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Dive Review of Siren Fleet in
Fiji and Tuvalu/Ratu-I-Va, Menama marine reser

Siren Fleet: "Good", Sep, 2014,

by Wahine diver, HI, US ( 2 reports with 3 Helpful votes). Report 8060 has 1 Helpful vote.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 5 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 3 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments Fiji Siren is a first class sailing yacht. The operation is smooth, crew is extremely professional, the facility on board is well maintained.

The company website provides very detail descriptions to the boat layout, brief dive schedule, onboard services, dive gears and safety devices availability, etc. Updated dive blogs are also available. The office provides very prompt feedback and good communication via emails with customers before departure.

The maximum capacity for divers is sixteen on board. Due to low season, there are only 9 of us for the week of diving, so the boat is very roomy and extra comfortable. Even if the boat were operated at full capacity, there is plenty of space both indoor and outdoor for everyone to enjoy the trip.

The crew director on my trip has made the trip very fun, safe, and memorable. A general course of journey is laid out and explained at the beginning, but is subjected to change according to weather and other factors. Our trip falls onto the week of super full moon, the tidal swing and current become major factors in the choice of dive sites and schedules. Between the experienced boat captain, dive masters, and crew director, our dives are very well thought out and planned. There are also times when we are given choices of several dive sites. The current in Ratu-I -Va and Menama Marine Reserve can be unpredictably strong, and we encounter some "pin-balled" machine feeling at dive site "Fantasy". I strongly recommend diver dives with a safety device, such as orange or yellow surface signal devices. Fortunately, the company provides Nautilus Lifeline rental for €1.00 per day, and the proceeds go to a good cause.

There are slight problems with the exhaust of the boat, the two cabins closest to the engine room are affected with pungent odors. The engineer and maintenance crew spend numerous hours working to solve the problems, and the odor has subsided a bit. Fortunately, we are all friends and have previously dove together before this trip, so we choose to keep the door of two cabins open during the night for the first three nights.

The foods and drinks are delicious and services are very well done. After the first dive, full breakfast service with an egg/omelette station is available; in the evening, the theme of meal varies and followed by musical entertainment by crew members. The chef has catered special meals for my vegetarian diet.

All diving is done off the dingy. This needs to be careful explained for those of you to consider diving on the Fiji Siren. First, a platform is securely suspended from the main boat, accessible with a three-step ladder climbing in and out of the main boat. Divers are expected to don their full gears, except fins and googles, on the dive deck of main boat before descending onto the suspended platform and then further steeping into the dingy. The crews are there for physical support such as lifting and carrying gears. We have a few divers who have previously injured knees and shoulders, this diving routine does not make it very enjoyable for them. Especially when we have the big tidal change and choppy surface conditions during the first three days of diving, this has becomes a major deterrence in our future dive choice.

The water temperature is colder than we ALL expected. The average temperature is 74-75F. A 5 mm wetsuit is ideal for diving during the day and a MUST for night dives. I wish I had brought a 5mm, but luckily an extra shortie is available for my night dives. In fact, rental of full dive gears and wetsuits is included free of charge on all the Siren Fleets.
Websites Siren Fleet   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 501-1000 dives
Where else diving Hawaii, Alaska, British Virgin Islands, Galapagos Islands, Philippine, Lembeh, Bunaken, Raja Ampat, French Polynesia, Guam, Palau, Pohnpei.
Closest Airport Nandi International Getting There Direct flight from Honolulu, three times per week

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, dry Seas calm, choppy, currents
Water Temp 74-75°F / 23-24°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 50-100 Ft/ 15-30 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions Depth and time limits
Liveaboard? yes Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

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

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

Subject Matter 5 stars Boat Facilities 3 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 4 stars Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments There is not a separate camera room. There are a few benches in the main saloon for set up and cleaning. Charging is not encouraged inside the cabins. Since I have no roommate to share, I did most of the charging inside the cabin anyway. It would become quite problematic when the boat operates at full capacity and more than 3 big setups.
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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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