Fiji it is, but where...

[scuba e]

We have narrowed down our next trip. We are going to Fiji. I was looking at Beqa Lagoon Resort. We were pretty sold on it until I read a few random reports on the net. It sounds like the reef has sustained heavy bleaching and overfishing (big stuff). It is a big lagoon and alot of sites to choose from but...
We require at least 4 dives a day, so a good house reef is important. I am hoping I can get some good opinions on the quality of BLR's house reef.
Also, if anyone has any suggestions for another option please let me know. We are looking for a healthy, accessable house reef. At least 2 boat dives a day and decent rooms. If you have been to Coco View........that was ok with us.

 

[RonDawg]

I would personally stay away from Fiji for the time being, due to the political instability. I don't know if it's this way in SoCal, but I've been in NZ and AUS for nearly two weeks now, and especially while I was NZ the pending military coup has been BIG news.

The Aussies even stationed warships off the Fiji coast just in case they need to evacuate their citizens from the island.

 

[DocVikingo]

Hi scuba_e,

I wouldn't be too concerned about the coup talk. Although the situation remains tense, it certainly is not nearly as tense as during George Speight's civilian coup d'état in '00 and that didn't cause a blip in local dive operations. Such conflicts have nothing to do with American or other tourists and business goes on.

If you're a believer in trip insurance, which I am not, read the fine print on civil unrest to make sure you're covered in the very unlikely event something goes seriously amiss.

As for locations, I highly recommend diving the Bligh Waters out of Rakiraki on the far northeast coast of the main island (Viti Levu, where you fly in & out of). It puts Beqa Lagoon to shame.

The Wananavu Resort (http://www.wananavu.com/) is very nice, albeit not inexpensive, and Kai Viti Divers (http://kaivitidivers.com/) is super.

Regards,

DocVikingo

 

[dbittner]

I went to BLR last June with a group from Maui Dreams Dive Company. Based on my experience, I'd sy go for it! The boat dives were incredible, the "house reef" was fun to explore (in both directions), the service was excellent, the staff are fantastic, and the food was out of this world! I have already signed up for next June's BLR trip with Maui Dreams which is now fully booked. (The May 2007 trip still has a few spots open.)

To be fair, the trip last June was my first trip to Fiji and my first trip ever to a dive resort, so I can't speak (from personal experience) of how BLR compares to other dive resorts in the world, or how the many Beqa Lagoon dive sites compare to other places in Fiji. However, I am impressed by the fact that the folks from Maui Dreams continue to return to BLR every year. On the other trips they run (to Palau, Bonnaire, Australia, etc.) they often move around to different dive centres, dive resorts, live-aboards, etc. However, one of the owners told me last year that they've found the BLR experience (both the diving and the resort itself) to be "something special." And even though they are organizing a Fiji live-aboard trip for October, 2007, they are still going to run the two BLR trips in 2007.

Pictures from our June 2006 trip can be found at
http://www.mauidreamsdiveco.com/dive/gallery/index.php
under "Fiji Trips."

Peace,
Dave

 

[Diverblam]

I too have dove at Beqa Lagoon Resort... went in April of this year and let me say... its definitely the soft coral captial of FIJI! They only do 2 tank daily boat dives with some night dives and have unlimited shore diving. The reefs are fantastic... tons of fish and coral... nothing bleached. Resort is awesome... I had an oceanfront bure with my own plunge pool. Food is out of this world.... we had 17 in our dive group and everyone loved the food... let me tell you... when even the males start moaning over their meals and dessert, you know its good. Divemasters are great... they are friendly, helpful, know where all the cool things are... I must also say that the dive trip to Fiji made me quit my career and become a dive master.

 

[scuba e]

Thanks for the info.
Living there, I would think you would have local knowlege.
How does BLR compare to the North and more importantly, how is the condition of the house reef?
We are going for photo so quality is a concern.
I would also be interested in your career move, if you have time. After a trip to Honduras I got my Instructor ticket so when My wife and I find the right place, seeya! Right now we are hunting.
I would be very interested to hear about how the change to island life is. Also about local resentment or acceptance of working in there world. The real life stuff. If you have the time?
Thanks again
SCUBA E

 

[skynscuba]

The house reef at BLR is worth a dive or three, but it really doesn't compare to either the BLR boat diving or to shore diving at places like Bonaire. I haven't really heard of great shore diving in Fiji, but maybe someone else can suggest a good place. If so, I'm interested, too.

 

[mjh]

If you really want 4 dives a day have you thought about a live-aboard? We had a great time on the Fiji Aggressor. You can check my website below for a trip report, gallery and slide show.

 

[scuba e]

Thanks-
I have thought about live aboard and am very interested. I have been told that the people of Fiji are part of the reason to go and am worried we would miss out on their hospitality if we were on the boat the whole time. Well, my wife is concerned about it, I love the idea of live aboard.

 

[mjh]

It is a trade off, but if you are doing 4 dives per day how much time are you really spending socializing? We typically take 2-3 days before or after the live-aboard to do dryland tours. Plus with the Fiji Aggressor you do get one visit to one of the more remote villages which gives you a chance to see what life is like outside of the resort.