Jewel Bubble Divers, Taveuni, Fiji: any experience?

[cal776]

I am planning a dive trip to Taveuni, Fiji in December, my first visit to Fiji. My first choice was to dive with Aqua-Trek. However, I have been told that their boats are booked solid to 37 people (and that's even after renting an extra boat) for the week of Christmas when I will visit.

I thought about using Swiss Fiji Divers, but according to the representative from Aqua-Trek, Swiss Fiji Divers is closing shortly and it is unknown who, if anybody, will take over their assets.

I stumbled across an operation called Jewel Bubble Divers. It looks like a fairly new operation, but the website is impressive. Do any of you have any experience diving with Jewel Bubble Divers?

Are there any other dive operators who run from Taveuni that I have overlooked?

I expect to stay at the Garden Island Resort, if that makes any difference. I know Aqua-Trek is on-site, and I assume other dive operators will pick me up.

 

[Louwphotography]

Back in June, I asked a similar question since I was thinking about going with Swiss Fiji Divers. bkman211 responded that he recently went with Jewel Bubble -- unfortunately his thread was lost when the boards went down. I remember he enjoyed Jewel Bubble and recommended them. We have decided to go with Jewel Bubble as well.

There's also Taveuni Dive -- they are about 30 minutes away from Jewel Bubble (I don't know where the Garden Island Resort is).

 

[maddmike]

We dove with Jewel Bubbles in May 2006. If I went back to Taveuni, I'd definitely dive with them again.

It's a small operation: Qio is the DM, his wife Eunice runs the office, and they have an apprentice DM Micah. They are all Fijians, so you know your money is staying in Fiji, and not going to some offshore owner. And they do business in an easy-going Fijian way.

The boat is kinda small, in good condition, but with no shade. Rental gear was AOK.

Let me know if you have more specific questions.

 

[bkman211]

As Lou stated above we dove with them this past June. Very nice people, locals that know the area very well. As stated above the boat is small, but the ride to the Rainbow reef is not too long around 30min. I did just put a highlights video together with some dive fotage and a photo of the boat. Check it out here: YouTube - Fiji Vacation

Let me know if you have any other questions.

 

[Diver Dave1]

Dove with Swiss Fiji in summer 2006 and loved it. Sorry things are not going well there. Maravu is not a dive resort as much as a honeymoon resort. GIR is closer to the rainbow reef so travel time will be not too long!

Do take the time to travel up to the pizza place on the cliff near Maravu. The food is fresh and great as if the view. I watched a guy unload a fish, bring it up the hill, watched them cut it and make fish curry for me. hard to get fresher than that!
The waterfall trip is also fun but probably an hour each way for you at GIR.