Need Agent Help - South Seas Adventures or Caradonna

[Dizzy_Dean]

I am trying to decide who to run with our 2 week dive vacation in Fiji and was wondering if anyone can give some advice or reviews of the agencies.

We have looked at using South Seas Adventures and Caradonna.

Just want to see what everyone's experience is with either or both.

Caradonna has been giving us better pricing, but SSA has been better reviewed online.

We are thinking about doing one week at Moody's Namena Resort with the following week at either Namale Resort, Matangi Island Resort or Royal Davui Island Resort. Any suggestions there?

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Diz

 

[bqualls]

Bula,
I used South Seas Adventures 3 years ago for a 2 week trip to Fiji.
Everything went seamlessly. My experience with them was 10 out of 10.
When I had trouble getting my frequent flyer miles after the trip,Sarah Bosley went the extra mile to secure them for me. Can't comment on Caradonna b/c I haven't used them.
I give Matangi 2 thumbs up,even if their best diving requires a surcharge...but the Somo Somo Straights are worth it.You might also want to look at Wananavu b/c you can dive the Bligh Waters from there.

 

[Dizzy_Dean]

Thanks BQ,

It's hard for us to decide where to go. We obviously want the best diving possible. Moreso than the resort really.

The research I've done so far seems to be for diving:

1. Namena Island
2. Somosomo Straights
3/4. Bligh Waters/Kadavu
5. Beqa & the Shark Dive

It's all subjective, but what do you think?

If we could hammer down where we want to dive, it would sure help deciding where we would stay. This indecision is killing us!

When you did Wananavu, did you stay at the Wananavu Beach Resort?

Thanks in Advance.

Diz

 

[bqualls]

We stayed at Wananavu and really liked it...not the pampering that we got at Matangi,but still very nice.The Bligh is world class sensory overload diving. Probably a notch above Somo Somo...but still ,Somo Somo was great. Matangi local sites were nice,but really can't compare to the Bligh waters.

 

[robint]

I have used Ultimate Dive Travel (liveaboard trip to Palau), Caradonna (SCC in Cozumel), Roatan.com (Cocoview resort), and Island Dreams (SCC again, and our next trip to Buddy Dive in Bonaire). I wouldn't hesitate to use any of them again... Island Dreams is our favorite though.
Island Dreams Travel scuba diving vacations

robin

 

[Shasta_man]

I suggest you don't need any agent help. You've already done it all yourself.

To get to any of those places, all you need is a flight and hotel reservation. The resort you choose will help you plan to get there. Flights are typically on Air Pacific and it's really just leave Los Angeles at 11:30 PM, arrive Fiji 5:15 AM.

As to where to go, that's subjective. I'd rank them as Bligh waters, then Taveuni, then Beqa Lagoon though the tiger shark at Beqa would be a major highlight.

 

[Dizzy_Dean]

Sounds like a should have put Bligh Waters #1 or #2.

I think I am convincing myself to do Namena and Wananavu.

I'd like to do Namena first, as the diving is a little calmer and Bligh seems to be a bit more advanced, but it doesn't look like the flights are cooperating unless we want an 8 hour layover in Nadi.

I am also a little gun shy to do the resos myself, since the agencies do give you piece of mind. But if they end up jacking $500 to the total price I could do myself, then maybe.

Thanks

Diz

 

[bbarada]

We did Wananavu last March thru Doris (1 407-774-9000X153) at Caradonna. We are doing Yap and Palau this coming Monday thru her as well.

Excellent service and gets everything correct the first time.

You will like Wananavu and diving the Bligh Waters. We've done Beqa and a liveaboard in Fiji. The liveaboard was best, but Wananavu is much better than Beqa.

 

[Tom Pederson]

Hey, I am a 30 year instructor and have been leading trips for nearly that long. I have found a great South Pacific wholesaler who does mostly Fiji, has great pricing and friendly staff that will really take care of you. They recently traveled two and dove nearly all of the resorts. They are Dolphin Destiny. If you email me I can give you their contact information.

 

[2dwyatt]

I used Deep Blue adventures and it went very smoothly. If you want there info leave me a message here and I will get it to you. I stayed at both Bequa Lagoon and Matava Eco resort. Liked both operations. Matava staff was outstanding. It is a smaller operation and they really take care of you. The diving there was some of the best diving I have ever done. The Astaloba reef there was pristine. The vis was over 100 ft. and saw no coral bleaching. Saw Mantas, sea crates, leaf scorpian fish, sharks, turtles and on and on and on. The whole week I was there I never saw any other dive boat when we were on the water, the whole reef to our self. So if you are looking for the best diving this is the place.