Resort Report: Paradise Taveuni

Don't come to Paradise Taveuni for the white sand beaches... because there are none. What lies off the palm-lined volcanic shores of this boutique resort are clear waters and some of the world's most storied dive sites. And that more than makes up for the sand.

Paradise Taveuni is a family-owned and operated property located on the southwest corner of the island of Taveuni. The garden-like five-acre grounds overlook the waters of the Somo Somo Straits and the renowned dive sites of Rainbow Reef. With deeper water starting just off the shore, it is also the only resort on the island where divers and snorkelers are just a giant-stride away from coastal coral gardens.

Accommodations at Paradise Taveuni include ten bungalows—which are known as bures in Fiji— and six hotel-style rooms—known as vales. All accommodation is air-conditioned. The bures combine a tropical South Pacific feel with contemporary design and standards. Glass doors showcase the views, and open to spacious decks with day beds. Five Deluxe Oceanfront bures provide uninterrupted water views and luxurious private soak tubs. Five more bures are set in lush landscaping, with partial ocean views. Three of these provide two-bedroom floor plans that are ideal for families. Each of the resort's Deluxe Oceanfront Vales includes private patios with ocean views. These rooms showcase locally-crafted furnishings and offer both spacious indoor bathrooms and a Fijian-style outdoor shower garden surrounded by lava-rock walls. Adjoining vales can connect to accommodate families or two couples traveling together.

All accommodations plans at Paradise Taveuni include three meals daily at the on-site Ocean View restaurant, where the culinary team serves up a variety of local and international dishes featuring fresh, organic and local ingredients. Other resort amenities include the oceanfront pool, the Paradise spa and the Teki Teki bar, which in addition to beers, wines and spirits, serves freshly squeezed juices and fruit smoothies.

Diving is the primary draw for many guests, but it certainly not the only activity to be had at Paradise Taveuni. The calm waters just off the coast are ideal for kayaks and paddleboard trips along the shore, or into deeper waters often visited by dolphins and pilot whales. Other available water sports include fishing trips, PWC expeditions, boat tours, and surfing. Ashore, the resort staff organizes a variety of activities from fish feeding and guided cultural tours to cooking classes, traditional lovo feasts and Fijian language lessons. Off-property adventures can include rainforest hikes, cave tours, traditional and trips to villages and local markets.

The full-service dive center, Paradise Dive Taveuni, is operated by resort owners Allan and Terri Gortan and staffed by an experienced team that includes both international and local instructors, divemasters, guides and boat crew. The dive team handles all gear transfers, and photographers can make use of dedicated rinse, cleaning and recharge stations and have access to an air-conditioned camera room. Nitrox is available, and the staff can provide enriched-air specialty certifications.

Paradise Dive maintains two modern, high-speed dive boats: the 33-foot Lady Paradise and the 45-foot Taveuni Explorer. Both of these custom-built aluminum crafts are fitted with powerful twin outboard engines, which mean no diesel fumes, and have large ladders for easy entry and exit. The Taveuni Explorer can also be used for all-day and overnight excursions, as it includes sleeping quarters, galley, freshwater shower and lounge area.

There are several dive sites quite close to the resort which can be reached from shore or boat. But the vast majority of daily dive trips focus on the sites of Rainbow Reef. This is the region that has earned Fiji the reputation as the “Soft Coral Capital of the World.” Here, waters funneled through the Somo Somo Straits nurture visually stunning growths of multi-colored fan and whip corals. The same reefs and walls also support a variety of hard corals, colorful sponges and delicate crinoids. Underwater landscapes range from shallow coral gardens to dramatic bommies and sheer walls. Divers can discover anything from small finds such as anemonefish, pipefish and shrimp/goby pairs to turtles, rays, groupers, Maori wrasse and several species of shark, including reefs, white tips and bronze whalers.

Paradise Dive Taveuni also visits Fiji's most famous dive site. The Great White Wall takes its name for the dense growths of stark-white soft corals that dominate this vertical surface. Adding to the dramatic visual appeal of the experience is the approach, as divers usually reach this site by way of a cave-like swim through that opens suddenly to reveal the full scope of the wall.

Closer to home, guests at Paradise Taveuni have an additional underwater treat. Right in front of the resort is Paradise Reef, which can be dived at any time of day or night, and on any tide. Reached directly from the resort's jetty, this site offers both shallow formations and slopes to depths of 100 feet. This site is a special favorite for night dives. Eagle and manta rays are sometimes seen cruising close to the resort's shore, and pilot whales and dolphins often gather out in the channel. One perk of boat dives is the chance for marine mammal encounters. When pods are spotted on the way to or from a dive site, and conditions are favorable, the resort's dive boats will pause to allow divers to enter the water for surface interactions. At certain times of the year, migrating humpback whales may also be encountered.

For avid divers, the unrivaled underwater experiences are reason enough to come to Paradise Taveuni. Add to this the idyllic setting, attentive hospitality, good food, and additional adventures and relaxations that wait, and it would be easy equally to convince a non-diving partner to come along for the trip of a lifetime. For more information drop us a line at sales@caradonna.com or give us a call at 800.330.6611.