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Dive Review of Moody's Namena Resort in
Fiji and Tuvalu/Namena

Moody's Namena Resort, Jul, 2009,

by Mona Cousens, CA, United States (Contributor Contributor 12 reports). Report 5156.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 5 stars Food 4 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity 5 stars
Dive Operation 4 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 5 stars
Beginners 3 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments July 2009

Moody’s Namena Resort

A little slice of Heaven. That is what I thought when I checked into Moodys Namena Resort. The crossing over from Savusavu on Vanua Levu was harrowing. One hour and twenty minutes in an open sided speed boat through medium sized waves, wind and rain. We were actually lucky. The guests who had arrived on an earlier flight got the bigger dive boat for the crossing which took two and one-half hours in rough seas.

On arrival you forget all that as you are greeted by Tom Moody in his signature four-wheeler. At age 80 he uses this to get around his lovely island and is happy to offer the guests a ride to or from the dive shop or on a one man tour of the island.

The island is 110 acres with the resort occupying only 10 of those acres. The remaining 100 acres has remained just as it was found when the Moodys began their resort. This means there are lots of hiking trails through wild terrain for those who enjoy that. There is also a nice beach with hammocks and lounge chairs for those who wish to relax there.

Our bure was spectacular. Perched on the side of the cliff hanging over the ocean. What a view. You have a lovely king sized bed with mosquito netting and adorned with fresh flowers changed daily. Each bure contains his and her bathrooms with a shower in between.

There are two dives offered a day and do not try to alter this schedule. It is not flexible. The first dive is after breakfast at 9:00 and the second is after lunch around 1:30. You are welcome to snorkel right off the dock between dives or in the afternoon but do not ask for an extra tank !! There are also kayaks near the dive shop and you may take one whenever you like. The kayaking off the resort is quite good.

The dive shop is located by the dock and the resort is on the hill so one must walk down the 110 steps to reach the dive shop. You suit up and go. Your gear is already on board. The week we were there had six divers which were split into two groups with two dive guides. This made the site less crowded as we could go in two different directions.

The sites are varied and have many different types of diving. There are walls with beautiful fans and soft corals. The pinnacle dives were a favorite as you could spiral around a bommie looking at the myriad sea life and then swim to another one close enough to enjoy both on one dive.

We also dove the reef break on the sites Kansas or Fish Patch which featured sharks, napolean wrasse, huge dogtooth tuna, a grouper which weighed about 200 pounds, schools of jacks and barracuda and so many fish species you were at a loss to name them all.

Moody’s Namena has been owned by Tom and Joan (pronounced Joanne) for the past 27 years. Tom is a wealth of information regarding Fiji: the islands, politics, the native habits and psyche, composting, “green” living and just about anything else you wish to discuss with him. Yes, it has been said that the Moodys are set in their ways, but please remember this is their home and you have been invited to share it with them. The fact that they like things a certain way was ok with us. If we have guests in our home we like them to follow certain rules as well. If this upsets you, don’t come here. Otherwise, you are in for a real treat and will want to return as often as possible.



Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience Over 1000 dives
Where else diving PNG, Solomon, Indonesia, Sipadan, thailand, etc etc
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, cloudy, dry Seas calm, choppy
Water Temp 75-80°F / 24-27°C Wetsuit Thickness 5
Water Visibility 50-150 Ft/ 15-46 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile ?
Enforced diving restrictions Each group of four or more were given their own guide.
We could dive as long as we pleased.
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

Sharks Lots Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 4 stars Tropical Fish 4 stars
Small Critters 4 stars Large Fish 4 stars
Large Pelagics N/A

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

Subject Matter 5 stars Boat Facilities 2 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 4 stars Shore Facilities 2 stars
UW Photo Comments they are not really set up for photographers. Most folks carried their cameras to/from their bures for the dives.
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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