

You'll see ZERO coup activitiy on Taveuni, and even on the mainland its not an issue. The common civilians there had the safest lowest crime during christmas on record.

 

[Jcsgt]

So I take it you were drift diving? How was it? If you've been to Cozumel, how would the diving compare?

 

[JenTeach]

You'll see ZERO coup activitiy on Taveuni, and even on the mainland its not an issue. The common civilians there had the safest lowest crime during christmas on record.

Hello & Happy New Year RockyHeap!

You mentioned you stayed 2 weeks...were these both at Maravu? Did you see ANY type of "coup action?" Here is the US Department of State page: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_3073.html

I am in a quandary! My husband and I want to travel to Fiji in March/April...we'll end up with 12 days in Fiji. It will be our first trip to that region. (All of our diving has been in the Caribbean.) I've been told that if you do Fiji, you definitely want to dive a couple of islands if you're there for a longer amount of time. So here are my choices...

Choice A - Two resorts on the northern side of Taveuni. - Keeps us away from the mainland, but I would think this limits our diving...probably doing the same sites with both resorts.

Choice B - One resort on Taveuni (7 nights), fly into Suva and stay between Suva and Pacific Harbor (5 nights), and then fly back out of Nadi.

Any thoughts you or someone else can offer would be appreciated!! We've worked some great prices and really want to make a go of it.

Jennifer