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Dive Review of Volivoli in
Fiji and Tuvalu

Volivoli: "Just Okay Dive Setup", Oct, 2019,

by Renee Ross, OR, US (Sr. Reviewer Sr. Reviewer 8 reports with 3 Helpful votes). Report 11181 has 1 Helpful vote.

Photos Submitted with this Report


Click on an image to see an enlarged version and captions

View from room 979 View from restaurant Pool View from pathway to diveshopoverlooks ocean from villas Beach at dive shop
Dive gear rinse station Steps uphill to rooms

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

Accommodations 3 stars Food 4 stars
Service and Attitude 4 stars Environmental Sensitivity 4 stars
Dive Operation 3 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 1 stars
Beginners 3 stars
Advanced 3 stars
Comments Dive info first- they have 2 boats- 1st days we were packed into an comfortable boat, too crowded, - stepping on each other, narrow exit areas on sides of boat for giant stride. Ladders were fine though for exit except boat crew let the rope at ladder wrap around 1 Exiting divers neck while she was on the ladder and other divers were hangin onto the line. She wasn’t hurt but we had to yell to them to unwrap her neck, as the current was taking the rope tighter. Guides in the water were fine, went a bit too slow at times. Boat had a bathroom but no bars to steady yourself, no water or soap to wash your hands. Boat had no towels, such a pain to have to carry your own towel from office each day and return it wet, not one extra towel on the boat. Water container was dirty and water tasted like plastic . We did let them know of our issues and the next day they moved us to their larger boat and put some dish soap in the bathroom but no water. It’s is much nicer but still not very well set up for diving. No water to wash with for packed lunch on 3 dive days unless you rob it from the camera/mask tubs. 2nd dive crew were excellent, attentive, happy and helpful. So the diving became way more enjoyable from then on... dive sites ranged from 45 minutes to an hour away. We had cloudy/a bit rainy weather so reefs that were beautiful were not as colorful, but very healthy. From 30-5 feet they are amazing and beautiful, below that are mostly colorless but certain critters like large eels are deeper. Saw a few medium sized white tip sharks, lots of small tropical fish, seahorses and guides spent lots of time trying to show you tiny things you could barely see, so take your own magnifying glass if you want to see those since the guides did not have one to share. One guide had a yellow mask making him very visible underwater, it would be nice if they all had that on the poor visibility dives (which we had our 1st day, when we could not even see the boat at 15 foot safety stop.). After that the visibility was better once we went to the marine park further away. If the water/wind is rough they do not take you to the marine park where the best diving is.
Now, the resort- it’s on a hillside, so steps and hills to everything. They offer a golf cart ride if you need it though. The rooms vary and only the Deluxe Oceanview rooms, and expensive villas ,are closer to dive shop and restaurant. No intercom in rooms so when you need something like a dry towel you have to walk up or down to the office for everything. Staff are all cheerful and happy though and tried to make our stay perfect but the rooms had issues the worst were the ants in our room. Maids came daily and sprayed a Raid type insecticide all over and even on the edges of the bedding where we made a bed on the L shaped sofa. The ants just laughed at that spray and came right back in huge army lines! The bedding smelled a bit like insecticides on the sofa (note here that I’m chemically sensitive) and I had to trek to the office each day to remind them not to spray the stuff, I’d much rather live with the ants who go to sleep and disappear each night. And they continued to spray anyway so thus the reminder each day...
The food is plentiful and good. We ended up ordering 1/2 portions on everything. Dining is at your same table each meal so you never get a chance to chat with others unless on your boat. Local singer during dinner which was nice but a bit loud for conversation.
The grounds are well kept, lots of cement paths everywhere. Pool is very clean and doesn’t smell like chlorine. Thatched roof shade umbrellas there for shade (they were not made of palm fronds, but made of shredded plastic, so odd for the real Fiji feel.
Dive area for after the dives- wonderful cleaning tubs with disinfectant, changed regularly, a hose available and outside showers, hanging racks and you rinse your own wetsuit and booties and hang them, plenty of room there.
No boat dock, so you walk on & off the boat through shallow sand area at times depending on tides. Water was cooler than expected so a 5 mm full suit is a must. We all wore 3 mm and were shivering after the dives.
Extras- espresso and drinks were extra, if the maid has to wash dishes in your room they charge $50 Fiji, do don’t forget to wash your coffee cups! Water was free but you had to walk to the office daily to refill.
Overall a 3 star experience because the dive boats just were not up to the class expected for the cost to go here. We will not return. (Now on to Paradise Taveuni for our 2nd week!)

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 251-500 dives
Where else diving Bequia, Bonaire, Curaçao, , Cayman Brac, Little Cayman, Bunaken Island, Lembeh Straights and, Gangga Island Indonesia, Kosrae, Puerta Galera Philippines, Palau, Wakatobi , Fiji and Yap.
Closest Airport Nadi Getting There SFO - NAN

Dive Conditions

Weather rainy Seas calm, choppy
Water Temp 79-81°F / 26-27°C Wetsuit Thickness 5
Water Visibility 14-75 Ft/ 4-23 M

Dive Policy

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

What I Saw

Sharks Lots Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles 1 or 2 Whales None
Corals 4 stars Tropical Fish 4 stars
Small Critters 4 stars Large Fish 2 stars
Large Pelagics 3 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 bucket of clean water on boat
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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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