Paul,
I very much understand the time restrictions. I'd still recommend looking into Garden Island on Taveuni only because the diving is 2nd to none (we arrived in Nadi at 5:30am and were on Taveuni by 8am so the extra travel wasn't an issue)
Bega Lagoon: Just 2 days ago I did a local boat trip-the captain had just returned from a week in Bega. I will find out the name of the resort. He loved the dives and said food was excellent.
Pacific Harbor: Diving is good. AquaTrek runs a great dive operation. Brandon (Manager) keeps top notch staff and knows good sites. Soft & hard coral, some wrecks, and great shark dives. Lunch on a tiny island between Bega & Pac Harb. Coral in good shape. Not over crowded at all. Aqua-Trek
Aquatrek is on the grounds of a hotel called The Pearl. Very sheik. Clean rooms, a little too fancy for me, and food was very over priced.
10 min walk down the road is Art's Village. Different cafe's for meals, gift shops, etc. They have a hotel & hostel, but I've heard mixed reviews (crowded, younger crowd, bugs in room, etc). I spent a lot of time there when I stayed @ the Pearl
10 min walk past Art's is a newer resort called Uprising Beach Resort. I haven't been there but it was recommended by several travel agents I know and has great reviews. Bure's on beach, Aquatrek will pick you up/drop you off after diving, and still 10 min walk to Arts for shopping and other cafe's if you want. this is where we're staying next time
Hope that helps. If there's more specific info I can give about my stay please ask!
-Michael
I very much understand the time restrictions. I'd still recommend looking into Garden Island on Taveuni only because the diving is 2nd to none (we arrived in Nadi at 5:30am and were on Taveuni by 8am so the extra travel wasn't an issue)
Bega Lagoon: Just 2 days ago I did a local boat trip-the captain had just returned from a week in Bega. I will find out the name of the resort. He loved the dives and said food was excellent.
Pacific Harbor: Diving is good. AquaTrek runs a great dive operation. Brandon (Manager) keeps top notch staff and knows good sites. Soft & hard coral, some wrecks, and great shark dives. Lunch on a tiny island between Bega & Pac Harb. Coral in good shape. Not over crowded at all. Aqua-Trek
Aquatrek is on the grounds of a hotel called The Pearl. Very sheik. Clean rooms, a little too fancy for me, and food was very over priced.
10 min walk down the road is Art's Village. Different cafe's for meals, gift shops, etc. They have a hotel & hostel, but I've heard mixed reviews (crowded, younger crowd, bugs in room, etc). I spent a lot of time there when I stayed @ the Pearl
10 min walk past Art's is a newer resort called Uprising Beach Resort. I haven't been there but it was recommended by several travel agents I know and has great reviews. Bure's on beach, Aquatrek will pick you up/drop you off after diving, and still 10 min walk to Arts for shopping and other cafe's if you want. this is where we're staying next time
Hope that helps. If there's more specific info I can give about my stay please ask!
-Michael
