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Dive Review of Nai'a Fiji in
Fiji and Tuvalu

Nai'a Fiji, Apr, 2014,

by Richard J. Troberman, WA, US (Contributor Contributor 13 reports with 4 Helpful votes). Report 7588.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 4 stars Food 5 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity 5 stars
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 5 stars
Beginners 4 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments This was my first trip on the Nai'a. The boat was full for this ten day charter. Several of the guests had been on the Nai'a previously (some numerous times), and the guests were all experienced divers. Prior to getting on the Nai'a, our small group did two days of shark dives at Beqa Lagoon; one with Beqa Adventure Divers and one with Aqua-Trek. Both were excellent. If you haven't done it, this is a must-do dive. See separate report of shark dives.

The Nai'a is comfortable and well designed for diving. The rooms are mostly of equal size, although the layouts vary from room to room. Some cabins have a king bed, others doubles or twins, and still others have combinations that include bunk beds. There was adequate storage, including drawers, a closet, and a large area under one of the beds. Sinks are in the cabin, rather than in the bathroom, where the toilet and shower are located. The main salon, where meals are served, is spacious and comfortable.

The dive deck is laid out well. Lots of room to store your gear and suit up. BCDs and tanks are kept at the stern, where the tanks are filled. They are then placed on the tenders by the crew, and are waiting for you when you get on the tender for the short ride to the dive site. There are two hot showers and rinse tanks on the dive deck. The only thing that is missing is a restroom in the dive deck area, which would be a nice addition. There is also a large camera room. Almost everyone on our trip, which included some professional underwater photographers, had cameras, but there was room for all of them. Finally, there is a large sun deck topside.

The diving was pretty much what I expected. Beautiful hard and soft corals. Lots of fish. Only a few pelagics, other than sharks. Saw bull sharks, nirse sharks, white tips, black tips, grey reefs, a few hammerheads, and a lepoard shark. Water tempertaures were a consistent 83 degrees.

The thing that is exceptional about the Nai'a is the crew. Most have been with the boat for many years, and each of them is very skilled at his or her job. They are all very friendly and personable and willing to assist in any way they can. By the second day they knew each of the guests by name. New cruise directors Joshua and Amanda (September, 2013) did a great job, and tried their utmost to satisfy every guests' needs. I had inadvertently left a few items at the hotel in Pacific Harbour (where the Nai'a office is located), and after a phone call by Joshua to the office, my items were located and retrieved, and were waiting for me at the dock at the end of our trip.

The other thing that was exceptional about the Nai'a was the food. It was, by far, the best food I have ever had on a liveaboard (and this was my 18th). All of the guests raved about the food. Even the vegetarians and vegans said it was the best food they have had on a dive boat.

Travel was relatively painless. Fiji Air from Los Angeles to Nadi. Eleven hour flight leaves LAX at 11:30 p.m., and arrives in Nadi at 5:30 a.m. second day (e.g. leave Monday night, arrive Wednesday morning).

I will definitely go back. Now I understand why the Nai'a has so many repeat guests.
Websites Nai'a Fiji   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 501-1000 dives
Where else diving Hawaii; Bahamas; Belize; St. Vincent; Cayman Islands; Galapagos; Australia GBR; Papua New Guinea; Tahiti; Solomon Islands; Palau; Philippines; Indonesia (Komodo, Raja Ampat, North Sulawesi, Borneo, Ambon, Alor, Cenderawasih Bay).
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas calm
Water Temp 82-84°F / 28-29°C Wetsuit Thickness 5
Water Visibility 30-80 Ft/ 9-24 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions [Unspecified]
Liveaboard? yes Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

Sharks Lots Mantas 1 or 2
Dolphins Schools Whale Sharks None
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 5 stars Tropical Fish 4 stars
Small Critters 3 stars Large Fish 3 stars
Large Pelagics 4 stars

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

Subject Matter 4 stars Boat Facilities 4 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 4 stars Shore Facilities 4 stars
UW Photo Comments Two freshwater rinse tanks on dive deck. Large camera room with lots of charging stations. Crew carried cameras to dive tenders, and placed them in rinse tanks after 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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