Yomps, Adventure Travel Experiences

Fiji Diving, Conservation & Culture
Full Itinerary

Obtain a PADI diving qualification, volunteer on marine conservation projects, help endangered coral reefs, log 30 dives in a haven of soft corals, scuba dive seeing incredible marine life, explore stunning Fijian islands and have a remarkable gap year or travelling experience on this marine conservation adventure that takes you to a ‘hidden paradise’!

Fiji

Days 1 to 3 - Arrive in Fiji and experience a traditional Fijian welcome.

Our plane touches down in Nadi International Airport, where we will be welcomed by our tour guide, who will take us to our nearby accommodation; getting our first glimpse of the towering volcanic peaks, lush forests and warm sands of beautiful Fiji on the way. Here we will have a chance to relax, recover from your flight and get to know who our colleagues will be for the next six weeks over a welcome drink. We will catch an overnight ferry to Savusavu (also known as ‘The Hidden Paradise’ of Fiji), where we’ll explore the small township that is known for its safe-haven harbour, hot springs, sandalwood and local market that is teeming with colourful vegetables, fruit and locally caught fish. As well as being introduced to Fijian culture, in Savusavu you will also be taught the protocol that needs to be observed when living in Fijian communities. After a short journey to our base at a local village, we will unpack, settle in and experience a traditional Fijian welcoming ceremony (a ‘Sevusevu’) in the village. The ceremony is an important aspect of Fijian life that is amazing to experience because although we come as strangers, we will leave as friends.

Fiji

Days 4 - 28 - Obtain a scuba diving qualification, dive amid stunning marine life that includes hammerhead sharks and be a part of crucial marine conservation research; all whilst experiencing Fijian culture and learning the Fijian language.

The first week we spend living in the Fijian community that gives us the chance to experience the unique culture and way of life and fully immerse yourself in village life. We will learn about the subsistent lifestyle that most islanders live, picking up bits and pieces of information as we talk and mix with the local people. We may wish to attend the Sunday church services and join in with the uplifting singing; join the villagers in playing volleyball, hiking, weaving and swimming; or perhaps play touch rugby with a member of the Fijian Under-21 Touch Team. The communities of Fiji are renowned for their friendliness and hospitable welcome, which makes this week the cultural highlight of the six weeks for many. Walking down the street, participants are met with a chorus of ‘Bula!’ (a Fijian greeting) and a host of friendly smiles, to make us realise why so many ex-patriots from all over the world settle here.

During the village-stay, we will be accommodated in one of the local houses. Some of these are really basic hut-like buildings with no power or running water; others are basic concrete houses with running water. However, the conditions all add to your authentic Fiji experience as you will live in the same way as the local people. The village conditions are very basic but comfortable and resourceful (for example, some villagers use buckets with holes in to shower)!

This time also gives us our first taste of diving in the turquoise blue Fijian waters. Depending on whether we already have a diving qualification will determine which one we will complete.

• Those of you who are not already qualified will learn the PADI Open Water diving qualification (in the form of skills exercises, tutorials and qualifying dives).
• Anyone qualified with PADI Open Water will learn the Advanced Open Water diving qualification (during which you will be taught a range of different modules including buoyancy control, underwater naturalism, navigation, search and recovery, equipment set up, and hand signals).
• Any of you who are already qualified with PADI Advanced Open Water will be taught the PADI Rescue Diver qualification, which will teach you how to assist both conscious and unconscious divers on the surface and under water, by administering first aid and sustaining lifelines. There will be theory lessons, practical sessions and tests, which will all prove invaluable in gaining important lifelong life-saving skills. Please note: that EFR (Emergency First Response) is not included in the price and this will need to be either obtained in your home country or it can be taught in Fiji for approximately £85 ($170US).

Generally, diving will take place in the morning as the water is clearer for us to see the marine life that includes hammerhead sharks, turtles, soft coral, sponges, crustaceans, jellyfish, eagle rays, barracuda, tuna and a rainbow of tropical fish. In the afternoons, to fully immerse ourselves into the Fijian culture and community, you will be given the opportunity to learn a range of Fijian skills, including how to cook traditional Fijian dishes, fish the way Fijians do and speak the Fijian language. We will be given notes with Fijian phrases and our tour leader will encourage us to develop our language skills further with her and also our host families.

