Dive Review of kona bay resort/kona bay resort in
Fiji and Tuvalu/bequa island

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kona bay resort/kona bay resort, Apr, 2006, by gwen ringgold, ca, usa . Report 2648.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity	N/A
Dive Operation		Shore Diving
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$	N/A
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	Oh, I wish I had known that the plane that held 450 passengers would be full both directions. The other thing that is imperative is there is no electricity on Benqua island---run by batteries..limits fans,lights, ect. The most fascinating thing was the guests were abandoned at night, after dinner the guest could watch the torches go through the jungle as the staff went home and in the early am guest could watch them return to care for us. No one on staff stayed at the resort. Good thing there is no violence or theft on the island. There was only 6 buras and when I booked I knew that there was only one other couple and they were honey mooners. That made me the only diver and I loved having a brand new boat under my direction. We only dive 2 dives a day but that took about 4 hrs due to 45 minutes to dive sites and back and surface interval, and dives over 60 minutes. Back in time for a late lunch, then out snorking in front of resort, clear water and all the beauty in 20-30 feet. Alot of blue eels, blue coral, blue star fish and large local fish. What I really liked was all the fish that are viewed in the area that is not available closer to the US, not in HAWAII OR TAHITI. Do not go on the school visit, or the village visit...so hot and humid and away from the shore no breeze. You have to contribute a donation to the chief to enter the village, then donate to the school, then donate to the Women's Club. All of the money goes to good and needy places, but I would have payed the money just to avoid the heat. To go to the firewalker was $150 and leave after the dives and spend the day in another village...which means repetative chief, school, Womens Club donations, which again means spending the entire afternoon and evening in the heat. The honeymoon couple went and warned us about the event, but we were pressured into going to the village visit. The good thing about staying off the mainland of Fiji, is there is no theft on outlaying islands due to the chief is the ruler and he will banish the thief to the mainland if caught stealing. Nothing will be stolen money, pens, batteries ....nothing will be stolen. On the mainland of Fiji, nothing is safe. These people are poor and appreciate anything you do to help. School must be paid for by parents, so take school supplies for the resort staff. Shoes and flashlights were requested by staff when I returned home. My divemaster was given his BC and could not get the battery so his computer would work...there is no rental gear, or very little but I went into the gear room and most gear was left by previous guests. I do plan on returning next year but will be prepared emotionally.
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	251-500 dives
Where else diving	I have been diving for over 20 years and dive daily off the coast of California, spend every September in the Carribean and Spring in South Pacific
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny	Seas	calm
Water Temp	78-84°F / 26-29°C	Wetsuit Thickness	0
Water Visibility	75-100 Ft/ 23-30 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	?
Enforced diving restrictions	NO restrictions, until we lost a diver to current and dive was pulled while the boat chased the diver
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	N/A
What I Saw
Sharks	1 or 2	Mantas	None
Dolphins	1 or 2	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	> 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities
UW Photo Comments	[None]

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Dive Review of kona bay resort/kona bay resort in Fiji and Tuvalu/bequa island

kona bay resort/kona bay resort, Apr, 2006,

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

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

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

Dive Review of kona bay resort/kona bay resort in
Fiji and Tuvalu/bequa island