Accoms and diving in Kadavu and other places in the Fiji islands

Hi there,

I have planned 10 days diving in the Fiji islands for feb/march, I'm an experienced diver traveling with a non diving party (incl.kid) and I'm looking for advices on both dive centres and medium range accoms from you all Fiji travelers.

We will definitely go to Kadavu for 4 or 5 days but I'm hesitating between two options either Waisalima resort on Kadavu or Kenia beach resort on Ono (matava is out of question as we definitely long for a good beach for the non divers while I will be out, if there are ). What's your advice on accoms/beach/dive op for each? Any people who actually stayed at Kenia?

Next should be either the Yassawas or Nananu I Ra (Yassawas gets my wife's vote while I root for Nananu I Ra). I'm already aware that diving in the Yassawas is not up to Kadavu but what should be the "less worst" place, we have an eye on Octopus resort and Oarsman Bay, pros and cons please?
Can you also inform and give me some ammunitions for Nananu I Ra case.. do they have good beaches and nice snorkeling like in the Yassawas, how about the accoms?

btw, what kind of weather & sea conditions (rain, surf, viz,...) should I expect for end feb/march?

I also posted this in the Diving/snorkeling forum. Anyway, thanks a bunch to anybody who can help me with my requests.

Cheers
Luko

Have you considered the time internal travel will take in Fiji? You say you have 10 days - of that you will likely have to spend the 1st & last night in Nadi - unless you are coming in on a very early morning flight and leaving late evening.
Kadavu - check whether flights go every day - only experience I have is about 8 years back when they didn't. Wherever you stay there you will likely have a boat trip to get to your resort from the airport, so a good deal of one day will be spent in travel. Then the reverse to get back to Nadi - and there is only one boat that goes out to all Yasawa resorts, it leaves 8.30am - another night in Nadi?
I love Octopus and I'm sure your wife and child would too (they have a dive operation at the resort). But you may not get accommodation there if your trip is only a few weeks away, they are very busy & booked up well ahead. I have been to Nananu-i-ra and much prefer the Yasawas - I'm with your wife on that one. Consider that you will have had your good diving in Kadavu & let her have her choice for that part of the trip!!
Don't want to sound negative but so many don't realise you can't go straight from one remote place to another in Fiji. 10 days sounds longer than it is! If you'd like pictures of Octopus post an email address, I'd be happy to send them.

Hi Marilyn, thanks for answering my questions.

As for the travel time, I agree I might be a little optimistic as we often travel to Asia where anything is possible anytime, although I still keep in mind those 10 years I have been living in the lower paced southern Pacific in Vanuatu ;) ...

I think I have duly integrated the transfer time in my schedule, if it were Thailand, I would have been to all three places :) ... My flight from seoul is arriving early morning and I have checked the Kadavu flight departs everyday at noon, so I expect to be in Kadavu the same day I arrive (I have been to Fiji as a kid 33 years ago, we've sailed to Kadavu from Suva it took us 2 days...that's better now).

I don't expect to be in the Yasawas on the same day I come back from Kadavu, I'll stop the night in Nadi/Lautoka area; as well as for the return no worries, that is why I only expect 6 full days out of my 10 available 3 days in Kadavu, 3 days in the Yasawas and 4 transfer of flight days.

I'll post an e-mail adress in your private LPTT box and you can send me your pics if you don't mind.

cheers
Luko