Scuba Diving Fiji - Savusavu

Fiji is a paradise destination with fantastic diving, and the hospitality to travelers has resulted in the country being coined as one of the friendliest in the world. Read on to find out more about this laid-back and welcoming liveaboard destination.

Where Is Fiji?

Fiji lies in the South Pacific Ocean, northeast of New Zealand, and consists of 333 tropical islands. Of these islands, only 110 are inhabited and the others are largely untouched. Fiji is known for soft coral diving, white-sand beaches, and pristine natural environments.

What Are The Main Areas For Diving?

Strong currents flow around the islands of Fiji, bringing nutrient-rich water to dive sites that result in a variety of dives and marine life to experience. There are a number of different island to dive and highlights include:

Yasawa Islands

The Yasawa Islands are the driest and warmest area of Fiji, with sunshine almost all year long. Naviti Island has a unique dive at Babylon Caves, where divers can explore a cave complex, a reef-capped wall, and spot manta rays. Barefoot Manta, just south of the Yasawas, is a popular island to visit for manta ray encounters from May to October each year and is also home to some of the best coral gardens in Fiji. A visit to the Yasawas wouldn’t be complete without also visiting Nanuya Lailai Island; the setting for the famous Blue Lagoon movies of 1949 and 1980.

Gau Island

Gau Island, or the Amazon of the Seas, has incredible biodiversity and is the fifth largest island in the Fijian archipelago. This special island has a fringing reef on its north and east coasts, with a barrier reef off the west and south coasts creating a large lagoon. Gau Island is usually visited as part of a multi-stop Fiji diving itinerary and is not to be missed. Shark Fin Point is the place to go for eagle rays, reef sharks and plentiful fish life, whilst Koro Gardens is covered in hard corals.

Ngali Passage

The Ngali Passage is a beautiful and exciting dive with just a 3-hour window for diving, outside of which the current exceeds 4 knots and the visibility is low. Divers drop into the swift current and ride it through a passage, which is around 20 meters long and resembles a sandy road. The steep walls of the passage are covered in hard and soft corals and the water is full of barracuda, whitetip reef, and grey reef sharks. There is a coral ledge within the passage for spotting more sharks and other marine life, before letting go and flowing with the current into the coral-filled lagoon.

Somosomo Strait

The vertical walls of the Somosomo Strait are washed by strong currents and offer great wall and drift diving. The area is known for its colorful soft corals and large bushes of white, brown, pink and orange corals appear when the current is running. Purple Wall is true to its name and is covered in purple soft corals, plus whip corals and sea fans. The Great White Wall is one of Fiji’s most famous dives. This wall and drift dive has a large concentration of white soft corals that give the appearance of a wall of snow and is a dive not to be missed. The Purple and Great White walls are accessible by Somosomo Strait liveaboard diving.

Namena Marine Reserve

Located between the main islands Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, this beautiful 70 square kilometer reef has incredible marine biodiversity and consists of both Namena Island and the horseshoe-shaped barrier reef. Thanks to the chiefs of the region Kubulau, a total ban on fishing was placed in 1997, after an increase in commercial fishing in the 80’s and 90’s when a serious threat on Namena Reef was foreseen. There are numerous dive sites to explore at the reserve and marine life highlights include pipefish, nudibranchs, unicorn fish, garden eels, barracuda, reef sharks and even occasional hammerhead sharks.

Who Is The Diving Suitable For?

Fiji diving is suitable for all divers and is a destination that can be enjoyed by less experienced Open Water divers and experienced divers. Some liveaboards, such as the Fiji Aggressor, have no requirement for a minimum number of logged dives. Whilst currents can be strong at some dive sites, others are relatively easy.

When To Visit Fiji

It is possible to dive all year long at Fiji. Visibility is best from July to December when the water is coolest at 22 – 25m and visibility can exceed 40 meters. Summer in Fiji is from November to April, which is the rainy season with water temperatures of 28 – 30 ?. Visibility is variable during summer due to plankton blooms, which attract large pelagics such as manta rays and whales. September is a particularly good month to visit as it is the tail end of winter and the humidity and heat are comfortable.

