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Dive Review of Ra Divers/Volivoli Beach Resort in
Fiji and Tuvalu/Northernmost tip of Viti Levu

Ra Divers/Volivoli Beach Resort: "Pam & I Take A Fijiian Vacation", Mar, 2015,

by Eric A Frick, IL, US (Top Contributor Top Contributor 30 reports with 24 Helpful votes). Report 8621 has 3 Helpful votes.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations N/A Food 3 stars
Service and Attitude 3 stars Environmental Sensitivity 3 stars
Dive Operation 4 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 3 stars
Beginners 3 stars
Advanced 4 stars
Comments My dive shop, DJ's Scuba Locker (djsscuba.com) arranged the trip and I decided to add a live aboard to the itinerary (see my separate report on the Bilikiki in the Solomons). The rest of my group did only the Fiji portion of the trip so everyone made reservations on Fiji Air through American Airlines. This gave them an advantage when it came to baggage allowance but don't be fooled into thinking Fiji Air is a full partner of American. You get American miles (I had to claim them when they were not credited) but the miles do not count toward "elite status" on American. I figured that out early but did not realize the impact of my more complex itinerary that included flights that did not touch the U.S. I was under different baggage rules that included a lower maximum weight. Thankfully, tropical weather and very casual clothing meant that I could pack light.

The drive to Volivoli from the airport is not short but it gave us a good look at Fiji's main island of Viti Levu. The resort's remote location mean you have very limited options for recreation outside the resort but you find yourself in a nice "prison". The room was clean and modern and we never lacked for electricity or good food and there were smiling faces everywhere. The menu featured a variety of items but my stay of 12 days meant that I repeated dishes on several days. Members of the Darling family who own the resort were present and very welcoming.

We were not alone in visiting this part of the Pacific. Cyclone Pam was not so far away and it threw some weather in our direction. We boarded the boat each morning by walking out on a sand spit and stepping onto the swim platform at the stern. The captain and crew were helpful and knowledgeable. A number of our dives closer to shore featured limited visibility. Was this due to the proximity to shore or to Pam? I don't have enough experience to make an educated guess. On one day we did a 3-tank "safari" trip that took us into the Bligh Waters that featured better visibility and more critters. I would have happily gone there every day and skipped some of the near shore dives.

After 10 days or so I waved adieu to the rest of my group as they headed home and I settled in for two more days of diving before I was to move on. I did prevail upon the captain to take us back to the Bligh one day and enjoyed the better conditions.

On my last day I did some laundry (remember my luggage restrictions) in their machine and hung it out to dry a little before moving it to my air conditioned room to finish drying. On the last day a driver took me to Nadi and I headed to the Solomons for the second part of my sojourn.
Websites Ra Divers   Volivoli Beach Resort

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 251-500 dives
Where else diving Great Lakes, Florida Keys, Hawaii, miscellaneous Caribbean.
Closest Airport Nadi, Fiji (NAN) Getting There I flew Chicago to LAX and took a late night Fiji Air flight.

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, rainy, dry Seas choppy
Water Temp 81-83°F / 27-28°C Wetsuit Thickness
Water Visibility 20-75 Ft/ 6-23 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions After the guided dive, one could complete his/her profile under the boat and return within an hour and with 500 or more p.s.i.
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

Sharks 1 or 2 Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 4 stars Tropical Fish 4 stars
Small Critters 4 stars Large Fish N/A
Large Pelagics 3 stars

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

Subject Matter 3 stars Boat Facilities 3 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 3 stars Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments [None]
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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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