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my 50th birthday on Fiji
Ever since I was a small boy I have wanted to go to Fiji,now my dream has come true.
I will be celebrating my 50th bday in Fiji with my family. We will be staying in Viti Levu at the outrigger on the lagoon on the south of the island.As we are going in August please can you help me with the weather at that time of year? Also my children 13-11- 8 have all had escorted dives in Egypt,they love it, can anyone recommend a good dive school? And where to dive.I would also like to eat away from the hotel but I have had mixed reviews about local restaurants,any recommendations
Many thanks
Bob
Views: 38
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Scott Putnam on -
Happy Birthday Robert! What a great idea for a birthday present!
The Outrigger is located on the Coral Coast, which means your diving locales are on the Coral Coast, Pacific Harbor, and Beqa Lagoon. Let's start the discussion with the dive shop located on-site at the Outrigger, www.diveaway-fiji.com. It is a PADI operation and offers instructional dive classes. Open water certification (with some restrictions for children) starts at age 10, so at least 2 of your children should be able to dive. Your 8 year old may be able to try a "discover scuba" class, much like the escorted dive in Egypt you mentioned above.
The Coral Coast is a nice dive destination for a family - there are not a lot of challenging currents. If you want to see big soft corals though, you'll need to deviate a little from the Coral Coast and explore Beqa Lagoon, specifically the dive sites Caesar's Rock and Fantasea (my particular favorite/favourite). Beqa/Pacific Harbour also offers the world famous shark dive, which you can watch on YouTube or on FijiGuide.com (go to the videos section). Pacific Harbour/Beqa (Beqa is an island about 1/2 hour boat ride from Pacific Harbour) Lagoon, is about a 1/2 hour drive from the Coral Coast. Some dive companies offer free shuttles to their dive shops from your hotel, OR, you can rent a car. As you are used to driving on the left, driving in Fiji will be easy for you. There is also a public bus that runs along the highway. It's cheap, but you will have to wait for the service. Contact the concierge at the Outrigger for more information on transport options.
The other dive operators are:
www.aquatrek.com
www.beqadivers.com
www.fishsharkdive.com
www.waidroka.com
Look at each of the websites, investigate their prices, and if it looks intriguing, please do not hesitate to email them. Unlike many places in the States, these dive operators are super friendly and will try to answer every question you pose. They will also try their hardest to accommodate any request you make. This is a FULL-SERVICE country.
Note that the best diving (for water clarity) is on an incoming tide. Do not be afraid to ask for dive times and dive sites that accommodate both. Most dive operators do 2 dives in the morning (with an hour break in between) regardless of tidal conditions, but if you've done your research (based on the tidal schedule), you should be able to schedule the perfect dives.
Diving in Fiji is an intimate experience - almost the exact opposite of Egypt (except for the Beqa/Pacific Harbour shark dives). Diving will most likely involve you, your family and maybe one other couple. Thus, asking for special dive sites and dive times is no big deal - you're their only customer. Again, do not be afraid to ask the questions and investigate your options. You're not in Fiji everyday and I want you to maximize your experience!
Regarding the weather - it will be lovely. Winter is their dry season - which means it might rain (especially in the afternoon or at night) - but more likely than not, it will be dry. It will also be relatively cool - in the high 70's or low 80's. The water temperature will be around 78 degrees (a little chilly). At night, a light sweatshirt might be appropriate as it might drop into the 60's. As you're coming from England, you can probably disregard these prior sentences and prepare for hell-on-earth, but compared to Florida or Egypt, Fiji will be quite cool.
As for restaurants - hmmm... I don't know. If you have a car, you can easily explore. If you don't have a car, you're pretty much stuck eating local.
Happy Birthday again and please let us know about your trip!
Best,
Scott Putnam
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Permalink Reply by Scott Putnam on
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PS - If you want to do the shark dive, I suggest making a reservation, sooner, rather than later. It does fill up. There are also 2 companies that do the dive and they go to different sites on the reef. I suspect the 2 companies attract the same fish and sharks - they just travel back and forth for their free meals.
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Permalink Reply by Robert F. Kay on -
I've been to a few 50th birthdays in Fiji! (Not just my own!). You'll have a memorable time. I guarantee it!
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Permalink Reply by robert moules on -
Thanks for your reply Scott
very useful information we have started our countdown now and are all very excited the kids cant wait! I will check out dive schools that you linked. Thanks again
Moules family
Scott Putnam said:Happy Birthday Robert! What a great idea for a birthday present!
