Fiji or Tahiti---where to go, where to go?

[Shasta_man]

Care to enlighten us on where you print your money as you're talking 20 grand plus?

Fiji or Tahiti? I could not decide either so I'm doing both next year and yes Mike on the Aggressors.

 

[jaymi]

Thanks for the info-anyone else with an opinion---please let me know where to go.
Tahiti or Fiji? Tahiti or Fiji? Tahiti or Fiji? Or any other ideas????!!!!

 

[jakubson]

Apparently, you haven't seen enough of Fiji. If by "big stuff", you mean sharks and pelagics such as tuna and jacks, they're there. While there's lots of "big stuff" to be seen in Palau, it has no monopoly on them.

Actually, I saw more big stuff in Palau, but did see sharks, jacks, and a manta in Fiji. I would have to say that Palau has easier to see "big stuff" than Fiji. Both have wonderful soft coral. Fiji has great island resorts in every price range, where I agree Palau is best done from liveaboard.

Sorry, don't know Tahiti.

 

[Travelnsj]

Thanks for the info-anyone else with an opinion---please let me know where to go.
Tahiti or Fiji? Tahiti or Fiji? Tahiti or Fiji? Or any other ideas????!!!!

I was in contact with Lucien with Top Dive in Rangiora. He was going to put a trip together for me that included Rangiora and Fakarava. I have talked to people who have said it is a good as Palau for the big stuff but minus the corals. It sounds like great diving. Instead i wanted to do something different and I am doing Cano Island in Costa Rica. But it is on my short list.

If you are headed all that way to Fiji.........gosh stop and go to Palau. I have been going for the last 6 years.......I am always trying to find something better......and still looking!

 

[Mike Veitch]

If you are headed all that way to Fiji.........gosh stop and go to Palau.

Ha! thats funny, what a huge pain in the butt that would be, either back track to Hawaii from Palau to get to Fiji...or through manila or Guam and on to Oz before getting to Fiji.

I moved directly from Palau to Fiji, cost me an absolute fortune!

 

[Travelnsj]

Ha! thats funny, what a huge pain in the butt that would be, either back track to Hawaii from Palau to get to Fiji...or through manila or Guam and on to Oz before getting to Fiji.

I moved directly from Palau to Fiji, cost me an absolute fortune!

You are right that would be funny. But i meant was If you are going all that way to Fiji spend a few more hours and just go to Palau!

But that would be a great dive trip if you had the money and time!

 

[globetrotter]

Jaymi,

Having been to both French Polynesia and Fiji in the last two years I can say: how much can you afford?

I know that sounds crass but seriously they're very different price-wise. My fiancé and I spent 10 days in FP June 2003. We stayed four nights on Moorea (over water bungalow at the Moorea Pearl) and had three two-tank dive days while there. We stayed five nights at the Kia Ora (garden bungalow) and had four two-tank dive days. Total, including airfare from LAX, all meals and one black pearl: $10K

Last summer (July 2004) we stayed 18 days in Fiji, nine nights on Kadavu and seven nights Malolo Lai Lai. We dove probably 12 days while there, mostly three-tank dive days. Total, including airfare from LAX, all meals and a few souvenirs: $10K.

As you can see, Fiji is WAY less expensive. On the other hand we're returning to French Polynesia this June for our honeymoon because FP is that much prettier. Seriously, I've never seen anything as beautiful anywhere else in the world. I'm not even gonna tell you how much the honeymoon is gonna set me back :11:

Diving wise I'd say Fiji kicks the crap outta FP, even with all the shark action. For me personally the sharks got kinda boring, I'm much more into the macro life like Fiji has. And the coral in a lot of FP is damaged somewhat, while Fiji (especially around Kadavu) was spectacular.

Your choice, in the end you can't go wrong with either...

-globetrotter

Thanks for the info-anyone else with an opinion---please let me know where to go.
Tahiti or Fiji? Tahiti or Fiji? Tahiti or Fiji? Or any other ideas????!!!!

