DIVE TRIP FAQ
Most frequent questions and answers
Fiji is serviced with flights from USA, New Zealand, Australia, China, Singapore, and Hong Kong. Fiji Airways codeshares with Qantas and American, while Air New Zealand codeshares with United. Both fly into Nadi airport with almost daily connections.
Once at Nadi you get a domestic flight (Fiji Link is Fiji Airways Domestic Partner) to Taveuni (Matei airport) – a flight time of approximately 70 minutes. From the Matei airport it’s a pretty 30 minute drive to the resort.
The domestic flights are a grand opportunity to view the islands of Fiji, and see the fringe reef systems surrounding them. Having your camera available on this trip!
Fiji’s National Airline is Fiji Airways:Â www.fijiairways.com
November to May:
80–82 o F or 28–29 o C. Visibility: 40-100ft or 12-30m
June to October:
78–79 o F or 26–27 o C.
Visibility: 65-130ft or 20-40m
Taveuni has a mild tropical climate with two seasons – summer (wet) and winter (dry). The most temperate months are March through to November. Maximum temperatures rarely move beyond 31oC to 26oC (86oF to 79oF) year round. A cooling trade wind blows from the east-southeast most of the year. It usually drops to almost nothing in the evening, and picks up by mid-morning. Rainfall is highly variable and strongly influenced by topography, with the prevailing south-east trade winds bringing moisture onshore and causing heavy showers in the mountain regions. Near the resort, the average yearly rainfall is about 1 meter.
Average Air Temperatures
Summer – 23 – 30o C (73 – 86o F)
Winter – 20 – 26o C (68 – 79o F)
Average Water Temperatures
Summer – 27 – 29o C (80 – 84o F)
Winter – 25 – 27o C (77 – 80o F)
Direct tipping to individuals is not expected or encouraged in Fiji. Tip with a smile and vinaka, which is Fijian for thank you. If you had a good time and would like to leave a gratuity for the Dive team, Resort staff, as well as their families and kid’s school funds – you are free to do so. It can simply be added it to your final bill. We do not recommend personal tips be given because we collect all gratuities each year, and disburse them to all staff at Christmas. This helps to make sure that everyone who helped you have a good time gets rewarded (even the behind-the-scene staff you may not have met!)
We are very experienced working with photographers. The dive boat will have a bucket of fresh water and our onboard staff will safely pass you the camera when you are in the water and take it from you before you climb aboard.
We dive 2 tanks in the morning, with the dive boats leaving the marina at 8am, unless a member of the Dive Team instructs otherwise.
It takes about 10 minutes from Taveuni Dive Resort to reach the Rainbow Reef. You’ll do your first dive, then a surface interval. Your surface interval may be discovering a new bay, inlet, or beach. Perhaps it will be gently cruising to the next site. Surface intervals include light refreshments like a snack, water, and juice. You may also bring your own personal snacks. then a second dive.
We’ll return to the marina around noon, just in time for your lunch. We’ll head out for one more dive in the afternoon
Taveuni Dive Resort maintains a wifi hotspot in the resturant area, but not in the bures. Remember that Fiji is a developing country and the WiFi can be slow at times. We ask guests not to stream video or do live video chats, etc. E-mail works great, as does facebook, and most browsing. Bandwidth-intensive activities bog the router down quite quickly.
Electrical power in Fiji is delivered at 240 Volts AC (50Hz) with three-pin power points – the same as in Australia and New Zealand. Many appliances that use a transformer can be used with just a plug adaptor, but you should check your owners manual to be sure.
Our guests want great tasting food and awesome service. Whatever your preference, the Salty Fox Bar & Grill caters to your tastes. Our restaurant offers a mix of modern, local, Fijian dishes alongside your favorites.
We cater to guests with special dietary requirements like vegetarians, people with food allergies, and those with gluten sensitivities. Just be sure to let us know before you arrive, so we can plan something special for you!
Each morning guests have the choice of cooked to order breakfasts, or cold items such as fruit or cereal. Our guests usually order meals such as eggs, omelettes, pancakes, french toast, hash browns, oatmeal, cereals, yogurt, and fresh fruit platters. Drinks include a range of teas, coffees, and other beverages.
Given Fiji’s multicultural history, local cuisine includes a wide range of flavors and styles. Traditional dishes rely heavily on root crops such as taro and cassava, leafy greens, fresh fish, coconut, and peppers. Indian influences contribute meatier curry dishes, breads, chutneys, and sweet treats. Other Asian influences also contribute, meaning there is always a new flavor or texture to be experienced.
Our daily dinner menu will be posted in the morning, and is geared to the tastes of the guests staying at the resort.
All Divers will require:
- Mask
- Snorkel
- Fins
- Regulator with pressure gauge
- Buoyancy compensator (BCD)
- Dive Computer
- Tanks (Included)
- Weights (Included)
- A 2mm shorty or 3/2mm full wetsuit is recommended.Â
You can choose to either rent gear directly through Taveuni Resort or rentals can be arranged through the Diving Locker.
Taveuni Rental Prices (Must be booked in advance)
Package Includes: BCD, Regulator, Computer, Mask, Fins & Snorkel, & 3mm Wetsuit – $30 FJ/$18 CAD per day
Diving Locker Rental prices:
BCD/Regulator/Shorty Wetsuit Package $100
Dive Computer $50
If you are renting gear through us, you will be responsible for transporting there and back. Gear is to be picked up no earlier than October 9th and returned no later than October 21st
All commerce is in Fiji dollars (FJD) – there are approximately 2 FJD to 1 USD. You are recommended to exchange currency in Nadi before flying to Taveuni. There are two banks at the Nadi Airport (ANZ and Westpac), as well as a Western Union that will change foreign currency, travellers cheques, and process cash credit card transactions. There are also several ATM’s.
Normal banking hours are from 9:30am to 3:00pm Monday – Thursday, and 9:30am to 4:00pm on Friday. All banks are closed on public holidays. ANZ operates a 24 hour service at Nadi International Airport’s Arrival Concourse.
Most resorts and dive centers in Taveuni are happy to accept USD currency. International credit cards are accepted in some places. On Taveuni, there are two ATM’s at the BSP Bank in the village of Somosomo.
Visitors from many countries can use their GSM handsets in Fiji. Mobile customers are advised to check with their network operators for roaming status and costs before traveling.
For those with ‘unlocked’ cell phones, both Vodafone, and Digicel (Fiji’s two Mobile Network Providers) have kiosks just after departing through Customs in the arrival area of the International Airport. Vodafone on your left, Digicel on your right. Check them out and pick up a SIM that suits your needs during your visit.
Casual dress is appropriate for both night and day. Pack t-shirts, shorts, light cotton dresses and swimwear. For cooler evenings or for out on the water, a jacket is a good idea. Sunscreens and hats are a must; and sandals or sports shoes are good protection for walking and swimming around coral.
Sulus are a good idea for both men and women. The wraparound sulu is Fiji’s most distinctive and versatile form of dress. For women there at least ten different ways it can be used, even for evening wear. Ask our resort staff for hints on tying and wearing your sulu.
Visitors are asked to be careful not to offend local sensibilities. Wearing bikinis and ultra-brief swimming costumes is fine at a resort but not when visiting villages or shopping in town. This is where a sulu comes in handy.
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