Tahiti vs. Fiji. Where on each?

[wader]

Next March, 2011 over spring break my wife and I are taking a dive trip. We have pretty much narrowed it down to these two places. I realize saying that "Fiji" or Tahiti is almost generic, so if you have an opinion, I would appreciate detail as to which island or dive sites. A live aboard is a little out of our price range. We don't need fancy places to stay, just safe and secure. Diving is the main event, topside activities are nice, but secondary.
We like to look for macro, but the bigger stuff turns us on more. Sharks are great as well. Traveling from the west coast, Idaho so we will go through either Seattle or LAX, which ever is easier/cheaper.
I realize there are a lot of posts like this. Thanks for helping me make a big decision.

 

[bracko]

I haven't been to Tahiti, and i haven't dived in Fiji.

but from other people's general holiday reports, Tahiti is expensive to drink and eat... very expensive.

Fiji isn't as cheap as say thailand where beers are $1USD and food roughly the same price ratio... but it's not unresonable for resort pricing and if you stay on an island that has more than just the resort, you can get some great meals out and about.

snorkling off plantation island was better than I've seen on the GBR (outer reef's) and on par with Dahab... but i expect both locations will be world class diving.

 

[bbarada]

I have been to Tahiti (Bora Bora) and Fiji (3 times).

As someone said, Tahiti is very, very expensive, especially compared to Fiji. I dare say if you think a liveaboard is too expensive, you will find Tahiti priced even higher.

We saw many sharks in Tahiti, but sharks are common on Fiji as well.

I prefer Wananavu in Fiji. Very nice resort and you can dive the Bligh Waters - weather permitting.

 

[OnTheSpot]

You might just get a beer in 7-11 for US$1 in Thailand but you will be be paying closer to US$3 in bars and more in tourist restaurants.

Have a look at Air Pacific who are offering great deals on flights from LAX.

One of the best deals on offer right now is free nights at Maravu Plantation Resort on Taveuni.

You can expect to see barracudas, reef sharks and manta rays, particularly at a site aptly named 'the Zoo' and plenty of pelagic fish species. The resort is nearby the world famouns Rainbow Reef and Great White Wall.

 

[wader]

Beginning to sound like Fiji is a better choice for us. So here is another question.

While vacation diving, we do not usually stay at "dive resorts". We find cheaper lodging and contract with a local dive shop. What are opinions about this? Looking at VRBO, there are some nice looking homes/condos for $100 or less a night.

Also, it looks like several different islands and/or places to dive. Recommendations??

 

[kkfok]

Please check out information about Fakarava and Rangiroa before you make up your mind. Diving in the south pass of Fakarava is simply stunning!!

 

[Travelnsj]

I was in Rangiora and Fakarava a few years ago...excellent diving mostly big stuff (but lots of it) and not much in the way of corals except hard corals....Tahiti was one of my favorite spots I have dove. You can do a search for my trip report.

I was in Fiji in April at Ono Island and then Wanavau to dive the Bligh waters (again do a search for my trip report). Out of 35 or so dives I only had perhaps 4 or 5 dives that were excellent and that was in the Bligh waters, loved the soft corals and the marine life....but that was only a few dives. If you go to Fiji do a LOB and the Bligh waters otherwise you cannot go wrong with Fakarava and Rangiora.

 

[TSandM]

Travelnsj, when were you in Tahiti? We were there two years ago, and I was sadly disappointed in the diving. There was a LOT of dead coral and not a lot of fish, and most of the dives on Tahiti and Moorea were shark feeding dives. We DID talk the dive op into taking us to a small wall with a lot of healthy coral on the last day.

Rangiroa blew me away, though. The outer reef was astonishing in the variety, color and health of corals and other sessile invertebrates, and was covered with a plethora of small and medium-sized reef fish. Just off the reef were huge schools of predatory fish (jacks and barracuda and others) and large numbers of reef sharks. We got off the boat into a pod of dolphins one of the days, and they stayed and played with us for over five minutes. I would absolutely love to go back there.

 

[wader]

I appreciate all of your comments. I must admit I know next to nothing about either place. Rangiroa sounds cool. Would you agree that it is more expensive than Fiji overall? I keep hearing about all of these new places I haven't heard of. Makes my mouth water and my mask fog!

 

[Mike Veitch]

Travelnsj, when were you in Tahiti? We were there two years ago, and I was sadly disappointed in the diving. There was a LOT of dead coral and not a lot of fish, and most of the dives on Tahiti and Moorea were shark feeding dives. We DID talk the dive op into taking us to a small wall with a lot of healthy coral on the last day.

Rangiroa blew me away, though. The outer reef was astonishing in the variety, color and health of corals and other sessile invertebrates, and was covered with a plethora of small and medium-sized reef fish. Just off the reef were huge schools of predatory fish (jacks and barracuda and others) and large numbers of reef sharks. We got off the boat into a pod of dolphins one of the days, and they stayed and played with us for over five minutes. I would absolutely love to go back there.

correct, there is no comparison between the islands of Moorea, Tahiti, Bora Bora etc and the Tuamotu area. The Tuamotu atolls are simply stunning with the amount of large marine life, large schools of fish, and healthy hard coral. But.. expensive
Would so love to go dive Fakarava and Toau and Apataki again...