Dive Review of
Lalati Resort in
Fiji and Tuvalu/Beqa Lagoon

Micronesia (Palau, Truk, Yap), Solomons, Tuamotus (Rangiroa, Manihi),
Moorea/Bora Bora, Indonesia (Komodo etc.), Seychelles, Aldabra,
Australia (Heron Island), Cozumel, US Virgin Islands 

Dive Conditions

[Unspecified]  

[None]  

Overall Rating

Scenic direct flight from Taveuni to Suva on a tiny plane, then a one-hour
drive to Pacific Harbor and a bumpy 40-minute boat ride to the resort, a
veritable oasis in the wilderness. We received a warm welcome from the
owners, Clint and Jayne Carlson, and their charming staff from Lalati
village, and quickly settled into a very relaxing routine. The resort is
beautiful, with lush well-tended gardens bursting with exotic flowers, a
great new dock, and lovely views of forested hills and the lagoon. The
bures overlooking the bay are spacious, comfortable and nicely decorated -
flowers everywhere! No air conditioning, but the overhead fans and good
cross ventilation kept us quite cool. Electricity is 110 volts, so you will
need an adaptor if your are not from the US. First-class cuisine, thanks to
talented chef Beato, and a good selection of wines, mostly from Australia.
Meals are served in a imposing open pavillion overlooking the garden and
bay. Frequent entertainment by local musicians and the resort staff, plus
the famous Beqa firewalkers, kava ceremonies, and lovo lovo where the food
is cooked in a pit full of hot stones covered with banana leaves. There are
no roads, only footpaths linking the villages. We went on a moderately
strenuous hike to the top of the hill above the resort and were rewarded by
spectacular views of bays and lagoon - our guide, a feisty old guy, had to
clear the path through the rain forest with a machete, which certainly
added to the experience, then climbed a palm tree and dropped a few young
coconuts so we could quench our thirst. The best snorkeling is right in
front of the resort or around the point across the bay - there is always
somebody available to give you a lift by boat if you wish, or you can kayak
over. A 5-minute boat ride will take you to a pretty small island (Storm
Island) with a nice beach and a palm tree grove with a thatched-roof
shelter. Well equipped, full service dive shop. Our only effort was the
giant stride into the water! Comfortable covered boat, but no rinse bucket
for cameras. Most dive sites are 10 to 20 minutes from the resort.
Divemasters Seru and Joe have a real talent for spotting the tiniest
critters and make sure you have great photo opportunities. Some of the
shallower bommies show extensive coral damage caused by a combination of
surge from passing cyclones and the ubiquitous water warming phenomenon,
but most of the dive sites boast a wonderful variety of soft and hard
corals, anemones, colorful fans crowned by crinoids, and clouds of
brilliantly colored fish. Lots of lionfish, bright blue ribbon eel (often
two to a crevice as it was mating season), ghost pipefish, nudibranchs of
all sizes and colors, black and white banded sea snakes. We encountered
some current, but it only added to the fun. A few swim throughs, some of
them festooned with soft coral, very few turtles and white tip sharks. Our
favorite sites were Glory Hole, Best of the Best, Nudibranch City, and Soft
Coral Plateau where we saw schools of yellow-tail barracudas and jacks
swirling around us.
 

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