Dive Review of Garden Island Resort in
Fiji and Tuvalu/Taveuni Island, Fiji

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Garden Island Resort, May, 2012, by Craig Rathbun, CA, US ( 1 report). Report 6652.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity	N/A
Dive Operation		Shore Diving	N/A
Snorkeling
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	My wife and I were at the Garden Island Resort once before in 1994 and loved everything. This time we traveled with a group of 4 divers and 3 snorkelers. Flew Air Pacific to Nadi, had 10 hour layover (with taxi tour), then flight from Nadi to Taveuni (the Garden Island). We were there at the beginning of the dry season, but had on and off rain. The people at the Garden Island Resort were (still) very sweet and caring. The service was great and the food was varied, unique, and excellent. They catered to our every desire. The staff sings to you when you arive and the singing almost makes you cry when you have to leave. One night they gave us a Lovo (feast) and a native Meke dance. They sing like angels. The rooms have been greatly upgraded since our last visit and are very new, clean and luxurious. This resort has very good value. We booked through IslandDreams.com. The diving in the SomoSomo Straight is fantastic. Beautiful soft coral in whites, peach, pastel, violet,purple, brown, red, yellow. It grows to its largest size when they current is flowing good. There were blizzards of small basslets. Nice critters like Leaf Fish, Garden Eels, Blue Ribbon Eels, Clown Triggers, Puffers, Morays, Napolean Wrasses, Dolphin Puffers, Big groupers, Lions, Pipe Fish, Octopus, lobster, BEAUTIFUL anemonies and tons of anemonie fish,a big Spanish Dancer, snappers, jacks, only one very large green turtle. Friendly white tip sharks on almost every dive. The unexpected happened on the way to a dive sight. We spotted a small pod of Pilot Whales. We were able to drop into the water and snorkel with about six of them. Some were quite inquisitive and came very close to check us out. Being with these beautiful creatures was the highlight of the trip. I will always remember this encounter. Diving the SomoSomo Straight is like an acid trip but you don't need the acid. The reefs were beautiful, but not as pristine as in '94 due to a recent hurricane. Dove the usual reefs; The Ledge, Jerry's Jelley, Fish Factory, Baracuda Hole, Rainbow's End, Annie's Bommie, Great White Wall, Blue Ribbon Eel Reef, The Fingers, Sam's Point, The Zoo, The Curve, Cabbage Patch (damaged, but still nice), Nuku Reef. Dive masters were first class and safety conscious. Dive boat was a nice aluminum hull, with dual 150 horse Yamahas. Dive staff changes tanks, carries tanks, washes your gear at end of day. They spoil you. Did surface intervals on a VERY beautiful empty beach on Vanua Levu Island (on the other side of the SomoSomo Straight). Over 100 big gorgeous fruit bats occupy 3 trees at the resort (blew there during last hurricane). Very beautiful gold bodies, big orange eyes, black wings (about 1.4 meters). Hang up during day, fly to fruit at night. They can actually ridge soar and thermal soar out of sight. They hang out at the resort because nobody will hunt or molest them there - very beautiful, and the only native mammals to Fiji. Lots to do on this beautiful Garden Island. Bouma Falls (string of 4 beautiful water falls), horseback riding, snorkeling at nearby Koro Levu Island and other spots, bird watching. Snorkeling is good, but not great. Taveuni is the least populated major island in Fiji, and VERY beautiful. The people are very sweet and have retained their culture. I brought lots of tooth brushes and tooth paste for the kids at the mission. I want to return before I croak. Craig
Websites	Garden Island Resort
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	501-1000 dives
Where else diving	Tonga, Cozumel, Philippines, several Carrib locations.
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny, windy, rainy	Seas	calm, choppy, currents
Water Temp	82-°F / 28-°C	Wetsuit Thickness	1
Water Visibility	80- Ft/ 24- M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	Just stay within vision of dive master and rest of group.
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	N/A
What I Saw
Sharks	Lots	Mantas	None
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	1 or 2	Whales	> 2
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish	N/A
Large Pelagics	N/A
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter	N/A	Boat Facilities	N/A
Overall rating for UWP's	N/A	Shore Facilities	N/A
UW Photo Comments	[None]

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Dive Review of Garden Island Resort in Fiji and Tuvalu/Taveuni Island, Fiji

Garden Island Resort, May, 2012,

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Dive Review of Garden Island Resort in
Fiji and Tuvalu/Taveuni Island, Fiji