How To Get To Fiji

Nadi International Airport is the main airport of Fiji and has daily domestic flights to other islands. Nausori Airport is Fiji’s second international airport and lies on the eastern side of Viti Levu.

Useful Phrases To Know

Whilst English is the official language of Fiji, it is worth knowing a few local phrases when visiting this friendly archipelago.

• Bula – To greet people or say hello.
• Vinaka – Thank you
• Vinaka vaka levu – Thank you very much
• Moce – Goodbye
• Kerekere – Please

https://www.deeperblue.com/diving-fiji-visit-the-friendliest-people-on-earth/ 

• Diving Travel

Diving Fiji – Visit The ‘Friendliest People On Earth’

By

 Kathryn Curzon

 -

September 4, 2018

Fiji - Scuba Diving with Turtles

I forgot how much I love diving with turtles until we seen some today, what a great day diving in Savusavu. Pristine coral and so many reef fish, a change of pace from my normal diving in New Zealand. Hit like and subscribe if you enjoyed :-) #Diving #Scuba #Fiji #Savusavu

Night muck dive under the Korean Wharf, Taveuni

H went for fun 1hr 20mins night muck dive under the Korean Wharf, Taveuni, courtesy of Juho, dive instructor at Garden Island Resort.

H is not certain of octopus species - MAY BE JUVENILE COMMON OCTOPUS, OR REAL ALGAE OCTOPUS.

Thoughts? :)

Fiji | Beneath The Surface

Rainbow Reef - SOFT CORAL CAPITAL OF FIJI

https://spark.adobe.com/page/q1pWeKnU307Sv/

The Somosomo Straits are a magical natural wonder created between the Fiji Islands of Vanua Levu and Taveuni.

Ocean Currents funnel nutrients which permit soft corals to flourish in the Straits

This creates the Soft Coral Capital of Fiji, THE RAINBOW REEF

The colors of the Soft Coral form its Rainbow

From Pastel Yellow and Pink

Images- r seidman

Manta rays feed using ricochet separation, a novel nonclogging filtration mechanism Raj V. Divi1, James A. Strother2,* and E. W. Misty Paig-Tran1,* See all authors and affiliations Science Advances 26 Sep 2018: Vol. 4, no. 9, eaat9533 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aat9533 Article

http://advances.sciencemag.org/content/4/9/eaat9533?utm_campaign=toc_advances_2018-09-28&et_rid=17045989&et_cid=2397960

Scuba Diving Fiji - Savusavu

A short teaser of whats to come, I had a couple of amazing dives while I was in Savusavu. Thank you so much Andy from Jean-Michel Cousteau's for having me on your boat.

Scuba Dive In Fiji [HD] in 2018

Leveraging PADI Travel for Your Group Trips by PADI Asia Pacific

You already know that travel and scuba diving go hand in hand. You probably also know that the majority of scuba divers will take multiple international dive trips during their lifetimes. Using this fact to your advantage and offering group travel opportunities to your customers can spell success for your business.

Benefits of Organizing Group Trips

Embedding travel into your business is a proven way to engage new divers and to keep certified divers active. The promise of getting to use new skills and explore new places encourages divers to enroll in more courses and buy more equipment. Successful PADI Dive Centers sell group trips to fascinating scuba diving destinations to leverage their customers’ desire for adventure. Group trips fuel engagement by building a community of travelers who are loyal to your business. This makes dive travel a win-win for everyone involved.

Why Organize Group Trips Through PADI Travel?

Luckily, you don’t have to go it alone when it comes to booking group travel. Partner with PADI Travel for your trips and get access to:

• Unbeatable group discounts – PADI Travel offers the best prices and terms around. As a global, wholesale travel agency with significant reach and purchasing power, PADI Travel is able to pass on competitive rates and terms to you when you book group trips. You have access to unbeatable group discounts (a.k.a. commissions) through PADI Travel that you can decide to pass on to your customers or to increase your margins.

