Scuba Diving and Snorkeling in Fiji

Nakia Resort & Dive offers the most comprehensive, safest and best-equipped dive and water sports services available on Taveuni. Through Taveuni Ocean Sports at Nakia, we – Julie Kelly, the daughter of Nakia's owners, and partner Aaron Mell – offer scuba diving, snorkeling, surfing, and boating. We are licensed and insured PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) Instructors with more than a decade of teaching and certifying divers at all levels of ability. Our priorities are safety and fun – we welcome guests from every resort on the island.

Taveuni Ocean Sports at Nakia – Diving, Snorkeling, Surfing and Tours

Come dive or snorkel with us to see for yourself why the Cousteau family calls Fiji "the soft coral capital of the world" and why Scuba Diver magazine has repeatedly rated Taveuni dive sites among the top ten on the planet. The tidal current and constant year–round water temperature of the Somosomo Strait create an ideal environment for more than 390 species of corals, marine creatures such as anemones, turtles, eels and nearly 1500 kinds of fish. Fiji's world–class reefs were featured in a November 2004 National Geographic article and online video.

Using Nakia's 12–meter (40–foot) fresh-water pool and the many open water sites along the reefs of the Somosomo Strait, we introduce new divers to the sport, help certified divers reach the next level, or refresh occasional divers' skills. We have courses and excursions for everyone, ranging from beginning snorkeling, through basic dive instruction, to certification programs for new divers, open water divers, and rescue divers. Every program includes detailed safety, site and marine biology briefings.

Our dive boat, The Upwelling, is a 10–meter (34–foot) custom aluminum catamaran. Equipped with GPS, sonar, VHF radio, emergency oxygen, an extensive marine first aid kit, and lifejackets, it supports up to 12 divers. But we carry no more than 8 divers with two instructors, in order to match divers' experience levels and preferences with the features and challenges of dive sites.

Every trip includes delicious snacks and cold beverages. Half–day and longer excursions include lunch. Hot fresh water showers are available on board. We provide a gear package of BCD, regulator, wetsuit, mask, and fins for US$20 (plus local taxes of 12.5% ) per day. Currency Converter »

Click on the tabs below for more information or download the Description of Tours and Courses offered by Taveuni Ocean Sports at Nakia. Our Price List includes specials for multi-day dives.

PADI Introductory Dives – pool and open water training

Pool Only: We use PADI's Discover Scuba Diving program to introduce the fundamentals of diving, beginning with a hands-on introduction to the gear, safety rules, diving theory, and skills needed to enjoy scuba diving. A session in our 12-meter swimming pool provides practice time for essential scuba diving skills, while building confidence in a safe, controlled environment. The entire session takes approximately 1.5 hours.

Pool lesson US$35 plus 12.5% local taxes

Pool Lesson and Ocean Dives: This program includes the pool lesson described above plus a one or two tank dive on a shallow, protected coral reef. After completing the skills and pool lessons, divers are qualified to dive in the ocean to a maximum depth of 40 feet (12 meters), under the direct supervision of our PADI instructors. This half day excursion including skills, pool, and an ocean dive ranges from 4 - 5 hours. Divers completing this program receive credit towards certification. Tanks, weights and gear package are included. We provide delicious snacks, cold beverages, and hot showers after every dive.

Pool lesson and one tank ocean dive US$110 plus 12.5% local taxes

Pool lesson and two tank ocean dive US$169 plus 12.5% local taxes

Note about Medical Requirements

Before diving, every new (non-certified) diver must complete, sign, and provide to us a one-page Personal Medical Questionnaire endorsed by PADI. Divers responding "yes" for any medical condition also must provide before diving, a copy of our downloadable Medical Statement signed by a physician indicating that there are "no medical conditions incompatible with diving." PADI Personal Medical Questionnaire and Physician's Medical Statement

Tours for Certified Divers

Two tank dives (one day): Certified divers will explore one of Taveuni's many beautiful reef systems, beginning with site and marine biology orientations. Our detailed site briefings use a local site map to illustrate all aspects of the dive, including depth, topography, and procedures. Our marine biology briefings include fish identification and behavior and coral identification, emphasizing endemic and rare species. Dive time is about 45 minutes with an average depth of 40-100 feet (12-30 meters). During a relaxing surface interval, divers enjoy delicious snacks, cold beverages, and a hot water shower, followed by a second 45 minute dive. The entire trip for a two tank dive is approximately four and a half hours.

