Pacific Islands (Solomon, Vanuatu, Fidji, Tonga) : Help

[pimouss]

Hello,

We are thinking of going in July/August for 5 weeks in Pacific Islands. We don't know which country to choose between Solomon, Vanuatu, Fidji and Tonga. We think of going to 2 of these 4 country, but we don't know which one.
Can anyone who dived this places help us to figure out where to go and give us good places and tips to dive on these islands ?
We're kind of a budget, which means we can afford some scubadiving but not from expensive liveabord.
We also like to freedive (we put Tonga on our list to swim with whales).
And last thing, we are difficult people : we already dived amazing place like New Caledonia, PNG, Raja Ampat, Komodo, Philippines, Sipadan, Franch Polynesia, so we want to dive excellent spot.
Thanks

JC

 

[MinimalMayhem]

I've only been to Vanuatu... Diving at espiritu santo on the wreck of the president Coolidge is amazing - one of the largest easy to access wrecks in the world.

 

[mikeycanuk]

The places you mention you've been to and budget don't go well together.

We did the Solomons this July aboard the Bilikiki and a week at Uepi. It was not cheap. Airfare alone from BNE to HIR with a flight to Seghe and back to BNE was
$3000 Cdn alone for the 3 of us.

It was awesome though.

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[Wingy]

Uepi in the Solomons is fantastic, Bligh Waters out of Fiji gets great reports, The Coolidge in Vanuatu obviously, Tonga I have no info on other than most divers I know who have been there go for humpback season. Ive dived all the places you have dived other than New Caledonia so comparatively speaking somewhere similar quality but new Uepi would be my pick. Ive heard good things about Bligh Waters and Somosomo Straits in Fiji but have not dived there. LOB id be looking at Bilikiki but that depends on your funds and if you prefer LOB or land based.

 

[pimouss]

Thank you for your answers.
Do you think we can dive at Morovo Lagoon (Uepi) and sleep on homestay ? Does anyone ha a good tip for that ?

To mikeycanuk : yes we manage to dive to this places at reasonnable prices (not always, but most of them), by sleeping in homestay or small hotel. It was not luxury but it was clean and friendly. But of course, it took some time to find cheap place.

 

[mikeycanuk]

There are some eco style resorts around Morovo, we anchored outside one one evening. Can't speak for a homestay.

As for diving at Uepi....I wouldn't bet on it. You'd have to ask to be sure. Uepi reef is stunning, mainly for sharks sharks and more sharks. Where else can you do a SS while reef sharks are swimming around you all over the place?

It's a shame as the owners are well past their prime. Not age wise but attitude wise. They are looking to sell their shares as their son and daughter in law especially want to live in Oz. So hope is there.

 

[pimouss]

As for diving at Uepi....I wouldn't bet on it. You'd have to ask to be sure. Uepi reef is stunning, mainly for sharks sharks and more sharks. Where else can you do a SS while reef sharks are swimming around you all over the place?

It's a shame as the owners are well past their prime. Not age wise but attitude wise. They are looking to sell their shares as their son and daughter in law especially want to live in Oz. So hope is there.

Thanks for your answer. But sorry, as I'm french, I don't get all of your answer. Why you wouldn't bet on it ? You think it's too many sharks ??? Or you think from eco style resort it's not possible to dive ???
And what is "do a SS" ?

Thanks

 

[mikeycanuk]

Sorry.

What I meant is if Uepi is busy you won't get to dive with them, they had a hard time when we stayed there and had to stagger the dive times do deal with everyone.

The sharks are harmless and have been swimming we people for over 30 years. SS = safety stop. The good dives are ones where you start at the mouth of the lagoon. Right at the mouth where the current is ripping you hold on ( take a reef hook) and then go with the current back to the jetty slowly ascending until 5meters.


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