Diving Fiji for Dec holidays - midrange Yasawas, Viti Levu by car?

My husband and I are planning to spend 2 weeks in Fiji for the coming December holidays, one week at a dive-centric hotel somewhere in the Yasawas, 6 nights around the main island.

There are a lot of good reviews for Octopus and Manta Ray resorts, any other suggestions for the Yasawas for a couple seeking to do relaxing and diving, staying in a bure with a private bathroom, around $2000 USD (incl the mandatory meal plans) for a week? We'd prefer something that doesn't have a lot of children if possible, and is vegan-friendly.

We're planning to hire a car to drive around Viti Levu for the first part of our trip, getting in diving and some hikes. Is driving in Fiji difficult? Should we get a 4 wheel drive vehicle? Are there some great hikes or off-the-beaten-path beaches or dive sites we should seek out if we have the freedom of a car? (We're planning to bring our own dive gear and just buy air fills.)

Lastly, how is the weather likely to be in December? I understand it's the rainy season, but are we likely to face any serious danger like a cyclone?

Add Nanuya resort to your Yasawa options. Smaller, good food, dive operation, great location.
http://nanuyafiji.com/

I generally advise visitors not to hire cars themselves, but if you are carting dive gear (leave the tanks at home, I reckon), it would be more convenient.
You can not get far off the coast road very much without a 4WD. Driving is on the LH side and drivers are not so good so you need to be vert alert. Also, choose your rental company very carefully. Some local vehicles are very poor.

Diving on Viyi Levu is limited.
VoliVoli has an excellent operation in the north (Bligh Straights) and their neighbour Wananavu would also be good too but more up market.
There are shark dives on the south coast. There is nothing on the west coast. Don't know about the east.

December is cyclone season, so anything is possible, but not likely.

Cheers,
Peter

Bula vegsabrina,

Scuba Bula is located on the West of Fiji and has been operating for 20 years. The nearest Dive Site is only 10 minutes away on one of our custom built dive boats. We have 23 Dive Sites – all with moorings, so no anchoring on the reef! There is a wide variety of Dive Sites for you to enjoy, including, wall dives, swim-throughs, caves, canyons, and picturesque reef dives. The marine life is outstanding with a large number of visiting pelagic species as well as hundreds of species of resident reef fish. The reef is healthy with wide varieties of both hard and soft corals. Scuba Bula is a PADI 5 Star Dive Resort, SDI/TDI 5 Star Dive Centre and a DAN Training Facility. Scuba Bula is the only dive centre in the South Pacific to be partnered with the WWF (World Wildlife Fund) SPPO. All Staff are trained in Emergency First Response, Oxygen Administration and Hazardous Marine Life Injuries First Aid. If you are on Facebook then you will be able to see more photos and videos on our Facebook page or look on our website – www.scubabula.com - for all the information you will require.

There are 3 dive operators on the west coast and 1 in the Mamanuca Islands that you could also dive with if you base yourself in the West.

For information about diving with us for for help and advice about getting around the mainland please feel free to email me at info@scubabula.com.

Vinaka,

Adam

there is vegetarian indian food at most places and fijian dishes which can be vegan, veg Japanese food in Suva and Nadi you shouldn't have a problem getting food, the only roads you would want to drive on are the Kings and Queens roads which circumnavigate Viti Levu, you need to remember that the passenger is always on the kerb side and that will keep you on the correct side of the road, I find the drivers are often more considerate than a lot of drivers in other countries, people do overtake over unbroken lines, but that is the norm on the open road, the speed limit is 80kmph but 50 kms with speed bumps through the villages,

Peter: Thanks for the suggestions. Yes, we're leaving air tanks at home, but Fiji being such a touristed place, we're assuming we'll have no problems getting tanks once we arrive. Voli Voli seems to get the most praise for diving on the main island.

JB: Good to know about Indian food and driving, thank you.

I suggest you also look at Blue Lagoon Beach Resort for your Yasawa stay. Sister resort to Octopus, and they will cater for your special food requirements.

Thanks for that last recommendation.

If you're planning to do dives whilst travelling around Viti Levu, check out Bega Dives. or Bega shark dives. This is on the Coral Coast, Pacific Harbour.
I could help you with accommadation. email me arcole@connect.com.fj.

Yes, we're definitely planning to do shark diving in Beqa, I think that will end up as one of the highlights of the trip.