Fiji, yes!

We'd like an invite, too. That's during our summer break from school...
{Although, it may be during their hurricane season.}

As some of you know we were in Fiji last February.
We dove Beqa Lagoon and Taveuni.

For Beqa Lagoon, if it were me, I'd call the resorts myself and look for a
deal. Centra was hurting when we were there. The manager was ready to bend
over backwards for a group. He can arrange everything - busses, diving,
jungle trips, shopping trips, whateve you want. He's also a very nice
Kiwi.

There are other (and more fancy) resorts there with typically 0-10 people
staying there, now.

We had a great time at Pacific Harbor. They have one of the best boat crew
we ever met. This is a fun place to dive, too.

On Taveuni, we had a lousy boat, so be careful about bookings. Incidently,
the lousy boat operation claims to be the Scuba Diver's #2 best resort in
the world. I don't know how they did it. I can't imagine divers being that
ignorant of quality dive operations. Also, we saw much coral bleaching
here. I'd try somewhere else if that matters to you. Or if you must go,
avoid the popular resort of Garden Island.

All in all, we found Fiji to be a major surprise. The people were great
and there was hardly anyone there. The diving was fun and warm.

There are very fancy resorts there too. When we started, we had a travel
agent doing some booking for us. She found us the Jean Michael Coustau
place at $3000/week for two (no flight, diving nor food). A no go. In
contrast, at Pacific Harbor, we paid about $1100 for two for 10 days with
diving included- food was extra as was the air tickets.

If we did it again, I think we'd go to Pacific Harbor and one place new -
an eastern island??/

I hear Naia is a great liveaboard, but pricey. If you want a liveaboard
and don't worry about money, go for it.

Now here's the best thing about Fiji.... You have a great chance to get
our Aussie dive buddies to join you there. It is a relatively cheap ticket
from Sydney. Imagine the party you could have....

Also, you could add Sydney to the trip for not much more airfare. A RT air
ticket to Sydney can include a Fiji stop for free. This is true for
Aukland also. Tip: United miles share a program with Air NZ.

When we were there the Fiji dollar was $2.08 exchange for $1 US. This
means very cheap drinks.

Have fun planning your trip,
John

A little song we wrote:

"mmmmm...
Bula, bula,
Tea ne bula

Bula bula,
ah ma KA

sega la negra. sega la negra....."
Vicky actually played our song on the guitar while I sang to the band at
happy hour - go figure.

or something like that....


>
>
>Date:    Thu, 8 Nov 2001 22:32:25 -0600
>From:    Crusty Russ <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Re: Fiji Dive Trip Help.
>
>So what do you have to do to get an invitation to this party?  :-)  I
>have a friend here in Dallas who has booked groups to Fiji several dozen
>times and led some most interesting side trip add-ons to Thailand.  The
>reports so far have all been positive.  If interested, I'll post you his
>name and number off list.  Fiji is on our list to dive, we just haven't
>had the time.
>
>Best regards,
>Russ
>
>
>Don Ward wrote:
>>
>> My dive group is looking at Fiji for summer (June through Sept.) of
>> 2003.  I have a personal Fiji expert who is privately consulting with
>me on
>> this trip :) but need some help in the US.  I need recommendations for a
>> good dive travel agency specializing in Fiji to do the booking.  I know
>> there are lurkers out there who may not want to post to the list, so if
>you
>> want, post me privately.
>>
>> Any experience or insights into Fiji are appreciated.
>>
>> Dive safe,
>>
>> /Don