Fiji vs Cook Isl

[Durgeon]

This is it ! One week on a Pacific Island... which should it be ? Fiji or Cook Islands.
We'll be there the last week of November or so.

Recommendations ?
R&R with diving time ? Resorts ? Liveaboards?

Price vs diving facilities (boat only or shore diving)

What did you like or not like about these two islands - Fiji and Cook Islands ?
Your advice/opinion is much appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[AlanWald]

Fiji has better diving.

End of November coincides with the beginning of less good weather and surface conditions but you can still get good days. I had a splendid dive with perfect conditions and then flew out of Fiji and two days later they got hit by a cyclone (February)

 

[Durgeon]

thanks for the reply - let's go for Fiji then...

sad to hear it might be the beg of bad weather....

've been reading about the area in a few websites (Scuba Board forum as well...) but I am also curious to find out about diving Fiji, Taveuni Island....

Seems that currents can be an issue ?

did you find that to be the case ?
Who did you dive with ?

coral heads and fish or mostly Shark dives...?

 

[dolphin adventures]

Hi: I travel every year to Fiji for at least 3 weeks and I have dove all the popular areas. Here's some of my favorite dive places and resorts:
Taveuni - Great diving in the Somosomo Straights and dive sites you have probably heard about; White, Wall, Rainbow Reef etc. Really great soft corals, lots of small fish a few sharks. Can be currents in this area. My favorite resort here is Matangi a truely luxurious and unique resort, (and they have a couple of dive sites that only they dive)....the price is a bit higher than the main Taveuni Island Resorts like Garden Island or Maravu Plantation Resort.

Bligh Waters Diving - The diving from the far North of the main island in the "Bligh Waters" area is the most pristine and diverse......walls of soft coral, thousands of small fish, most diverse diving in Fiji. Couple of great resorts with excellent individual "bure" accommodations and food included in the price; Wananavu and Nananu Resort. We have a super deal here.....happy to help you with anything.....just send me an email.

Thanks,
Mary Jane

 

[kimchicowboy]

i'm heading to the cook islands in about 11 days. i already knew that the diving wasn't great, but i also wanted a place that was less touristy than other accessibly south pacific islands. should be nicer to do diving than here in virginia though.

 

[lemurs2]

Hi Kimchicowboy, Please post a trip report when you get back. We love the Cooks and though the vis was great there wasn't much to see. We were ther in Aug 04 so I wonder if things have improved or not