 

[Shasta_man]

You're comparing some apples to some oranges: $500+ per night overwater bungalows to Fiji beach bungalows.

Though the overwaters are completely worth the cost having been there as well.

Jaymi,

Having been to both French Polynesia and Fiji in the last two years I can say: how much can you afford?

I know that sounds crass but seriously they're very different price-wise. My fiancé and I spent 10 days in FP June 2003. We stayed four nights on Moorea (over water bungalow at the Moorea Pearl) and had three two-tank dive days while there. We stayed five nights at the Kia Ora (garden bungalow) and had four two-tank dive days. Total, including airfare from LAX, all meals and one black pearl: $10K

Last summer (July 2004) we stayed 18 days in Fiji, nine nights on Kadavu and seven nights Malolo Lai Lai. We dove probably 12 days while there, mostly three-tank dive days. Total, including airfare from LAX, all meals and a few souvenirs: $10K.

As you can see, Fiji is WAY less expensive. On the other hand we're returning to French Polynesia this June for our honeymoon because FP is that much prettier. Seriously, I've never seen anything as beautiful anywhere else in the world. I'm not even gonna tell you how much the honeymoon is gonna set me back :11:

Diving wise I'd say Fiji kicks the crap outta FP, even with all the shark action. For me personally the sharks got kinda boring, I'm much more into the macro life like Fiji has. And the coral in a lot of FP is damaged somewhat, while Fiji (especially around Kadavu) was spectacular.

Your choice, in the end you can't go wrong with either...

-globetrotter

 

[maddmike]

Last summer (July 2004) we stayed 18 days in Fiji, nine nights on Kadavu

Globetrotter - What can you tell us about Kadavu? We're going to Fiji next May and are thinking about 5 days in Kadavu at Tiliva. Where did you stay? Who'd you dive with? What was the island like? Is the Astrolabe Reef good enough to be worth the extra hassle of getting there?

Thanks!

 

[globetrotter]

Maddmike,

Kadavu was awesome! We stayed at Dive Kadavu and really liked it. Bob & Rena are great hosts; they really seem to enjoy running the resort. The bures were basic but clean, the food was basic but good and plentiful, the diving was...well, spectacular. Their DM (Isaac) is a Maori and he has a great accent and an even better attitude. Couple that with his (and his partner DM Joelly’s) uncanny ability to find macro critters and you have the makings of a great dive trip. Lot’s of varied underwater scenery, they even have a 200’ plunge called Evil Trench…I took a pass, but maybe you’re into that sort of thing.

The Astrolabe is probably the most pristine reef I've ever seen, but since it's on the current side of the island the viz can be a little poor...for Fiji anyways. Lots a stuff to see, and don't even get me started on the manta rays. Dive Kadavu has a real special trip to see them, and Isaac has a weird rapport with them. He can find them almost every time, and they're the biggest damn manta rays I've ever seen. I'd post pics, but I had the WORST camera karma on that trip ever. Flooded my brand new digital on day three and even managed to bugger up one of Bob's loaners on the manta trip...luckily he was cool about it.

As for getting there, well I wouldn't call it a hassle at all. It all depends on timing. If you're coming from LA and take the redeye then you'll arrive in the morning and have a little bit of chill time before the 1PM flight...they run every day I think. If you take the Air New Zealand flight then you'll probably have to overnight on Viti Levu...I'd recommend the Tanoa International right near the airport.

Post any more questions you might have, that was one of my fav trips and just writing about it really brings back a lot of fond memories...

-globetrotter

Globetrotter - What can you tell us about Kadavu? We're going to Fiji next May and are thinking about 5 days in Kadavu at Tiliva. Where did you stay? Who'd you dive with? What was the island like? Is the Astrolabe Reef good enough to be worth the extra hassle of getting there?

Thanks!