Two tank dive w/tanks and weights US$120 plus12.5% local taxes

Gear package - BCD, regulator, wetsuit, mask, fins, dive computer- US$20 plus 12.5% local taxes

Multi-day dives: See our Price List for multi-day dives.

PADI Open Water Certification Courses

The PADI Open Water Certification course is a complete 3 - 5 day performance-based class consisting of academic theory, confined water training in our 12-meter swimming pool, and four open water dives. Divers are required to perform a 200 meter swim test and 10 minute tread.

This comprehensive, hands-on course ensures that students become competent and safe scuba divers. Upon completion of the course, divers receive a license to dive that is valid for a lifetime.

Each PADI Open Water Certification course includes all necessary training materials (PADI manual, log book, and recreational dive planner), tanks, weights and gear package, delicious snacks, cold beverages, and a hot water shower after each dive.

Open water certification (complete course) US$425 plus 12.5% local taxes

The PADI Open Water Referral Course includes the four open water training dives that are needed to complete a certification course that was started elsewhere. Student divers must have their PADI referral form documenting the completion of all academics as well as confined water training completed within the last year. Course includes tanks, weights and gear package, delicious snacks, cold beverages, and a hot shower after every dive.

Open water referral US$260 plus 12.5% local taxes

PADI Advanced Open Water Certification Course

PADI's Advanced Open Water Certification Course is a three– day performance–based class designed to provide experience with five different aspects of diving. Students learn about and practice the following skills: detailed underwater navigation techniques, deep diving, underwater photography, underwater naturalist, and peak performance buoyancy.

Upon completing the course, divers receive receive an advanced open water certification card, which is a passport to a new world of underwater adventure.

This course includes all necessary training materials (PADI advanced manual and log book), tanks, weights and gear package, delicious snacks, cold beverages, and a hot shower after each dive.

Advanced open water certification US$395 plus 12.5% local taxes

PADI Rescue Diver Certification Course

This course includes intense academic theory relating to diving and pressure-related injuries. The course also includes several hands-on rescue scenarios, which enable the student diver to competently rescue an injured and/or panicked diver in any given situation. The student diver also must complete a certified CPR course before the end of the class. Course includes all necessary training materials (PADI Manual), tanks, weights and gear package, delicious snacks, cold beverages, and a hot water shower after every dive.

Rescue diver course US$425 plus 12.5% local taxes

Snorkeling Tours

Snorkelers will enjoy exploring one of Taveuni's virgin reefs. This guided tour includes a brief lesson (if needed). The full day tour includes snorkeling at two different sites. We also have more advanced sites for experienced freedivers. All snorkeling tours include a detailed site and marine biology briefing, masks, snorkels, fins, wetsuit, delicious snacks and lunch, cold beverages, and hot showers.

1/2 Day Tour (3 hours) US$60 plus 12.5% local taxes

Full Day Tour (6 hours) US$100 plus 12.5% local taxes

Circumnavigate Taveuni

Guests will enjoy circumnavigating the entire island of Taveuni with an emphasis on exploring what is known as the "backside" of the island. This uninhabitated paradise is a combination of the "Blue Lagoon" and Na Pali Coast on Kauai in Hawaii. Enormous waterfalls cascade down majestic sea cliffs into the crystal clear Pacific below. This tour takes approximately 6 – 7 hours and includes snorkeling (masks, snorkels, fins and wetsuits provided), delicious snacks and lunch, and cold beverages. A minimum of two guests is required.

Around the Island Boat Tour US$225 per person plus 12.5% local taxes

Surfing

For experienced surfers, we have an advanced wave across the channel that breaks in an offshore passage. It's approximately a 45 minute boat ride. There is a very hollow right hander as well as a more forgiving left hander. Sharks included at no extra charge. Swell and wind condition can't be guaranteed. Tour includes a delicious lunch, cold beverages, and hot showers. A minimum of two surfers is required.

Surfing tour US$125 per person plus 12.5% local taxes

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