With our PADI fish identification expert instructor and marine scientist, we will begin your marine conservation training; learning the skills you need to survey reefs and conduct fish counts and joining a long-term project initiative that aims to develop parts of the coral reefs into being ‘Marine Protection Areas’. The inspiration for such areas comes from traditional measures the Fijians put in place, where fishing was made forbidden in areas of endangered coral. Over-fishing, blasting, pollution, climate change and other human impacts continue to threaten coral reefs, endangering a whole biodiversity as well as the coastal communities who rely on the coral reefs as their source of food. The Nature Conservancy released figures in 2003 that predict if destruction continues at the current rate, 70% of the world’s coral reefs will have disappeared within the next 50 years. All is not lost though, and the coral reefs have responded well to the conservation measures that aim to rebuild the coral and allow marine life to develop and flourish.

This is where we can make a huge difference, as the data you will collect can be used to identify sections of the coral reefs requiring protection and monitor the recovery rates of such areas. We begin by surveying selected reef areas and doing fish counts to ascertain whether the area needs to be classified as a Marine Protected Area (MPA). Once classified as a MPA, we can keep an eye on the improvement of the area, collecting more fish count data to see how it is developing.

By working with the local community, we can also play a valuable role in educating them about the reefs and encouraging the vision for more MPA sites to be established, to ensure the future sustainability of reef areas. The work you will do is an important part of ensuring the coral reefs do not diminish to irrecoverable levels. All your efforts will truly be a real help towards saving such a fragile part of the world. And to prove this, we will be given the opportunity to dive in the Savusavu Bay area, to see a successful MPA also carry out any scheduled underwater rubbish cleanups.In the afternoons, we will have time to mingle with the locals, hike in the glorious local hills, hire mountain bikes to explore the stunning area further a-field, or practice our volleyball and touch rugby. In the evenings we can relax and enjoy some delicious local Fijian food (that we may have helped to prepare) whilst practicing our Fijian with the friendly locals, and later join in the kava sessions while discussing how big that fish we saw really was!

Accommodation for the second week of the programme will be in ‘The Hidden Paradise’ guest house in Savusavu. During weeks three to four you will stay in self-catering accommodation near the dive shop on the Koro Sun side. Here you will be able to relax together as a group and enjoy a good standard of amenities.

Fiji

Days 29 - 37 - Discover Savusavu Bay; work towards marine conservation in some of the best diving sites in the world; and go on an excursion to either a stunning tropical rainforest, a fantastic snorkelling spot or a town rich in history, culture and ethnicity

Our home for these nights will be a backpacker accommodation in Savusavu Bay, where lush tropical green scenery combines with mysterious old volcanic peaks and glorious crystal waters to make this part of the world uniquely beautiful and truly a ‘hidden paradise’. Here we will be able to use our newly acquired diving abilities and qualification to explore the world-class sites of Koro Sun and the Savusavu Marine Protected Area. Over these few days, we will work towards marine conservation as we experience all that these stunning marine environments have to offer.

Fiji

Days 38 to 42 - Chill for the last few days of your Fijian adventure.

Our last few days will be spent relaxing on the shores of the gorgeous Coral Coast. The island ferry will take us to our final resting place, at a funky resort near Sigatoka town. Here, we will have nothing but fun for your remaining Fijian days. We can take a dip in the pool, relax in waterfront hammocks, bathe in the crystal sea, improve our tan or, for a modest cost, join in a few active adventures such as tubing, horse-riding, hiking, going on a daytrip to visit the Sigatoka sand dunes, kayaking to different islands and islets, bush walking to a local waterfall and much more. In the evenings there is nothing better than to sit outside in the tropical air with a drink in hand, watching a spectacular sunset marking the end of another perfect day. This is of course before we re-energise and dance until the sun comes up!

We will then be transferred back to the Nadi accommodation for the final night, before going our separate ways the following day.

- A typical day

Please note that this is only a rough guide to give you a better idea of what to expect during your stay.

07:00 - Wake Up
07:30 – Have Breakfast
08:00 – Depart for dive location
14:00 – Return to the village
15:00 – Enjoy cultural interaction and other activities
17:00 – Help prepare dinner
18:00 – Have dinner
18:30 – Relax for the evening
Bed time is at your own discretion.

- Age Limitiations

This adventure is open to anyone between the ages of 18 and 35

- 2009 Prices

Book for 2009 before 31st December 2008 and get todays price before the price increase.

2009 price when booked from 1st January 2009	Pound sterling (£)	US Dollar ($)	Euros (€)
	2,399	4,750	3,395