Raki Raki/Beqa Island Fiji info

[Travelnsj]

I am looking to go to Fiji-Raki Raki and Beqa Lagoon next year ....I want to go when the water is about 82+ and good vis....I understand their winter is the best vis but cooler waters...gotta have that warm stuff.

So what would December (08) or late March (09) be like?...Standard questions....Good places to stay? Good dive op?

Thanks for any info.

 

[matts1w]

I am looking to go to Fiji-Raki Raki and Beqa Lagoon next year ....I want to go when the water is about 82+ and good vis....I understand their winter is the best vis but cooler waters...gotta have that warm stuff.

So what would December (08) or late March (09) be like?...Standard questions....Good places to stay? Good dive op?

Thanks for any info.

Beqa Lagoon/Pacific Harbor:
Great Operator- Beqa Adventure Divers. Do the shark dive.
Great Places to Stay- Tsulu (Cheap), Uprising (Midrange), The Pearl (Expensive). Stay at the Pearl and BAD will pick you up at the dock as it located at the mouth of the river to Beqa Lagoon. The dive shop is upriver about 1/2 mile.

I went in June and July- water was 77f.

Fiji is a great place. I would go back tomorrow if it wasnt for this damn work thing.

 

[rickydazla]

December is Fiji's summer - HOT water (90+), slightly less vis but a lot less wind so calm. Winter (July-August) by comparison has cooler, clearer water but it is a lot more windy and so many sites are less easily accessible, especially on smaller dive boats.

I lived in Fiji for three years and December-February are my favourite months - you can take the boat anywhere and although the vis is reduced it is because of plankton blooms so the coral is all thriving. You're also likely to see whales and dolphins this time of year..

Raki-Raki - stay at Nananu Beach & Dive and go with Ra Divers.


Cheers



Rick

 

[Bratface]

Bequ Lagoon is fantastic. Great resort, excellent food, wonderful people and outstanding diving.

 

[KeithM]

There are two dive operators in the Raki-Raki area. Ra divers as mentioned by Rickydazla go to very nice sites reasonably close to shore and are moderately priced. I have dived with them and they are great guys.

Kai Viti dive the same areas as Ra divers but also do trips further out into Bligh Waters if they have enough divers wanting to do so. A lot of people rate them very highly but I haven't dived with them. They are a good deal more expensive than Ra divers but you may be able to get accommodation/dive packages with Wananavu or Nananu Beach and Dive.

Accommodation options depend on your budget. If your budget is tight Volivoli Beach resort is good, caters for backpackers but has some rooms, nice people and a modern clean resort - I've stayed there and will do again. Wananavu Beach resort gets good reports as does Nananu Beach and Dive - do a search for either and you'll find some good posts.

I second the recommendation for Beqa Adventure Divers. The shark dive is fantastic and they are really helpful people too. They are Based at Beqa Lagoon Resort which is in Pacific Harbour - do not confuse it with Beqa Lagoon Resort on Beqa Island. Divers I spoke to who were staying there liked the resort. I stayed at Uprising Beach resort and really liked it. Excellent value.

 

[Wiggsy]

I've been to Beqa Lagoon Resort twice and love it - compare prices - whilst accomodation/meals isn't cheap their dive package is very cheap ($200 for 10 dives) and the quality of the place is superb. We've book into Nananu Beach and dive resort next year - yet to go there but I've only heard good things.

 

[Travelnsj]

What about the diving in Raki Raki?....what will I see?....also Beqa Lagoon except for the Shark dive.

 

[Wiggsy]

Raki Raki is brilliant for soft corals and great fish life - very, very colourful...mostly pinnacle bommies.....a few wall dives and some interesting currents...but Nananu Beach and Dive Resort have closed down for 'major renovations' (?) strange as it was just renovated recently. My second choice would be Wananavu - don't really know much about the options over on Nananu Island - Bethams Beach cottages looks OK. I've used Ra Divers for two trips with no problems. BTW Beqaq Adventure Divers is NOT based at Beqa lagoon Resort, rather at The Lagoon Resort in Pacific Harbour (confusing to have such similar names - even worse is the confusion between Matava and Matana Resorts at Kadavu.) Regarding water temps....it is always pretty warm - last July we had 27C which is fine for a 3mm suit.
Get a price from Mark Propert at Beqa Lagoon Resort - they have a great dive operation (you won't lift a tank) and the dive boats are superb......The meals at Beqa are also brilliant - I've been there twice (had four groups go there) and I regard it as a 4.5 star resort at about a 3 star price - it is great value considering what you get in the whole package...cultural entertainment...great atmosphere...2 fijian villages within 5 minutes' walk.

 

[Travelnsj]

Wiggsy....thanks for the info....regarding the fish life in Raki Raki a lot of pelagic's? or generally reef fish?.....what about Beqa?...except for the shark dive.

 

[DesertEagle]

Last year I did a week of diving in Rakiraki. Like Wiggsy said, the diving is mostly bommies. The soft corals are amazing, and the amount of fish is incredible. There are a few sites that are loaded with hard corals (Garden of Eden). Don't expect to see whales or mantas. We did see a Napoleon wrasse and some white tip reef sharks though.

Kai Viti will usually go out to the Bligh Waters or Vatu-i-ra Channel if the seas are good. They are one of the best operators I have used.

I had no idea that the Nananu Beach resort opened and then closed. During my stay, Wananavu was booked. My travel agent put me in the Tanoa Rakiraki. It's a smallish, hotel-motel style place. Very friendly. Good food and air conditioned rooms. But it's not resort-style and it's a little isolated. From what I saw of Wananavu, it looked beautiful