Snorkelling in Nananu-I-Ra, Taveuni and Vanua Balavu

The Coral Coast is a "bad beaches, bad snorkeling, big resorts" kind of show. It was my least favorite part of Fiji. We spent a week at Octopus, and it had decent Kiddie-Pool-level snorkeling, in a very pleasant place to stay. We spent 10 days milling around on Taveuni, and there was some much more serious snorkeling to be done in the south, either from the shore, or going out with dive boats when appropriate.

Thanks for the help oldpro and Karlo!

So far all the data I've got has indicated that Fiji's best snorkelling is at Kadavu and/or Taveuni.

I'd really like to know how Vanua Balavu compares to either of these...

-J

In defense of the Coral Coast: I just meant it was good for activities other than snorkeling and beaches. I figure you'll be doing a ton of that stuff on your trip, so maybe you would want to mix it up a bit. If you want to do a variety of inland activities, Viti Levu is the place to be. White water rafting, river kayaking, caves, archaeological sites, hiking, hot springs, villages, cities (where most Fijians live! it's a shame more people don't see urban Fijian life), etc. Not all of these places and activities are on the Coral Coast, of course, but the Coral Coast is a convenient place to base yourself to explore the southern half of Viti Levu. Because I spent almost my entire trip in the water, it was fun to have a few (somewhat) drier days doing totally different things. And I definitely did not stay in a big resort (but I actually don't think there is anything wrong with people choosing to stay in one).

That being said, if you are only interested in snorkeling and spectacular beaches and have no interest in inland activities, then skip Viti Levu. The beaches are not that nice, and the only good snorkeling near the Coral Coast is in Beqa Lagoon. But then again, I mostly did scuba diving rather than snorkeling, so I'm probably a bad judge of that.

We like hiking/trekking (mainly done serious stuff in Tasmanian mountain ranges, and in Lapland on the tunturi) but in hot weather are less keen to do it..

Of course, it's nice for a cooler day or for a change, but I do think we'd be more interested in water activities.

Thanks videshi for clearing that up!

-J

Vanua Balavu - experienced exceptional visibility there - even after a week of rain. Around the southern end of the island there were lots of fairly barren patches. If you could get someone to take you up to the Bay of Islands in the northern end of the island (cost us about FJ$80 in a small boat) it was great, lots of fish variety, good colour in coral, amazing deep aquamarine water colour.
I did not snorkel when we were at Taveuni, and the one place we snorkelled in Kadavu was disappointing, dead coral, few fish, and freezing water (one of our party was near hypothermic) - but there must be lots of good places also.
But as I said before - you could experience difficulty getting to Vanua Balavu - and once there it might be a while before you could get away again.

Yeah well the shipping company is saying we go there 2 times a week.

Moana's is telling me "the ship comes once a month"..

Maybe she's talking about a cargo ship and I'm talking about some passenger ship, but I think it'd be more likely we're talking about the same thing...

TaiMarilyn what would be a good amount of time for Vanua Balavu?

-J

Believe Moana's. We stayed there for 10 days with Caroline & her family - the ship was due the day we arrived - if got there the day before we left. By that time the local store was completely out of most things. Everyone told us that was not unusual. The people who were staying at Moanas with us were setting up some computers for the local school, they had shipped equipment from Australia 2 months before - when the ship finally came most of their stuff was missing.
10 days could have been great - but it rained solidly for 8 of those days. We still went walking and snorkelling but it did get a little tedious. Our last 2 days were brilliant - that's when we went on the boat trip to the Bay of Islands.
If you want to see pictures send me a PM with your email address and I'll send you the link.

Meant to say - one only ship for both cargo & passengers. Very basic passenger accommodation - but it sounds like you wouldn't mind that?

The following users do not wish to receive private messages: TaiMarilyn

.... So no PM for you! :-P

Yeah we are fine with a cargo ship, we are not fussy travellers...

I think I have to reconsider going there if I have to be there for a month or not at all! Too bad!

-J

Can't understand that as I've just checked my profile & private messages not stopped - in fact got one not so long ago.
Sounds like you won't be going anyway so won't want the photos.