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Dive Review of Qamea Resort in
Fiji and Tuvalu/Qamea

Qamea Resort, Apr, 2012,

by Michael J. Millet, CA, US (Top Contributor Top Contributor 92 reports with 58 Helpful votes). Report 6547.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 4 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 $$ 3 stars
Beginners 3 stars
Advanced 3 stars
Comments This was my 4th dive trip to Fiji but first stay at the Qamea Resort and Spa. Notice that the title of this resort does not reference "Diving". While it has a dive operation, its primary business is weddings and honeymoons. While there, 2/3rds of the guests were non-divers. This is OK except there were some occasions when the best dive boat was used to for village visits, waterfall hikes and pearl farm tours for the other guests. On such occasions, divers were put on a dive boat that was small and cramped. The resort should have done just the reverse.

When available, I almost always use Nitrox. This resort offered Nitrox but at the ridiculous price of $30 Fiji (about $20 USD) per tank. All the divers there during my stay dived on air. What's the point of mixing Nitrox if it is priced too high to sell?

Sam and Erik were great dive guides and really know the local dive sites with their conditions and currents. We did a 3-tank trip to the Rainbow Reef area, and Erik timed our dives so that there was virtually no current while diving the Great White Wall. They also loaded/unloaded and rinsed your dive gear. Divers need to bring their own towels and drinking water on 1-tank trips.

The resort did employ a dive operations manager who was quite obnoxious, self-centered and overbearing. I understand that he is now employed at a Palau dive operation.

The dive conditions during our stay were OK. It rained during the last 3 days of our visit so the viz dropped off quite a bit. It is worth the additional $$ to do a 3-tank trip to the Rainbow Reef area. Very good diving there. Also, Mariah's Cove is a great local dive site.

The Qamea Resort has 17 bures. My bure was fairly comfortable with A/C and a ceiling fan. The rooms have a large bathroom with an outdoor shower. The lighting in both the bedroom and especially bathroom was a bit dark. The bure has a large porch veranda looking out over the water. The decking on the porch was in need of repair.

Dining area and bar were quite pleasant although a bit dark. The food was very good with a limited selection for lunch and dinner. The desserts were excellent. My package included beer and wine. The staff was quite friendly and helpful. Edgar, the relatively new resort manager, is very dedicated to improving the operation and service.

The Qamea Resort describes itself as luxury exclusive resort. It is very nice but, in my opinion, it is overpriced for the dive experience that it offers. I enjoyed my stay but I probably will not return.




Websites Qamea Resort   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience Over 1000 dives
Where else diving All over the Caribbean; Philippines, GRB, PNG, Galagagos, Solomons, Vanuatu, Fiji, Indondesia, Palau, Yap, Truk, Kosrae, Revillagigedos
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, windy, rainy, cloudy Seas calm, choppy, currents
Water Temp 78-82°F / 26-28°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 40-80 Ft/ 12-24 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions [No deco; 60 minute dives
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

Sharks 1 or 2 Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles 1 or 2 Whales None
Corals 5 stars Tropical Fish 4 stars
Small Critters 4 stars Large Fish N/A
Large Pelagics N/A

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

Subject Matter 3 stars Boat Facilities 3 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 3 stars Shore Facilities 2 stars
UW Photo Comments I was a bit disappointed with the photo ops on the Qamea dive sites. The soft corals were awesome but the I was expecting more encounters with aquatic critters especially nudibranchs. The dive boat had a rinse tank (an old cooler) that could handle a couple of cameras. No dockside camera rinse tanks; used a hose to rinse camera.
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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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