Dive Review of
Kai Viti Divers/Wananavu Beach Resort in
Fiji and Tuvalu/North Coast/Bligh Water

All over the Indo Pacific and Caribbean

Dive Conditions

Profiles were suggested by divemasters, which we modified with our own
computers  

camera shelf and soak tank on boat was roomy enough for the three cameras
among our group.  

Overall Rating

In our 30 years of diving, Kai Viti Divers may be the best run land-based
operation we have ever encountered. Mike and Julie have put together a
first class show. Our dive gear was picked up from the door of our bure,
and when we next saw it on the dive deck of the Adi Nunu, it was set up on
a tank, rigged and ready to go. Tanks are compact alu 80’s. We didn’t see a
fill less than 3150 psi all week. All we had to do was add weights, and
jump. Each morning, our gear was spread out on the boat, having been washed
in fresh water and hung out to dry. At the end of the trip the gear was
washed and dried by the crew, and after we gathered it at the dive shop, it
was transported back to our bures for us.

The Adi Nunu is a well found aluminum craft, immaculately maintained, with
O2, a shower, and full nav. instruments, including a mapping GPS, powered
by an inboard turbo diesel with jet drive, which allowed us to get to
“liveaboard country” in the Bligh Water in about an hour’s travel. Even the
upwind ride was comfortable, with passengers kept dry and out of the wind
by spray curtains. Entry was by giant stride from the stern, and exit via
Christmas tree ladders. One could climb directly from the water onto the
dive deck without even removing fins, if desired. Dive sites were easily
located via the mapping GPS. The anchor was never used. At each site a
divemaster free dived from the bow, passing the mooring line either through
a tire shackled to the reef, or tying it off around a coral head. A buoyed
drift line and a weighted down line were deployed on each dive. In current,
a traverse line was rigged from the mooring line to the down line at the
stern at a 15’ depth, to facilitate our return to the boat from our deco
stop.

The Fijian crew of four rotated easily among all positions. Two divemasters
led our group of 10. On many days we had the boat to ourselves, and on one
rainy day, when only five of us dived, the full crew went out, a regular
dive day, despite the adverse weather. Divemasters were eager to show us
critters large and small, though as the week progressed, they hung back
more, leaving us to do our own thing. Guidelines for depth and time were
given at briefings, but each of us dived to his own computer, no problem.
Most dives were in the 55-65 minute range. Deepest was 100ft. Average was
70ft.
In the more distant Bligh Water, viz. was an honest 100+ ft. Nearby reefs
had viz. more in the 60 ft. range, with occasional sudden drops as the tide
turned. We saw the full spectrum of reef life, including sharks, turtles,
eagle rays, titan and clown triggerfish, jacks and mackerel, and all manner
of nudibranchs and crustacea. At Black Magic Mountain , a Harlequin Ghost
Pipefish hung out in the Gorgonia at 80 ft. At most sites there were
several tunnels or swim-throughs, filled with all manner of gorgeously
colored soft corals, in size and number such as we have not seen since
before the late 90’s El Niño. The profusion of fish life on the reef
tops almost defied photography. The hard corals were superb, especially at
the more distant sites, with no signs of bleaching. This was our third trip
to Viti Levu, and there is no question but that the best diving on the
island is on this North Coast.

Wawanavu Beach Resort, a 2-3 hour drive north from Nadi Airport, occupies a
beautiful hillside setting, overlooking the Bligh Water, with both sunrise
and sunset views. For the most part, we did not have time to partake of all
of the activities offered, as we spent most afternoons reading, or sleeping
off our nitrogen load. The fresh water pool is immaculately landscaped and
maintained. Four of us shared a two-bedroom, two bathroom villa, with a
washer and small laundry tub, very convenient for soaking gear and cameras.
The late afternoon spa/massage service was welcomed by our wives, and was
inexpensive. Staff was friendly and eager to please. The breakfast buffet,
including custom omelets, was more than adequate to stoke up for a day of
diving. However there is an unresolved problem in the kitchen and dining
room. Despite the extensive menus at lunch and dinner, it was often
difficult to find palatable food, as the fish, pork, and chicken was
usually overcooked and dry, unless specifically ordered rare. Steaks were
better attended to. Management did not seem to appreciate that our plates
were often returned to the kitchen at the end of the meal, virtually
untouched. To detract further from the dining room ambience, the service
was inordinately slow, despite the resort being less than 50% occupied.  


 

Questions?
Send an email to the author of this report

What others have to say about Undercurrent
And get immediate access to ALL 248 dive reviews of Fiji and Tuvalu
and all other dive destinations immediately!