Fiji - where else should we go?

[mmmbelows]

Trying to put together a trip to Fiji last minute here. Tried to get info from other divers experience at Namena Island Resort, but nobody has seemed to have stayed there, so screw it, I will be the guinea pig. Am going to book 5 nights there and want to combine it with another stay someplace else with great diving for another 5 nights. Have considered Wananavu and Jean Michael Cousteau resort, thoughts? Other suggestions? Concerned with logistics, spending the least amount of wasted time travelling and concerned that we might be going to Fiji but not experiencing Fiji if we are too isolated. Concerned if we also stay at Jean Michael Cousteau it might not make sense if they are going to just take us back to Namena to dive after we just spent 5 days there. Of course it might just be smarter to just stay all 10 days at Jean Michael Cousteau and be done with it?

Kind of have written off Beqa cause in regard to shark feeding diving have kind of been there and done that already and I keep hearing the rest of the diving there isn't so great. But wouldn't mind some high end digs and some pampering on the 2nd half of the trip after spending 5 days in the rustic conditions of Namena Island Resort.

Had started planning Fiji a few months ago then things changed at work and it looked like we wouldnt' be able to go anywhere so I dropped it, now last minute seems like we can now get away but now only have a couple of weeks till departure. Help me out scubaboarders, you've never let me down yet, I don't want to end up in Cozumel again.

 

[shutsal]

We stayed at Paradise Taveuni a few years ago and really enjoyed it. I think they have switched to their own dive operation but if they still routinely go out to Rainbow Reef I would definitely recommend it. Beautiful soft coral diving and the resort is definitely quite nice and pampering. Always love outdoor showers.

I know you said you wrote of Beqa but if you want some really high end pampering, Royal Davui which is a private island resort just off Beqa, is possibly one of the nicest resorts I have been to. But you pay for it.

 

[diver 85]

IMO, BL has pretty good diving--esp off Yanuca Island.....also, beautiful soft coral formations much closer by..........

 

[mmmbelows]

IMO, BL has pretty good diving--esp off Yunuca Island.....also, beautiful soft coral formations much closer by..........

Sorry, not up on the initials.. what is BL?

 

[diver 85]

Sorry, not up on the initials.. what is BL?

Beqa Lagoon

 

[lamarpaulski]

I stayed near the Savu-Savu Cousteau resort (beautiful) but found the very best diving around there to be the Namena trips (awesome). That was a bit of a long boat trip and only made under good sea conditions. You, on the other hand, will be staying right on Namena for 5 days. Lucky you ! I did not get to Somosomo strait or Taveuni but they were recommended highly too. My family made it to Taveuni and loved it - particularly the hiking and snorkeling.
Like others say..maybe Taveuni..there is an outfit called Dolphin Bay (sp) that dives that area, gets good reviews and you could check with them for options.

 

[garycrano]

I dived around Savusavu last year and besides Namena and the hammerhead dive with Korosun dive I think you are much better off diving around rainbow reef[Somosomo straights].A good way to do this from Savusavu is to get transport for an hour up the Pacific highway to Sau Bay resort.This resort is about 10 minutes from rainbow reef and is a nice place.
I have also stayed at Paradise on Taveuni 3 times and on Qamea island twice and they are great places.

 

[mmmbelows]

Well, a quick update, how things can change in a short amount of time...

After spending 72 hours trying to make the logistic works, it's down right an impossibility to do what we originally planned and get out to Namena, the plane rides, times available, layovers etc have proved to be too much and Namena is out. From there the plan changed to splitting time between Wananavu and Beqa, the logistics of that and the issues of availability changed those plans.

Final outcome is 6 nights at Nanuku Auberge resort and 3 nights at Royal Davui and departure to Fiji got pushed up a week due to the crazy increases in airfares leaving when we planned so we are now leaving for Fiji this Saturday.

So looks like we will end up doing the shark dive at Beqa. So how does that happen there? How do you book it and who do you book it with, is there more than one outfit or is it like the Roatan shark dive where one operator basically has the monopoly on it?

Royal Davui has diving available so I'm sure we will likely book direct with them for that, they also allow unlimited shore diving so I'm sure we will do at least one of those.

But Nanuku doesn't have a house dive operation, so any advice on who to look into for some personalized service offering a great dive experience in the Beqa lagoon/Pacific Harbor area that will let you dive your computer and tank?

Lastly, since we will be on the main land of Viti Letu, should we rent a car and explore the area around Pacific Harbor? Looks like there are zip lines, white water rafting, water fall hikes around there.

 

[cbm32]

Beqa Adventure Divers and Aqua-Trek Beqa.

These are the two ops that do the Beqa shark dive from Pacifica Harbour. Both offer regular non-shark dives as well.

I did many dives (both the shark and non shark dives) with Beqa Adventure Divers (they go by BAD shark divers too) and found them to be a good op. I have a buddy that lives in Fiji and dives with Aqua-Trek when he does the shark dives and he swears by them.

I was there in the rainy season and at that time there were very few divers on board (some days I was the ONLY paying diver on board) for the non-shark dives (I think they call them coral dives or reef dives to differentiate from the shark dives) and so we were able to dive our computer and tank. All of their BAD's boats are quite large, and during the peak season when they are full I am not sure if you will be able to dive your computer and tank or not.

I have spent about six weeks total in the Pac Harbor area and was never able to find any real options for non-shark dives other than these two options.

The shark dives are fantastic...but I wouldnt really call it diving. You are over weighted and dropped practically straight down to the viewing area. You watch the feed for a short period of time and then stop twice more when ascending to watch them feed medium and then small sharks. It is quite an experience, but dont expect any freedom to move around or do any real diving during the shark dives.

 

[diver 85]

Beqa Adventure Divers and Aqua-Trek Beqa.

These are the two ops that do the Beqa shark dive from Pacifica Harbour. Both offer regular non-shark dives as well.

I did many dives (both the shark and non shark dives) with Beqa Adventure Divers (they go by BAD shark divers too) and found them to be a good op. I have a buddy that lives in Fiji and dives with Aqua-Trek when he does the shark dives and he swears by them.

I was there in the rainy season and at that time there were very few divers on board (some days I was the ONLY paying diver on board) for the non-shark dives (I think they call them coral dives or reef dives to differentiate from the shark dives) and so we were able to dive our computer and tank. All of their BAD's boats are quite large, and during the peak season when they are full I am not sure if you will be able to dive your computer and tank or not.

I have spent about six weeks total in the Pac Harbor area and was never able to find any real options for non-shark dives other than these two options.

The shark dives are fantastic...but I wouldnt really call it diving. You are over weighted and dropped practically straight down to the viewing area. You watch the feed for a short period of time and then stop twice more when ascending to watch them feed medium and then small sharks. It is quite an experience, but dont expect any freedom to move around or do any real diving during the shark dives.

With 2 TSs(14 & 18 feet long respectively) swimming around me, I didn't mind one bit of having no moving around freedom OR real diving.....