The Outrigger is located on the Coral Coast, which means your diving locales are on the Coral Coast, Pacific Harbor, and Beqa Lagoon. Let's start the discussion with the dive shop located on-site at the Outrigger, www.diveaway-fiji.com. It is a PADI operation and offers instructional dive classes. Open water certification (with some restrictions for children) starts at age 10, so at least 2 of your children should be able to dive. Your 8 year old may be able to try a "discover scuba" class, much like the escorted dive in Egypt you mentioned above.
The Coral Coast is a nice dive destination for a family - there are not a lot of challenging currents. If you want to see big soft corals though, you'll need to deviate a little from the Coral Coast and explore Beqa Lagoon, specifically the dive sites Caesar's Rock and Fantasea (my particular favorite/favourite). Beqa/Pacific Harbour also offers the world famous shark dive, which you can watch on YouTube or on FijiGuide.com (go to the videos section). Pacific Harbour/Beqa (Beqa is an island about 1/2 hour boat ride from Pacific Harbour) Lagoon, is about a 1/2 hour drive from the Coral Coast. Some dive companies offer free shuttles to their dive shops from your hotel, OR, you can rent a car. As you are used to driving on the left, driving in Fiji will be easy for you. There is also a public bus that runs along the highway. It's cheap, but you will have to wait for the service. Contact the concierge at the Outrigger for more information on transport options.
The other dive operators are:
www.aquatrek.com
www.beqadivers.com
www.fishsharkdive.com
www.waidroka.com
Look at each of the websites, investigate their prices, and if it looks intriguing, please do not hesitate to email them. Unlike many places in the States, these dive operators are super friendly and will try to answer every question you pose. They will also try their hardest to accommodate any request you make. This is a FULL-SERVICE country.
Note that the best diving (for water clarity) is on an incoming tide. Do not be afraid to ask for dive times and dive sites that accommodate both. Most dive operators do 2 dives in the morning (with an hour break in between) regardless of tidal conditions, but if you've done your research (based on the tidal schedule), you should be able to schedule the perfect dives.
Diving in Fiji is an intimate experience - almost the exact opposite of Egypt (except for the Beqa/Pacific Harbour shark dives). Diving will most likely involve you, your family and maybe one other couple. Thus, asking for special dive sites and dive times is no big deal - you're their only customer. Again, do not be afraid to ask the questions and investigate your options. You're not in Fiji everyday and I want you to maximize your experience!
Regarding the weather - it will be lovely. Winter is their dry season - which means it might rain (especially in the afternoon or at night) - but more likely than not, it will be dry. It will also be relatively cool - in the high 70's or low 80's. The water temperature will be around 78 degrees (a little chilly). At night, a light sweatshirt might be appropriate as it might drop into the 60's. As you're coming from England, you can probably disregard these prior sentences and prepare for hell-on-earth, but compared to Florida or Egypt, Fiji will be quite cool.
As for restaurants - hmmm... I don't know. If you have a car, you can easily explore. If you don't have a car, you're pretty much stuck eating local.
Happy Birthday again and please let us know about your trip!
Best,
Scott Putnam
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Permalink Reply by robert moules on
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Thanks robert
Robert F. Kay said:I've been to a few 50th birthdays in Fiji! (Not just my own!). You'll have a memorable time. I guarantee it!
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Permalink Reply by Scott Putnam on
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Well, Robert... how was the trip? Happy 50th Birthday, by the way.
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Permalink Reply by robert moules on
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Hi Scott
The trip was fantastic! the welcome we received all Fijians was unbelievable, we have traveled to lots of different places around the world but none as friendly as in fiji. The Kids also loved it especially the diving. We thought the island was beautiful and our trips out were great ,we loved the trek through the forest to the hot spring on the coral coast . As you said there were not many places to eat so we stayed at the out rigger for our food which also was v good. ,thanks for you help
Moules Family
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Permalink Reply by Robert F. Kay on
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Bula Robert,
I'm very happy that in some way members of our website, Fijiguide.com, have helped you spend a wonderful birthday.
I would love to see you post some photos of your trip. (I'm sure Scott feels the same way).
All the best,
Rob
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Permalink Reply by robert moules on
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Hi Robert
Thanks for your reply, you guys were very helpful ,keep up the good work. I will post some pictures in the next few days,as soon as my connection problem is fixed
Regards
Bob
Robert F. Kay said:Bula Robert,
I'm very happy that in some way members of our website, Fijiguide.com, have helped you spend a wonderful birthday.
I would love to see you post some photos of your trip. (I'm sure Scott feels the same way).
All the best,
Rob
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