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Topic: Fiji (Read 23330 times)
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elbaite
Guppy
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Morrison, CO and Savusavu, Fiji
Posts: 38
Nikon D70
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Re:Fiji
« Reply #15 on: December 31, 2004, 03:01:01 AM »
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Having dived Fiji on 5 separate trips, I feel compelled to relate my impressions of the country and her diving.
In my mind, Fiji is paradise. The combination of wonderful open outgoing nonjudgemental people, beautiful rugged topography with lush tropical vegetation, and good to great to world class diving makes for a superb dive destination.
It is a 10-1/2 hour direct flight from Los Angeles to Nadi via a combination Air Pacific/Quantas/American flight--one flight per day four days out of the week (I think something like Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday--a fifth day is scheduled to be added soon). Air New Zealand may also have an occassional flight and Continental is in serious discussion about expanding their Pacific operations to include flights from Guam. The LA to Nadi flight is easy for those that can sleep on planes (and for those that can't but take sleeping medication). You board the plane late evening, have a meal, go to sleep and wake up early morniing a day and a half later having crossed the International Date Line. When you come back you gain a day and actually land in LA before you took off in Nadi.
Return is slightly more difficult for those finding eastward long distance flights more taxing than westward flights (most travellers I know feel this, myself included). Nadi airport's long runways were built during Worl War II, when light Australian and American forces were stationed in Fiji to defend against Japanese expansion across the Pacific. The stories I've heard are that Japan expected Fiji to be strongly defended due to her proximity to New Zealand (about 1000 miles due south) and Australia (about 1200 miles WSW), but could have easily taken Fiji early in the war had Japan known the true situation. From Nadi, the remainder of Viti Levu (the largest island at about 90miles by 80 miles) is accessible by car or bus, including the capitol city Suva in the SE with short boat or ferry rides to smaller islands off Viti Levu's coast.
For simplicity, I see nine main areas of diving/tourism (Fiji has over 300 islands, a few of them large, and for a one or two week vacation one should focus on one or two areas--that's OK, Fiji has an amazingly high tourist return rate, so be prepared for revisits):
1)Nadi/Lautoka/Mamanucas/NW Viti Levu,
2)Yasawa Group,
3)NE Viti Levu/Bligh Water,
4)West Viti Levu/Gau/Wakaya,
5)South Viti Levu/Sigatoka/Coral Coast/Bequa Lagoon,
6)Kadavu/Astrolabe Reef,
7)Vanua Levu/Savusavu/Namena Barrier Reef,
 Somosomo Strait/Taveuni,
9)Lau Group.
(it's 1am here and I'm headed to bed; I promise to continue tomorrow--this is going to be a bigger deal than I had envisioned--probably in a Word document to be attacched to a new post)
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John
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Critter
Sherry made me do it
Great White
Offline
Kansas
Posts: 1880
  
  
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Re:Fiji
« Reply #16 on: January 03, 2005, 11:51:14 PM »
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We are thinking of going to Fiji in May and are probably going on a tuesday and stay on the island till Saturday when we get on the Aggressor. We are looking for a place to stay for a couple of days and do some sight seeing. We are really looking forward to this since this is the first pacific diving we have ever done. Any recommendations besides some of the places mentioned? Any sight seeing tours recommended?
Tony
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Subal ND70 housing, 2 S&S YS-120,Nikon D70-D200-D700, Nikon 12-24dx,Nikon 24-120VR,Nikon80-400VR, Nikon 60mm f2.8 ,Nikon 50 1.8,Nikon 35-70 2.8, Nikon 20 2.8, Tamron sp di 90, Tamron sp di180, sb800 speedlight
www.carroimaging.net
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BrantD
Mr. Pimp Daddy
Great White
Offline
Westminster Colorado
Posts: 5938
Just playing with stills..... for a while!
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Re:Fiji
« Reply #18 on: January 27, 2005, 02:48:11 AM »
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Well, We actually booked today for a week on the "cruise in Luxury, dive in Paradise" on the Blue Lagoon Cruise line, leaving the first week of June. It is a small cruise line specializing diving for this trip. The boat is a 60Meter (180ft+) brand new, with only 34 guest rooms. They have two dive boats (28ft and a 35ft) that follow the small ship around to get us to the best dive sites in the area. Max 28 divers. There are 9 in the group, only 8 are divers. Here is a link:
http://cruiseinluxurydiveinparadise.com/Itinerary.aspx
We then, will spend 4 full days in Pacific Harbor doing the culture and Land stuff, or more diving. We have rented a large boat for one day to do as we please. We may do a little more diving, or fishing or head over the one of the islands. I have managed to put this together for around $3325. total per person, including RT air from most major airports, the cruise (and dives), transfers, the Hotel in Pacific harbor, and the private boat for the full day. We have one couple coming from Fla. and their trip was actually $12 cheaper than from Denver.
Anyone interested drop me a line! I'll give you the info on who to call to set it up.
Brant
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Brant
C-5050, PT-015, ULCS, dual D-180's, Inon W/A, macro Lens for my lovely wife.
Oly C-50, PT-14, on a ULCS setup.
D-200, S&S housing and TTL converter, dual Z240's, ULCS arms, & FIX Focus Light for me! 
