Hello! & Help deciding on trip: Fiji, Niue, or Rangiroa

[joe caulker]

Hi! This Board is awesome. I've read many, many threads on Fiji, Niue and Rangiroa, but I was looking for advice on choosing. I guess that the bottom line is that I can't go wrong either way.

Here's the deal - I'm a OW certified, and I'm looking to get my Adv. cert. I have two weeks to spend (although I could stretch it a week if the budget fits). I'll be travelling alone, and I'm mainly looking to dive. And I'll be coming from the U.S. (Seattle, WA).

I know that there are many out there who've spent lots of time diving in the South Pacific. I'm looking for any advice you can give.

Naturally, I'd like to stretch my money as far as I can, and Rangiroa seems the worst for that.

Also, any advice on the possibility and approx cost of travelling between Fiji and Niue would be greatly appreciated.

French Polynesia has long fascinated me, and I'd be very interested in any non-diving adventures that anyone could recommend.

Finally, if anyone has any other suggestions, that would be great. Places that would be better for solo travellers, relatively inexperienced divers, etc.

Thank y'all in advance!

 

[Shasta_man]

I've been to Rangiroa and Fiji.

I started to describe the two, but hands down, you want to go to Fiji.

Based on awesome people, perfect intro to South Pacific diving and people, they'll work with you on your dive, they are incredible divers themselves (no weights, all muscle, shorties) and it's pretty easy to get to, though farther than FP.

I'll leave the comparison:

For Rangiroa, there's island/beach visits in different parts of the lagoon. There's black pearl farms. Otherwise, the island is literally rather narrow so not a lot of other stuff there. From that description, Rangiroa doesn't have a lot to do but what they do have, is. Otherwise beautiful place to dive and you see a lot of sharks.

Fiji. Friendliest people anywhere. Beautiful place. Dives can include a lot including sharks. Very cost effective. No malaria.

 

[joe caulker]

Thanks for the response. The more I read about Fiji, the better it sounds. I'll make sure to post a report.

 

[almitywife]

hi, ive not been to Rangiroa, wouldnt return to Fiji if you paid me but Niue.... i would return in a second!

Niue is a tiny island, small population with great diving and lovely people. stayed at the namakulu hotel. you can snorkle in the rock pools and see the amazing fishlife that you will also see diving, we had sea snakes to whales and on your non diving day you hire a bike and see the island or do a canonying tour.

 

[joe caulker]

Thanks for the tip. May I ask why you wouldn't go back to Fiji?

 

[almitywife]

im sure thousand of people come back from fiji every month and love it - we hated it, got a insurance payout and rarely talk about the place.

we got there (Octopus Resort)- lost booking, well they werent lost actually and the staff were deleting our and our travel agents emails as we stood right in front of them!, were forced to move from room to room every day-not just us but most people changed rooms each day to the point that it bacame the lunchtime joke in the restaurant so you never got to relax and unpack.

we were promised 4 dives per day and nitrox, got there and found 2 dives and no nitrox, promised a dedicated dive boat and got there to find a small boat with 2 planks of wood on the bottom and a small motor, DM stood on our gear and broke a set of regs, staff stole our property, one maid would go thru our stuff and other staff would hit you up for money and goods every chance you got.

we returned to the main ilsand and to a 4star hotel that was full of british gits and the boozing each night resulted 3 nights later in a all in brawl, a drunken fijian security guard tried to rape a guest of the hotel and police everywhere. in the meantime, booking dives on the main island were bad also, one shop never bothered to show up for pickup, another shop kept ringing us every hour to say they were coming and after 4 hours cancelled. we went home early, insurance payout and went back to Vanuatu, a place we love and go to every 2 years.

we do at least 2 dive trips per year, we like low key, basic with good diving... one place we stayed at only had sand as a hut floor so we not expecting luxury, just a pleasant stay and Fiji was a total dissapointment for us BUT i hope you come back to say what a great time you had!!

it was just one of those things we had to go thru. for us, we know there are so many other island out there to go to so we wont return to Fiji as our list is just too long.

our next planed trips are a return to Yap (we were there in April) then PNG

 

[joe caulker]

Wow. That's a "bad trip" alright. Thanks for the insight.

 

[Wiggsy]

A word in defence of Fiji - I've dived there a dozen times in three different island groups and never expereinced anything like that at all. But then again, we do stay away from the townships and opt for smaller, more isolated resort islands, such as Kadavu; Wananavu; Naigani or, my new favourite Beqa Lagoon Resort. I have experienced totally the opposite and found the fijians the most hospitable and friendlient people in the world. I love Vanuatu too (where I've dived Vila twice and Santo twice) but find the locals shy and even subservient. Give me the proud independent fijians, but maybe stay away from the big bars and nightclubs as I have heard they can be a bit rowdy. The fijians generally drink very little (except kava) and I'm surprised by this, The Cook Islanders and Solomon Islanders give the brew a bit more of a nudge, but it sounds like the real problem may have been the "British gits" and not the fijians after all?

I think Octopus resort will be scrubbed from my list of options - sounds pretty abysmal.

 

[almitywife]

thanks Wiggsy - i think it was just one of those things we had to experience. as far as "big bars and nightclubs"... i havent been in one of these in over 15yrs and yes, you are correct - it was the brit gits that got the fijian security guard sitting with them and drinking huge amounts of duty free.

Kava *shudder*.....

 

[Wiggsy]

Ah....you don't like Kava - you haven't been to Fiji often enough then! I actually think Kava has been good for Fiji - the island cultures (such as The Cook Islands and The Solomons) where the locals have switched over the beer have been far more destroyed than those that have stuck with the traditional brew. Kava is actually very mild - you would get seriously bloated before you felt much effect at all. It slows people down and mellows them out - no fights - just quiet, friendly chat and then sleep time.

And the next morning, no hangover - they still show up for work. The Cook Islanders love their Kiwilager and the Solomon Islanders nudge the Solbrew - but most Fijians still drink kava.