Just a 50 minute flight from Nadi, Vanua Levu Island is home to the famous eco resort known as the Jean-Michel Cousteau Fiji Islands Resort.
The resort is owned by Jean-Michel Cousteau, son of the famous Jacques, so diving is one of the resort's most famous attractions. Guests are provided with top shelf diving equipment and information about 20 local diving sites including Golden Nuggets.
Each day the resort offers three guided dives that last for about 40 minutes each. They’re the perfect way to explore what lurks below the surface. A 10 metre deep waterway, known as Alice in Wonderland, is a popular diving site with golden soft coral and beautiful angel fish. The dives are amazing, but be careful when planning them, as you can’t fly for at least 12 hours after one dive or for 24 hours after multiple dives.
Diving isn’t restricted to experienced divers. The resort also offers a scuba certification course for beginners. The course costs from $770, but the view below the surface is priceless.
There are plenty of activities available for non divers too, including village visits, kayaking and nature walks with the local medicine man, known as Namaiya. All these activities are completely free, and Namaiya is said to cure everything from sinus to sunburn using the plants and flowers found at the resort. Hibiscus is said to be especially good for sunburn. For best results, simply ground it up and mix it with oil before rubbing into your skin.
The food at the resort is another star attraction. The basic lunch, consisting of pumpkin soup, fresh walu and fruit juices, is included in the price of your stay. After lunch, the resort's pool is a great place to relax and enjoy the sun. Snorkelling is another free activity, best enjoyed in the late afternoon. By this time, the coral and fish come to life and there is no shortage of sergeant majors in the waters.
The 25 Fijian bures at the resort may look simple on the outside, but the inside is absolutely beautiful, with polished timber boards throughout. The bures are split level with an open roof space and louvers. Best of all, they are just 20 metres from the beach.
