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Dive Review of Paradise Taveuni in
Fiji and Tuvalu/Taveuni Island

Paradise Taveuni, Jul, 2012,

by Douglas , IL, US (Contributor Contributor 19 reports with 10 Helpful votes). Report 6630.

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 N/A
Dive Operation 2 stars Shore Diving 1 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 3 stars
Beginners 3 stars
Advanced 2 stars
Comments Paradise Taveuni is an exceptionally beautiful resort with amazing service, particularly great for a romantic getaway. We were treated wonderfully, so it's a bit hard for me to write about some diving discomforts I had with my recent trip in July. But Undercurrent is about divers giving info to divers. Although the resort was exceptional, the diving was below average. We had enough days to do 11 dives but only 3 of them rated special notes in my dive log, and they were all at Rainbow Reef. Despite being assured by my travel agent and the resort's website that they go to Rainbow Reef regularly, upon arrival, we discovered that this resort is a longer trip to Rainbow Reef than the website claims, and they don't go there if conditions aren't "right." And to make matters worse- they don't go to the closer Vuna reef's good sites unless conditions are "right." (I also heard from a reliable source that the Rainbow Reef is definitely better than the Vuna reef.) The vast majority of the dives were on rocky, dead reef on Taveuni shores near the resort, and I see no excuse for that! Crown of thorns were noted in multiple locations. I heard from someone that there has been a recent bleaching in this area? The dive service was exceptional (except they didn't have any nitrox the entire week although we had prepaid for it), but choice of dive sites is critical! I really think they could have made it to some better sites by driving up calmer waters along the shore and then cutting across the strait to the Rainbow Reef the way I learned that Garden Island Resort does it. We met divers from Garden Island Resort on a beach safety stop, and they said they'd dived at Rainbow Reef every single one of their dives on their trip- the same exact days that we were visiting. On one day's diving, I got the distinct impression that they were diving us close to the resort so that they could get the boat back in time to take out a group of snorkelers, and then they didn't take us out to the Vuna reef after the snorkelers got back (cuz "conditions weren't right"), even though the snorkelers had just been taken there! So if you like your trip to involve an absolutely beautiful resort- this would work out great because it's way way way more beautiful than the Garden Island resort. But if you are "diving first" like I am, this more remote location could be a big disappointment in the dive site category- it was for me and my wife.
Websites Paradise Taveuni   Paradise Taveuni

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 501-1000 dives
Where else diving Solomons, PNG, Truk, Palau, Coral Sea, Belize, Grand Turk, Maui, Roatan, Saba, Yap, Dominica, Costa Rica, Cabo Pulmo, Cozumel, Bonaire
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather cloudy Seas
Water Temp 78-°F / 26-°C Wetsuit Thickness
Water Visibility 50-100 Ft/ 15-30 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions no restrictions
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

Sharks None Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles None Whales None
Corals 1 stars Tropical Fish 1 stars
Small Critters N/A Large Fish 1 stars
Large Pelagics 1 stars

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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Subscriber's Comments

By Allan Gortan in Waiyevo, FJ at Aug 07, 2012 19:04 EST  
Bula It was a pleasure having you at Paradise Taveuni in July. Thank you for your comments I would like to add a couple of points if I may. Your 5 day stay included 10 Boat dives. Your dive profile we have on record for your stay states the following dives. 11/07/12 Single Shore Dive, 12/07/12 Double Boat dive Vuna reef, 13/07/12 Morning double boat dive Rainbow Reef + Afternoon single Boat Dive Vuna reef, 14/07/12 Triple Boat dive Rainbow reef, 15/07/12 double boat dive Vuna Reef. We did apologies in regards to not having Nitrox and a full refund for this was credited to your room account. Weather conditions, tides, and dive experience of ALL divers on the boat are taken into account when choosing dive sites. We note recently that a diver group of 24 whom was here, dived Rainbow reef 7 out of 9 days as weather conditions and dive experience of the group was good. It's unfortunate that you did not mention any of these points during your stay with us as we would have had a private boat for just the 2 of you, which we have done many times before when requested. Regards Allan
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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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