• Special deals – The PADI Travel team negotiates special deals that may include anything from free enriched air nitrox fills to significant overall discounts. You can save big by securing available special offers on your next trip.

• Extra spots – One of our most popular promotions for group trips booked through PADI Travel is extra spots. Sometimes there are free cabins, rooms, equipment or other special terms for large group bookings. Again, you can decide how to manage these extras – increase your margins or pass spots on to your customers or staff.

• Diver medical insurance – Every diver in your group will benefit from the complementary diver medical insurance offered with each booking. This means reduced extra costs and more savings for your group.

Additional Benefits

If you end up with unfilled spots on your trip, PADI Travel can help you fill them. The future PADI Travel Marketplace will have global reach and help divers connect with you in order to fill your trips.

As an added benefit, PADI Travel acts as your personal tour operator. If any problems should arise prior to departure or after your customers are on the ground, the PADI Travel team will be in charge of handling issues. The 24/7 world-class customer support team is on hand not only to help you organize and fine tune your group trip, but also to deal with any problems or questions that may occur at any point. This essentially removes many of the hassles associated with organizing travel and reduces your personal workload.

You also can take advantage of the PADI Travel team of scuba travel experts to improve your knowledge of the world’s top dive destinations. Use this information to advise customers and increase your bookings. PADI Travel can help you organize, market and run successful group trips across the globe. Simply ask for a nonbinding quote the next time you organize a trip and discover new ways to thrill your customers.

PADI Asia Pacific | September 7, 2018 at 4:54 pm | Categories: PADI Travel | URL: https://wp.me/p2w81B-1DE

Fiji Instructor Development Course (IDC) and Instructor Exam (IE) Febuary 2019

Instructor Development Course (IDC) and Instructor Exam (IE) - Febuary 2019

PADI Open Water Scuba Instructors and PADI Assistant Instructors are the most sought-after dive professionals around the world because they’ve completed the program that sets the standard for training dive professionals.

You earn a PADI Instructor rating through hard work and commitment, but you’re rewarded with a job that lets you share incredible underwater adventures with others – transforming their lives for the better and enriching yours.

Who should take this course?

What is the IDC

The Viti Water Sports Instructor Development Course (IDC) is made up of two parts –

1. the Assistant Instructor (AI) course; and 
2. the Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI) program. 

Most dive professionals complete the entire IDC and go on to attend an Instructor Examination (IE), which is the final step to earn a PADI Instructor certification.

What are the Pre-requisites

• PADI Divemaster or equivalent rating
• 18 years old
• “Medical clearance to dive, without restrictions or conditions” signed by a physician within the previous 12 months
• EFR Primary & Secondary Care course completion within the last 24 months
• Documentation of all qualifying certifications for entry level, advanced, rescue and leadership level.
• Diver for at least 6 months
• 100 logged dives (proof required)

What is the schedule

• Tues 12th Feb 2019 Enrolment & EFR update (if required)
• Weds 13th Feb 2019 & Thurs 14th Feb 2019 : EFR Instructor Course
• Fri 15th Feb 2019 to Tues 19th Feb 2019 : Assistant Instructor Course
• Thurs 21st Feb 2019 to Thurs 28th Feb 2019 : Open Water Scuba Instructor Course
• Sat 2nd Mar 2019 & Sun 3rd Mar 2019: PADI Instructor Examination

What will it cost?

The cost of the entire course is $4995 FJD which is fully inclusive of:

• PADI Instructor Crew Pack
• PADI EFR Instructor Crew Pack
• PADI Dive Theory Online
• AI registration fee
• EFR instructor registration fee
• IE Entry Fee
• Transfers between training sites.
• Boat fees
• Tanks & weights

It does not include:

• Food
• Accommodation
• Equipment rental
• Additional Required Materials

How do I book?

