Ryan Photographic - Fiji Dive Trip 2010
When
These dates are now finalized.
July 8 Los Angeles to Nadi, Fiji
July 10 arrive in Nadi (we miss a day because we cross the international dateline)
July 10 fly to Vunisea in Kadavu
July 10 transfer to Matana Resort
July 17 fly to Nadi
July 18 fly to Matei, Taveuni and transfer by road to Paradise Resort
July 25 fly to Nadi and then back to LAX.
Cost
Approximately US$4350. This includes return air from LAX, internal flights in Fiji, two weeks accommodation, all meals, 10 dives in Kadavu, 11 dives at Paradise Resort (includes night dive). There is unlimited shore diving at Paradise Resort. As the quoted price is based on a mixture of quotes in both Fijian and US$ this could change as exchange rates change. I have estimated $US1200 for the LAX/Nadi return. For my Australian and New Zealand friends, the cost is around US$3050 not including airfares. Pity about the exchange rates! Depending on interest I will contemplate offering a week at either resort rather than both, but people doing both resorts will get preference.
Payment schedule
Although this is an expensive trip, interest is high. To reserve a place I'll need a US$400 deposit asap. I accept credit cards but there will be a 3% surcharge. The deposit is refundable up to December 24, 2009. I'll need the balance of the money on April 5, 2010. Please make checks out to Ryan Photographic and send to 2802 East 132nd Circle, Thornton, CO 80241.
The Resorts
Gray reef shark apparently eating trip participant, Dive Kadavu.
Dive Kadavu/Matana Resort
We are going back to Dive Kadavu/Matana Resort by popular demand. We were treated very well here and the diving was superb. For many of us this was our first encounter with a Great Hammerhead and the shark feed dive was phenomenal. Visibility was usually in the 100-150 foot range and water temps 78-80. Dive sites are typically only five minutes from the resort and are usually sheltered from the southeast trade winds by the bulk of the island of Kadavu.
The newly described Fijian iguana Brachylophus bulabula. This photo appeared in a National Geographic documentary.
Topside stuff is interesting too. We saw five different individuals of the newly described Fijian iguana, Brachylophus bulabula and Paddy was able to sell several photos to National Geographic for their Earth Day documentary. You'll also see birds such as the endemic Kadavu honeyeater and the Kadavu shining parrot.
A few shots from our time at Dive Kadavu are reproduced below.
Turbinaria coral
Soft coral and diver
Pink anemonefish
Paradise Resort/Pro Dive Taveuni
Paradise Resort is more expensive than Matana but provides a higher level of service and luxury. The resort has a freshwater swimming pool and the bures (villas) all have indoor and outdoor showers. The ocean view bures also have jacuzzis. Tucked in the lee of the nearly 4,000 foot mountain range behind it, the waters adjacent to the resort are often calm when it is blowing hard elsewhere. The staff are outrageously friendly and the house band has to be heard to be believed (recording courtesy of Sue Agnew).
The swimming pool at Paradise Resort
The diving is operated by Pro Dive Taveuni. The diving here can be a little more demanding than Kadavu because of the currents. However it is the currents that provide the ability for the world-renowned "Great White Wall" and "Rainbow Reef" to survive. I saw several fish species on the Rainbow Reef I hadn't seen elsewhere in Fiji.
Soft corals at the Rainbow Reef, Somosomo Strait, Taveuni. Dive courtesy of Pro Dive Taveuni.
A first for me in Fji, a male blackspot angelfish. Dive courtesy of Pro Dive Taveuni.
Sponge, Rainbow Reef, Taveuni. Dive courtesy of Pro Dive Taveuni.
We have ten dives plus a night dive scheduled for our week at Paradise Resort but there is also unlimited shore diving. The shore diving here is the best I've ever done. Wakatobi in Indonesia was pretty special, but you had to be dropped off by boat to dive the house reef. Here you step off a ladder into four feet of water. The blue ribbon eel shown below was photographed in 60 feet of water less than 50 yards from the dock! If the Somosomo Strait is too rough or there is too much current, Pro Dive can take us to the Vuna Reef, a short boat ride from Paradise. This reef is protected by covenant with the US based Seacology.
Blue ribbon eel, House Reef, Paradise Resort,Taveuni. Dive courtesy of Pro Dive Taveuni.
After the diving, or on our Saturday when we are drying gear off for the trek home, we can always visit Naibogiono farm run by Bobby Shankar. Here you will see various Fiji fruit doves, including the stunning orange dove. Ornithologists travel from the other side of the world to see these extraordinary birds. There is a charge for this visit but it is well worthwhile if you want to see a bit of Fiji rainforest. For an article I wrote about the attractions of southern Taveuni and which was published in the Air Pacific inflight magazine please click here.
A male orange dove at Bobby Shankar's Naibogiono Farm. This photo has not been artificially saturated or enhanced. This is really what the bird looks like.
This one is for Laura Hix, an orchid lover, it's a common ground orchid from Taveuni.
A giant fruit bat in flight, Taveuni.
So there you have it, a stunning Fiji adventure. Expensive but worth every cent. Great diving and great company. What more could you ask for? To find out who else is going and to learn a little more about them click here.
Ryan Photographic, 2802 East 132nd Circle, Thornton,
CO 80241 USA Phone 303-457-9795