My Dive Vacation: Volivoli and Pearl Resort Exclusive

By Chase Sheldon,

Flying in from Boston was a long flight, with four hours from Boston to Texas and then fourteen hours on the flight from Texas to Fiji itself, it was one of the longest flights I had ever taken. Fiji Airways is incredibly streamlined and on the Texas-Fiji flight, nothing went amiss and it was smooth the entire way over. Arriving in Nadi, transportation to my first stop, Pearl Resort, was effortless and enjoyable, with incredible customer service from my driver, taking me from the airport right to the front desk without any trouble at all. In fact, every transfer was done with precision and care by professional drivers who knew the roads, the best routes across the island, and every single one of them was friendly and inviting, incredibly easy to talk to.

The Pearl Resort itself is beautiful! Its facilities are all in great hands and the staff was a delight to be around. From the pools, restaurants and bars to the fitness centers and of course, Aqua Trek, every accommodation performed above and beyond. Speaking of Aqua Trek, my only regret was that I was only on site for a few days, meaning I couldn't enjoy the multitude of dive sites across the south of Fiji’s main island of Viti Levu, though the ones I did get to enjoy were incredible. Fiji truly is the Soft Coral Capital of the world. I got to enjoy an amazing trip across a massive wreck, seeing all the ways life has clung to the man-made ship that had been laid amongst the rocks, as well as the awe-inspiring sharks that could be seen on the reef dives I enjoyed. While Aqua Trek offers shark dives I wish I could have joined, just the amount of these majestic sea creatures on the reef and wreck dives was already an unforgettable experience. I have to say, one of the things that stood out for me about the Pearl Resort was how easy they made everything. Their diving crew and the staff all worked with skill and expertise to make my few days in paradise well spent. Leaving the Pearl Resort for Volivoli, the staff sang me off in a way that I had never experienced before, making them an unforgettable part of my Fiji Adventure.

After spending time at the Pearl Resort, I had the opportunity to switch things up, and I spent the second half of my trip over at Volivoli Beach Resort, on the north side of the island. While both locations are so close in the grand scheme of things, they couldn't be more different. The atmosphere offered at Volivoli was more family and friends oriented than at Pearl Resort, with single party bungalows rather than the more traditional hotel experience. Spacious cabanas offered a more exclusive and private experience, though the resort included all the same amenities, with its own pool, restaurants and bars to enjoy all the fresh local cuisine. One of my favorite memories even now is when the Fijians showed us guests just a few of the cultural dances, telling us a story that links back hundreds of years. It was incredible, and humbling to see where the people of Fiji came from, and I hope to someday be able to visit again so that I can see where they are going. The diving itself was incredible, with sites like Mellow Yellow, G6, and Black Magic Mountain all offering unique perspectives into the beautiful waters surrounding Fiji.

I cannot wait until I get another opportunity to explore the islands of Fiji once more, and next time, I definitely want to make it a trip longer than a couple of days. Each leg of the journey has had its own peaks, its own unique attractions and chances, from the fluid flights to the friendly drivers to the incredible resorts themselves. Diving that needs to be seen to be believed, and the resorts themselves offered luxury and enjoyment that you can’t find just anywhere. Caradonna Adventures made this journey possible, made this voyage farther than I have ever gone before, and I'm so happy to now be able to share this with you.