Dive Review of Nai'a Fiji in
Fiji and Tuvalu

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Nai'a Fiji: "UndeNAI'Ably an excellent liveaboard experience.", Nov, 2022, by Rick Morgan, OH, US ( Reviewer 5 reports with 6 Helpful votes). Report 12256 has 1 Helpful vote.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity
Dive Operation		Shore Diving	N/A
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	NAI’A is a well-regarded steel-hulled, expedition-capable liveaboard ship which, since it was rescued from the slag heap 30 years ago, has played an important role in opening Fiji to SCUBA. It is now, apparently, the only liveaboard in Fijian waters. Its owner has identified and named many of the sites we dove, such as Cat’s Meow, UndeNAI’Able, E6 (named after the film slide developing process), Rob’s Knob, and Rick’s Rocks, not to mention Mellow Yellow and Mount Mutiny. Not every reef is fabulous; Fiji was hit by a devastating storm in 2016, and we visited several sites which are recovering nicely but are not 100%. But many are utterly gorgeous, with soft corals dripping off bommie walls and nudibranchs around many corners, and hard corals cascading down slopes and filling every nook and cranny of reef tops at 5-25’. NAI’A’s home port is Lautoka, close to the international airport. The boat offers seven-, 10-, and 14-day voyages. Ours was 10 days, which allowed us to range as far as Gau, zig-zagging our way through the islands. The trip was chartered through Backscatter, and of the 18 passengers, 18 were photographers or videographers. The oldest passenger (and, I think, the one who did the most dives) was 84, and the average age was probably mid-60s. All divers were competent, and we saw no real friction among or about anyone. The dive routine: Ccoffee and toast at 5:30, first dive at 7:00, “second breakfast” at 8:30, dive at 10:00, lunch at 11:30-12:00, dive at 1-1:30, snack and presentation, dive at 4:00-4:30, diver at 6:00, night dive at 7:30-7:45. Divers are not expected to stay with the guides, who of course are skilled at finding all the things. Two RIB drivers patrol the area, watching the bubbles, and will take people back to the ship as they surface. All entries are back-rolls off the skiffs, and negative entries are the norm, although a 8-9 camera rigs complicated that. Dives of 65-70 minutes were not criticized. We were well-briefed on what to bring and not, and it worked out ok. I do suggest bringing “ear beer,” several bathing suits, and at least one pair of socks to go in your booties. Because the boat was full of photographers, everyone seemed well-equipped. Although there are outlets (both Australian and US) in the cabins, no charging of anything is permitted other than in the camera room and in the salon. The reefs are healthy, and the soft corals are as advertised—gorgeous. As are the hard corals. We saw only two turtles, and just a few eels (no ribbon tails). We visited a reef manta feeding station and saw several animals come through; saw a massive black-blotched ray; and after a current-driven trip through the Nigali pass, saw a couple of dozen gray reef sharks on parade, both adult and juvenile (of course, sharks were present a many, if not most, sites, but in low numbers). Others saw hammerheads, and folks on the boat saw frolicking pilot whales. The food was on a par with the best resorts we’ve visited, with all three meals prepared to order, from menu selections made the prior day. Beef and pork are sourced from New Zealand, bread is fresh-baked (from partially cooked frozen stock), and desserts were excellent. Portions were as small or large as passengers requested, and off-menu alternatives were available. Ana, who runs the dining room, is everywhere at the right moment, getting 20 meals to the right passengers at the right time three times a day. The chef and sou chef, spent long days in a hot galley to make the magic happen. Two non-diving events deserve mention. Tuesdays are “Kava night,” when mats are put down on the dive deck and everyone gathers after dinner. Most of the crew join in singing traditional Fijian songs, and a few verses of “Sloop John B” as the evening progresses. Passengers are trained in the Kava ritual and offered the opportunity to join the crew in drinking the earthy national passion of Fiji, made from kava roots which are pounded into powder and then mixed with water. Some liked it fine, others didn’t, but it’s great fun, and the singing is great. Fiji is not a tipping culture. NAI’A, as is customary, has a “Christmas Fund” with all contributions put in a locked box and then divided equally amongst all the crew. Contributions can be made in Fijian dollars (currently worth about 45 cents U.S.), U.S. currency, or on credit cards with a 2.5-3% surcharge. All divers were breathing Nitrox, and all takes gauged within a couple of tenths of 32% oxygen. Tank fills were 2900-3000 psi. The skiffs have excellent ladders and are easy to board. Divers are expected to watch a crew member gauge their tanks a half-hour before the dive, and skiffs are fully loaded (dive and camera rigs) before boarding. The longest skiff ride was about 10 minutes; the shortest, two or three. Regarding COVID: Proof of full vaccination was necessary to confirm the booking, and necessary to enter Fiji. A negative rapid-antigen test was necessary within 24 hours of boarding. Air purifiers are in use.
Websites	Nai'a Fiji
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	501-1000 dives
Where else diving	Australia; Bonaire;Costa Rica; Florida keys; Grand/Little Cayman; Saba; St. Croix; Galapagos; Tuscany
Closest Airport	NAN	Getting There	daily 10-hour overnight flights on Fiji Airways from both SFO and LAX.
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny, windy, rainy, dry	Seas	calm, currents
Water Temp	80-82°F / 27-28°C	Wetsuit Thickness
Water Visibility	30-100 Ft/ 9-30 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	Tell the skiff driver if you expect to be longer than 70 minutes.
Liveaboard?	yes	Nitrox Available?	yes
What I Saw
Sharks	Lots	Mantas	Squadrons
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	1 or 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities	N/A
UW Photo Comments	To be fair, our boat was a Backscatter charter and every one of the 20 divers had a camera, ranging from TG-6s to, mostly, 4/3 or full-frame rigs. The camera room would be very comfortable for eight or nine photographers (we were told the average was 3-4), but was a bit overwhelmed by 18. There are good shelves, large, dedicated rinse tanks, and compressed air. Cameras are taken from the dive deck to the skiffs and back.

Report currently has 1 Helpful vote

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Dive Review of Nai'a Fiji in Fiji and Tuvalu

Nai'a Fiji: "UndeNAI'Ably an excellent liveaboard experience.", Nov, 2022,

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

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

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

Dive Review of Nai'a Fiji in
Fiji and Tuvalu