• Spaces are limited so book now to secure your place.
• A Deposit of $1500 FJD will secure your place and can be paid at the
• Viti Water Sports office in Port Denarau.
• Deposits to be paid by 31st October 2018
• Balance to be paid by 14th January 2019 

Once I`ve booked, what`s next?

Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance.

Once enrolled and the deposit paid, we will send you pre IDC preparation information so you can start preparing now, and we will order you PADI IDC Pack and your elearning login. (which may take 2 – 4 weeks to arrive).

• Complete the Dive Theory online - This is mandatory for the Viti Water Sports IDC.
• Go through all the core course exams (OW, Rescue, DM exams, etc) and ask an instructor or any of your IDC staff if you have any questions.
• Check you have all up to date materials especially your PADI Instructor Manual.
• Ensure you have all the required equipment. See the attached list.
• Become familiar with your PADI Instructor Manual this is vital for an Instructor.
• Make sure you get your medical done.
• Practice all 24 in-water skills with an instructor and make sure your comfortable with all of them. Demonstration videos can be found on YouTube.

Contact 

Email: idc@vitiwatersports.com 

Phone:

Andrew Redfern - Course Director - 9233865
Mike Agnew - IDC Staff - 9998305
Trev Neal - IDC Staff - 9929474

Save Money When You Stay At Fiji Paradise Resort

Do you want to escape to paradise? Then explore Paradise Taveuni Resort for your next dive vacation in Taveuni, Fiji. Combining luxury facilities with the personal touch of a small island resort and now offering you new Dive Specials.

Taveuni is the perfect spot for you to drift dive with leopard sharks, taking in the orange, pink and brown soft coral blooms opening up to their most enchanting as they feed on the nutrients brought by gentle currents.

Or if you prefer, soak up the sun while sipping on a cocktail at the stunning beach front Paradise Taveuni Resort.

Dive The World has the following special offers for you:

Book a 7 Night stay at a discounted price:
Valid if you make a reservation for travels between now and 30 June 2018 and subject to resort availability!
8 Days / 7 Nights
Oceanview Bure price: Was USD 6 490 (FJD 13,025) per diver
Now USD 3 245 (FJD 6,512) per diver

Book a 5 Night stay at a discounted price:
Valid if you make a reservation, for travels between now and 31 March 2018 or between October and December 2018 and subject to resort availability!
6 Days / 5 Nights
Oceanview Bure price: Was USD 5 940 (FJD 11,925) per diver
Now USD 2 970 (FJD 5,962) per diver

Resort diving includes: Dives (as detailed in the packages above), unlimited self-guided shore dives, boat rides to sites, experienced English-speaking divemaster (maximum 5 divers per DM), tanks, weights and weightbelts, drinking water, hot drinks, snacks, scuba tax.
Diving excludes (mandatory, unless customer provides own): Scuba equipment (BCD, regulator and wetsuit, approx. USD 20 per day). Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival (cash or credit card).
Optional extras: Diving computer, nitrox fills for enriched air certified divers, dive insurance. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival.

Resort accommodation includes: All meals – full cooked breakfast, 1 course lunch and 2 course dinner, return Taveuni Airport road transfers and Fiji taxes of 25%. Free internet in the Main Bure + Fijian floral lei (Salusalu) & Welcome foot rub on arrival + Fijian sulu + tea, coffee& cookies + snorkeling gear + a large selection of complimentary activities.
Accommodation excludes (mandatory): Single supplement on single travellers only, payable in advance.
Single Supplement: This is a compulsory additional charge on single travellers for the sole occupancy of double/twin accommodation.
Optional extras: Alcoholic drinks, internet access. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival.

Do you want your dive vacation in Fiji, to simply be … paradise? Contact Dive The World to find out more about Paradise Taveuni Resort, send us an email or call us on +66 (0)94 582 7973 / (0)83 505 7794.

Note: All prices quoted are per couple sharing and are subject to availability and currency fluctuations. Currency