- Summary
- Details / Itinerary
- Included / Not Included
- Extra Information
- Prices, Dates & Booking
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Fiji UNESCO Project
Nasonisoni Island, Fiji
Last updated: 15 February 2013
This is your chance to experience life on a remote Fijian island. Living in traditional grass 'bures' on the beach, you will spend 6 or 10 weeks carrying-out marine conservation work and PADI diver training during your stay. Diving takes place on stunning coral reefs and tropical waters around this remote Pacific island and all the research gathered is used by UNESCO to create a Seascape Plan.
Essentials
| Country: | Nasonisoni Island, Fiji |
| Meals: | B,L,D each day. All meals prepared by volunteers. |
| Trip duration | 6 or 10 weeks |
| Suitability | Beginners and qualified divers |
| Getting there: | It's long! London - Los Angeles - Nadi - Suva |
What diving courses are availble to you?
Please click the course name for more information about that particular course.
Details and Itinerary
Programme content and guideline itinerary
Science and Conservation
The science training takes place alongside the dive training and it is made up of four main components: fish identification, invertebrate identification, substrate surveying and survey techniques.
The fish identification is the largest and most challenging aspect of the learning. You learn to identify around 150 species of fish as all surveyors need to be able to identify these confidently. Learning the Kubulau fish species usually takes around three weeks and is very much dependent upon your effort and enthusiasm. Once everyone is ready to survey fish you are taught about a range of invertebrate species, how to conduct a substrate survey, how to identify coral lifeforms and how to do a complete an underwater survey. Science and dive training normally takes around 3 - 4 weeks.
Survey dives are shallow and are mainly carried-out at the reef crest at 6m to 12m where marine life is vibrant. Training dives and fun dives can be deeper and are carried out between 18m and 30m. Dives are usually 45-60 minutes long but please be prepared to snorkel from time-to-time as some surveying requires snorkelling rather than diving!
Schedule
During your time on the island you should expect to dive over 10 times a week. Once science and dive training is complete the team aim for 2 survey dives a day (Monday to Friday). On Saturday the focus is on recreational diving when you can expect to do 2 to 3 dives. Please note that all diving is subject to the weather and you might not dive on some days if the weather is bad.
On Sundays volunteers can go to the village to attend church, have lunch with local families or even brave the odd rugby match!
PADI Dive Training
Dive training up to Advanced Open Water as well as the Emergency First Response course is offered as part of this programme. Dive training is compulsory so the courses are included as standard depending on your current diving ability. Dive qualifications last a lifetime, so once you've done them out here you've got hem for life!
Itinerary
Arrival: Arrive Nadi and flight to Labasa
Transfer: Met at Labasa and transfer to island
Week 1: PADI Open Water course and intro to science
Week 2: PADI Advanced Open Water and conservation training
Weeks 3-5: Science Training and fun dives
Weeks 6-10: Conservation research dives and fun dives
Departure: Transfer back to Labasa
Included and Not Included
A guide to what you see and what you get!
As a general guideline you can expect the following:
Included
Transfers in Fiji, accommodation in grass 'bures', 3 meals a day, 2 survey dives a day (Mon-Fri weather permitting), recreational diving on Saturday, pre-departure briefing, 24 hour UK support, PADI materials (if required), PADI fees (if required), PADI training (as selected), community work in village, welcome Fijian ceremony, UK staff in camp, BCD and regulator use and reunion party.
Not Included
International and domestic flights, personal spending money, visas, personal kit, vaccinations, personal travel insurance and some diving equipment.
Extra Information
A few things you should know and trip downloads
Guideline Pricing Information
All prices are per person and exclude flights unless otherwise stated. The guideline prices shown are designed to provide you with an indication of how much to budget for your trip. You will need to go through the booking process to get an accurate price for the trip.
Accommodation
You live in traditional grass ‘bures’. The bures are under palm trees on the beach which overlook the Pacific Ocean - a stunning location.
The ‘bures’ are built by volunteers and locals. The roof is about 2/3 the entire size of each ‘bure’ which provides ample space and keeps the inner space cool during the day. Windows and doors are also built into each ‘bure’ so that a fresh breeze can constantly come through.
Flights
It' s a long way. Expect to fly from London to Los Angeles, LA to Nadi and then Nadi to Labasa. It's then a 3 hour bus ride followed by a boat ride to the island.
Requirements
- Ability to live on a remote Fijian island
- Fit for diving (we will send you a PADI medical form)
- Over 17 years of age
- Active interest in marine sciences
Dive Training
Training up to Advanced Open Water and EFR is available. Further courses might be taught by Instructors whilst you are there but cannot be pre-booked.
PADI Materials
All PADI materials are included in the price if you do PADI training.
PADI Fees
All PADI fees are included in the price if you do PADI training.
What next?
Happy with what you have seen and read? If you want to book a place simply click the green 'book online' button (located on the 'prices, dates and booking' tab) and follow the on-screen instructions. You can book a place in as little as 5 minutes.
Prices, Booking and Dates
Guideline prices, trip dates and how to book!
Guideline Price Table
Book Online| Current Dive Level | As a guide... | |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | Price | |
| All Levels | 6 or 10 weeks | From £2,660This is a guideline base price for 6 weeks. PADI training will increase the overall cost depending on your current dive level. |
Online booking AVAILABLE!
This trip can be booked online. Please click here to open the booking wizard and to book online.
Booking Instructions
Step 1: Click the link above to start the booking process.
Step 2: Select your start date and trip.
Step 3: Choose any optional extras for the trip.
Step 4: Review your booking and enter your personal details.
Step 5: Agree to terms, make payment and confirm trip. SIMPLE!
Trip Dates
2013: 15th January 2013, 09th April 2013, 09th July 2013 and 08th October 2013
2014: 11th January 2014, 012h April 2014, 05th July 2014 and 04th October 2014
Financial Protection
Your money is secure with us! We have TTA Financial protection under licence Q0621. The protection means that you can book your holiday secure in the knowledge that the Travel Trust Association will protect you in the unlikely event of a us becoming insolvent. Should we for any reason financially fail or cease trading, the Travel Trust Association will liaise with the suppliers to ensure that your holiday goes ahead unaffected. If for any reason this is not possible, the TTA will administer a claim for a refund of money that you have paid to us for your holiday. Read more about how your money is protected.
Deposit and Balance Payments
We request a £250 deposit to secure a place. All balance payments are due 60 days before the start of the trip. If you book within 60 days of departure then full payment must be made at the time of booking.
