
The scene at the Nadi airport was a little chaotic, but once we escaped the terminal a smiling Meri greeted us and got all of our group on the bus and headed to the resort. From the time we cleared customs at the airport until we checked in for our return flights our luggage was handled by the resort staff. The suitcase with my scuba gear weighed right at 50 pounds so I was grateful for their unfailing help.
As our boat from the mainland to Beqa approached the resort we were greeted by 15? staff members (including Brandon the dive captain and both general managers (sorry everyone else, but Nina gets the prize for the biggest smile)) singing a welcoming song and draping a shell necklace around our necks. The genuine friendliness and hospitality continued unabated the entire week of our stay. (One incredulous person in our group even went so far as to ask one of the staff members if they were just putting on a false front for us.) I had wait staff and grounds crew folks greet me and call me by name (I began to wonder if it was printed on my forehead!). How do they do that if they aren't making a sincere effort to connect with you? The cynics among you may think they are acting this way in hopes of financial gain, but literally 99% of Fijians I met on my visit had the same friendly attitude whether tip money might be involved or not. I even have a new Fiji granddaughter now (bula Mela!).
I almost forgot, this was a dive trip. That didn't disappoint either. I was on the Leopard Shark and was usually with Captain Tom or Seta and dive masters Junior, Frazer, and Gun and all did an excellent job sharing their knowledge of the beautiful and abundant underwater flora and fauna in the area. I would dive with them any day. Vinaka vaka levu.
I could say more, but I've already blah-blah-blahed enough. Go to Beqa and see for yourself. If I'm lying leave me a bad review.




It was a long flight from St Louis through Chicago to LAX, then... read more another 10.5 hours through the air to Fiji. We landed at Nadi and were greeted by the representative from the resort(and bus driver!). Granted we still had about three more hours of travel, but they tried to make it as comfortable as possible. The boat ride was about 35 minutes long and took us to Beqa Island. As we arrived at the island, the staff met us at the shore,singing a Fijian song of welcome. This was just amazing. They welcomed us with a fruit drink and made sure we got to our rooms. We were in Bure 1 which is pretty much centered in the resort, steps away from everything.
We had our initial meeting with the dive operations team and Brandon made sure we all understood what was going to happen during our stay. They took our gear and placed it in gear bags and added them to the boat. I use 100cf tanks and they made sure that it was listed next to my name. Each day, before we even set foot on the dive boats, roll call was conducted and the divers received instructions for that day. The dive guides would brief us on the sites once we arrived. Our dive guide was Suli. He was amazing! Each dive, we got to see something we have never seen before. Made each dive so much more interesting. We never wanted the dives to stop!!! We also did a pair of shark dives that have ruined us for all other encounters with sharks. The Tiger sharks were HUGE!! We also did a night dive. In all of our dives, the guides made sure we were safe at all times. We never had to worry. We even found a wreck! My wife and I are usually reef divers but an occasional wreck never hurt. We know that a past customer hated the wreck and the diver operations manager was going to stop using that wreck as a dive site. We encouraged him to keep it. It’s a great wreck with tons of wildlife on it.
The dive boats were well maintained and were actually dual-hulled power boats. They were very stable in the waters around the island. There were times when the seas had a little heavier swells than when we eft the resort. The boats helped decreased them. I have been in single-hulled boats in other areas and they were not as stable. They would rock int e swells more readily than the Beqa Resort boats.
Everyday, the staff had something to do in the afternoon. You weren’t required to be involved, but we were encouraged. They would announce the days activities in the morning telling us what was going to happen during the day. Many of the activities were put on by the Activities Group. Jay was the most noticeable of the group, but was also very humble and polite. They had school tours, waterfall hikes and shopping tours on the main island, Fiji.
Meals were amazing. Every morning, you had your breakfast cooked to order. They would have the menu for the lunch and dinner meals. All you had to do was mark what you wanted and how much. They would take it and when you came in for lunch or dinner, tell them which room you were in and they would bring you your meal. The food was well presented and delicious. The bar was well stocked, but you would have to sign your tab when you were done. Everything was placed on a tab that you paid for at the end of your stay. They were upfront about the pricing. It was all in Fijian dollars and would be happy to tell you the cost in US dollars.
Our room was amazing! It had two beds but we only needed the one.It had a king sized (which we slept in) and a full sized. The bathroom was well appointed. The sink was outside the bathroom but we were fine with that. It just meant that my wife could blow dry her hair and put on make up (if she wanted to) while I was in the shower. There was no blow dryer in the room. The resort is pretty much off the grid. They use a generator set up, switching daily between the generators. It’s a minor inconvenience. They have blower dryers in the office if you really need one. They do that because they draw so heavily on the generators. They want to avoid over taxing the generators any more than they already do. So, my wife became ingenious and used her hand-held fan. It worked like a charm!!
As I said in the beginning, this was amazing experience. We have already scheduled our return to this resort next year. Yup! We’re those people that plan our next vacation while still on vacation!! BULA!!!!

In particular, the assistance I received for diving was fantastic. I need help on/off the boat and in/out of the water. All those on the boat handled this very well. Thank you to Gun, Josh, Adriu, Tusi, Nix and Papa. It was a pleasure diving with Gun. We went to some great sites. The shark dive was awesome.
Everyone at the resort was friendly and always willing to help, if I needed anything. I couldn't get into the spa for a massage, so they came to my room. Thank you Joanne.
I didn't go off the resort for any excursions, so I can't comment on any of those. All I want to do is dive and I was easily able to do that.
If you are a disabled diver, I encourage you to consider Beqa Lagoon Resort. Communicate your needs and I'm confident they will do all they can to accommodate you.
Vinaka


Our main reason for going was diving and I am sure there will be few dives in the world as exciting as the cathedral. I reaffirm what was said for the resort staff in the dive center: fabulous!!!!
Thank you very much for these past days.

davideN5458OJ

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The accommodation was great, and the cleaning crew did an excellent job daily.
The food was very good, and the selection of dishes was pretty interesting. In the morning you pick your lunch and the entree for dinner from 1 fish, 1 vegetarian, and 1 meat (chicken, beef, or lamb).
The best part of the resort is the staff. They are friendly, funny, and super helpful. I enjoyed all the time I spent with them. They did a wonderful job of showing us around and giving us opportunities to learn about Fiji and the Fijians.
The included activities were very good, I would highly recommend them. I also participated in a Day Trip to Suva and it was very informative.
Novamom2001

It’s rare to experience such genuine, elevated care from every member of a staff—and even rarer to leave a vacation feeling truly melancholy. The dive crew was fantastic throughout the week, and most of the staff greeted me by name each time we crossed paths.
We were welcomed with complimentary foot massages from the kind and capable spa team. During the week, I indulged in both hot stone and deep tissue massages. I’ve had many massages over the years, but the deep tissue massage I received from Litia set a whole new standard—hands down, the best I’ve ever had.
Meals were served three times daily, with the option of ordering smaller plates from the bar in between. The food was consistently good, and the ultra-fresh ceviche—enjoyed after a “cooking” demonstration led by a few staff members—was a standout. The kava ceremony was a unique and memorable experience as well.
I’m already looking forward to the next time I can return and reconnect with my new friends at Beqa Lagoon!

