Our stay at Waidroka Bay Resort was excellent. The staff are warm and welcoming, the resort facilities comfortable, and the diving is outstanding. The shark dive is a ‘must do’ but the rest of the dive sites are equally as interesting, with a great mix of hard and soft corals, wall dives, a local wreck, and varying currents—not to mention the great visibility (June).
The resort is nestled between the Coral Coast barrier reef and the lush rainforest of Viti Levu. It is a world away from the hustle and bustle of Nadi’s tourist strip and provides a genuine escape for those who want to immerse themselves in the area’s pristine scuba diving and reputedly world class surf breaks (diver, not a surfer).
Over the last 19 years, the resort’s owner, Boris, has cultivated a delightful eden amidst the rainforest. The resort blends in beautifully to its surrounds and provides a comfortable and relaxing base for days of adventure. The main building is home to the restaurant, bar and reception, and perches over the pool and relaxing open air bures. The accommodation is a blend of beach front bures dotted amongst the gardens and palm trees with additional rooms available up the hill with panoramic views over the coastline.
The dive shop is a well run, clean and organised affair. Gary and Ciara run a tight ship and are exceptionally professional, experienced and passionate. The rental equipment is in excellent condition (if not brand new) and the dive boat is spacious—quite useful noting most dive days will be 2-3 dives out on the reef with surface intervals done on the boat (or on some occasions, nearby island). Ciara is an excellent instructor, having taken one of us through the PADI Advanced Open Water course, and quickly adapted her style to the student’s capabilities. Gary, also an instructor, was a fantastic and knowledgeable guide. His demeanour underwater is calm and he led the small group at a very balanced pace, regardless of conditions.
The restaurant food is top notch. Fresh, delicious meals with an uncommon attention to presentation. One of the evenings we had the pleasure of having a local fish stew, which was a stand out amongst many great meals.