All from Reef Photo
| « Last Edit: January 27, 2005, 03:01:12 AM by BrantD » |
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TomR1
Great White
Offline
Los Angeles {Pasadena}
Posts: 1545
D-300, Seatool, dual Z-240
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New Baggage Restrictions- 2/2005
« Reply #19 on: March 01, 2005, 01:43:58 PM »
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The “Undercurrents” section of Fiji starts by proclaiming “For Left Coasters it is easier to get to Fiji than the Caribbean…” In my experience, not exactly, especially for photographers.
The Air Pacific/Quantas/American flight allows a whopping 70 pounds per bag for a two bag checked total of 140 pounds, way more than virtually all international flights and more than enough for an underwater photographer. However, as of February 2005 the airline only allows carry on bags to weigh 5kg (11 pounds), hardly enough for a laptop, a camera and some specialty diving equipment like a prescription mask. Almost all the expensive gear will have to be checked. Carrying on those specialty hard-sided padded equipment cases? Forget it!
Our solution was to carry small backpacks that are typically not checked for weight plus a 5kg carry-on for a total of about 25 pounds. With careful packing 25 pounds is enough. Be warned.
The next problem is that arriving in Nadi after a 9-10 hour flight leaves you nowhere near most dive locations. To dive the Somosomo Straights in Taveuni or see the Mantas on the Great Astrolabe Reef in Kadavu you will need to take an Air Fiji or Sun Air puddle jumper. These flights limit you to 15kg checked and 5kg carry-on, a total of 44 pounds. It appears that Air Fiji will let you go if you are near the limit but will charge you every time if you are well over. After layover, Sun Air flights to both locations will get you there about lunchtime.
The flight from Los Angeles to Fiji leaves late at night making connections from the East Coast easy but for Left Coasters reaching Bonaire, Cozumel or Roatan is about as easy.
Diving in the Fiji summer December-March means warm water and poor visibility while diving in the Fiji winter May-August means cooler water but better vis. We found the February visibility to be 25-50 feet, OK but certainly not great. The water was a warm 84F. In winter the water will be closer to 75F. Your choice.
In general the critters on Fiji are more interesting than in the Carribean and the soft coral is a wonderful kaleidoscope of color but I did not find the hard coral reef structure more interesting than the sponge decorated Carribean reefs. I found macro photography very satisfying due to the Nudibranches and Clownfish but wide-angle reef scenes relatively rare and large fish rare. Other than the mantas and one lone reef shark we saw nothing significant of size.
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Critter
Sherry made me do it
Great White
Offline
Kansas
Posts: 1880
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Re:Fiji
« Reply #21 on: March 01, 2005, 08:21:19 PM »
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Tom do you mean like a lowepro camera bag I take it. Also, did you then pack your housing in your checked baggage then? Wow this is a real problem then.
Tony
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Subal ND70 housing, 2 S&S YS-120,Nikon D70-D200-D700, Nikon 12-24dx,Nikon 24-120VR,Nikon80-400VR, Nikon 60mm f2.8 ,Nikon 50 1.8,Nikon 35-70 2.8, Nikon 20 2.8, Tamron sp di 90, Tamron sp di180, sb800 speedlight
www.carroimaging.net
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Critter
Sherry made me do it
Great White
Offline
Kansas
Posts: 1880
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Re:Fiji
« Reply #23 on: April 21, 2005, 09:58:45 PM »
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Just wondering then...it sounds like this is going to be more of a macro trip than wide angle photography is that the right impression I am getting? If so no worries...just wondering...thanks..
Tony
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Subal ND70 housing, 2 S&S YS-120,Nikon D70-D200-D700, Nikon 12-24dx,Nikon 24-120VR,Nikon80-400VR, Nikon 60mm f2.8 ,Nikon 50 1.8,Nikon 35-70 2.8, Nikon 20 2.8, Tamron sp di 90, Tamron sp di180, sb800 speedlight
www.carroimaging.net
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BrantD
Mr. Pimp Daddy
Great White
Offline
Westminster Colorado
Posts: 5938
Just playing with stills..... for a while!
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Re:Fiji
« Reply #25 on: April 22, 2005, 01:32:29 PM »
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I agree with Gerb!! As you know, I leave the first week of June for Fiji, and have never been there before, but in talking to LOTS of folks who have, W|A is a MUST!! 
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Brant
C-5050, PT-015, ULCS, dual D-180's, Inon W/A, macro Lens for my lovely wife.
Oly C-50, PT-14, on a ULCS setup.
D-200, S&S housing and TTL converter, dual Z240's, ULCS arms, & FIX Focus Light for me!
All from Reef Photo
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Critter
Sherry made me do it
Great White
Offline
Kansas
Posts: 1880
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Re:Fiji
« Reply #29 on: May 10, 2005, 02:33:39 AM »
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Eco we are leaving tomorrow and yes don't worry the 12-24 is going, wouldn't leave home without it. I am going to take a photo vest and stuff some pockets with lenses when I get to the gate. My wife nicknamed my vest, "Mr. Bulky". United is flying us to LA and they aren't giving us the 70pounds eventhough we are flying international. American who is flying my daughter and her fiance from Chicago is letting them take 70 pounds since they are going to Fiji. We are limited to 50 pounds a piece and man does that make things tight with scuba, photo gear, and oh yeah some clothes.
Tony
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Subal ND70 housing, 2 S&S YS-120,Nikon D70-D200-D700, Nikon 12-24dx,Nikon 24-120VR,Nikon80-400VR, Nikon 60mm f2.8 ,Nikon 50 1.8,Nikon 35-70 2.8, Nikon 20 2.8, Tamron sp di 90, Tamron sp di180, sb800 speedlight
www.carroimaging.net
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