Taveuni, the third largest island in Fiji, is known as the "Garden Island" for its lush vegetation. However, this idyllic tropical destination is often overlooked by visitors to Fiji.
Along with the tranquility of its rainforest, the biggest draws to Taveuni are brilliant soft coral reefs and thriving marine life.
Whether you're a seasoned scuba diver or a beginner looking to get certified, I recommend staying at Paradise Taveuni. This 4-star resort has an excellent diving program and a family oriented community culture that offers truly authentic Fijian experiences.
Located on the southwestern coast of Taveuni Island, Paradise Taveuni is within close proximity to the Rainbow Reef and Great White Wall-rated among the top ten scuba diving sites in the world. The reefs around Taveuni are in excellent condition, attracting aquatic enthusiasts from around the globe. It is the only resort on Taveuni that offers complimentary shore diving as well as a wide range of PADI scuba diving courses.
From all the resorts I visited in Fiji, Paradise Taveuni was the best-equipped for diving and employed an excellent team of highly skilled instructors.
Paradise Taveuni takes visitors to the Rainbow Reef almost daily (weather permitting) via the resort's customized, 45-foot dive boat. This two-story vessel comes complete with a sun deck, a shower and an air-conditioned cabin with enough space to facilitate up to 26 divers.
As a certified diver, I wasn't about to pass on the opportunity to explore one of the most legendary scuba diving sites in the world. It felt so exclusive as my instructor escorted me on an amazing one-on-one journey along the Great White Wall.
There were only three other guests onboard that day, and we were the only dive boat visiting the area.
Upon our voyage back to the resort, we witnessed a school of pilot whales jumping alongside the vessel. It's not uncommon for guests to spot humpback whales, either, as they migrate through the Somosomo Strait. Since Taveuni is less developed than other parts of Fiji, there's not as much to interfere with their natural habitat. The minimal impact of humans on Taveuni's ecosystem allows the marine life surrounding the island to flourish.
The pilot whales were my second marine mammal encounter aboard Paradise Taveuni's dive boat.
That very morning, I'd joined a group of bankers from Suva to go fishing from the resort's dive boat at dawn. As the vessel pulled away from the dock, we were greeted by a school of bottlenose dolphins. It was beyond enchanting to witness the majestic creatures as they jumped and played alongside the boat, blanketed by the pastel hues of sunrise.
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The marine environment around Taveuni is so rich and diverse that visitors can still experience it without stepping foot on the boat.
The dive shop at Paradise Taveuni provides complimentary masks, fins and snorkel gear for guests who wish to go snorkeling in front of the resort. There is no beach at Paradise Taveuni. Instead, the shallow reef can be accessed by jumping from the dock or by climbing down ladders that lead to the surface.
The resort itself is made up of sixteen spacious bungalow bures, a lobby/restaurant, a swimming pool and a spa.
When guests return to their bures after activities, they are greeted with personalized messages on chalkboards next to their door. These bures are decorated with pleasant bamboo furnishings, plus the additional wow factor of spectacular ocean views. Each bure at Paradise Taveuni also has its own outdoor shower with walls constructed of volcanic igneous rock surfaces.
The bures used to have roofs made of thatch, but they were replaced by more sturdy materials after Taveuni was devastated by a natural disaster. One year prior to my visit, Cyclone Winston had all but destroyed the resort.
I was impressed by how quickly Paradise Taveuni was able to bounce back; I would have never guessed it had been hit by a cyclone if it weren't for all of the riveting stories.
In fact, once you get a chance to talk with the people who work there, you'll come to realize that Paradise Taveuni is riddled with compelling tales.
I learned that the owners moved to Taveuni after falling in love with the natural beauty and culture of Fiji. They were quickly embraced by the local community, which is not surprising because Fijians are notoriously friendly. I got the sense that staff members were treated more like an extended family and that everyone cooperated as part of a caring, tight-knit community.
As a result of this amicable atmosphere, Paradise Taveuni is accommodating to all types of guests. From single travelers to couples to families with young children, everyone is welcome here.
As a solo traveler, I enjoyed taking my meals by the ocean in the company of two dogs named Brownie and Beethoven. The same lovable pups greeted me when I first arrived and regularly escorted me back to my bure. They even followed me to the car when it was time to say goodbye. To me, Brownie and Beethoven were just another extension of the warm Paradise Taveuni family.
(Or perhaps they were hoping I'd share some of my supper. If that was the objective, then their cuteness overload was in vain because the resort's food was too delicious to give away.)
One of the owners of Paradise Taveuni has extensive chef experience, which helps explains the upscale cuisine. The fact that the kitchen had such remarkable culinary prowess is incredibly fortunate considering the resort's location on a remote part of the island where there aren't other restaurant options.
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My favorite meal at Paradise Taveuni was during their "Fiji Night," an interactive culinary experience that's designed to honor the culture. The event started with a class on how to make coconut milk from scratch. Then, we learned the traditional way Fijians cook meat while buried underground.
Once dinner was ready, everyone sat at one long table together; We shared stories and learned more about the customs. After we'd had our fill of Fijian cuisine, we were entertained by a customary dance known as a Meke. "Fiji Night" concluded as we participated in a traditional kava ceremony with the staff and other Taveuni locals.
I'd say that "Fiji Night" was one of the highlights of my stay if it weren't for Mother Nature. She stole the show with the Best. Sunset. EVER.
I've traveled the world and watched some incredible sunsets, but none so spectacular as the one we witnessed in Taveuni. It was as if the sky had been painted into a masterpiece of dusk; with expressive brushstrokes of azures, pinks, peaches and purples, only to be accented with specks of pure shimmering gold.
It was the most awe-inspiring way to end a remarkable day on the garden isle of Taveuni, Fiji.
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