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Spend 6 amazing weeks on the trip of a lifetime exploring the beaches, corals and culture of this beautiful Pacific Nation. Get involved in valuable conservation work and become a qualified scuba diver, while perfecting your tan and adjusting to the laid back style of “Fiji-time.” This programme is perfectly suited to scuba diving enthusiasts, beginner or qualified, looking to further their skills and use their diving experience to give something back. At the same time, you will learn all about Fijian culture and be able to relax on the numerous beaches that Fiji is renowned for.
Programme Age Limit
Minimum age 18, maximum decided on potential participant’s health
Programme Requirement
To be in reasonable health for scuba diving
Scuba Qualifications
There are ranges of different diving qualifications, some of which are pre-requisites before undertaking the next level of diving. The main qualifications are outlined below:
- PADI Open Water – this 5-day course gives you your basic license to dive anywhere in the world to a maximum depth of 18 metres. It consists of studying 5 academic modules, with 6 confined dives and 4 open water dives.
- Advanced Open Water – this course takes 5 days to complete, with certification allowing you to dive to 30 metres. You need to complete 10 dives, choosing from night dive, deep dive, underwater photography, underwater videography and more.
- Emergency First Response – this non-diving qualification is a pre-requisite course for all divers, looking to go beyond Advanced Open Water Level. It teaches you both primary and secondary care, which involves learning how to resuscitate someone, develop CPR skills, identify how to treat someone etc.
- Rescue Diver – this 4-day programme requires you to complete 5 academic modules that enable you to be a competent rescue diver. You learn emergency management, how to identify equipment problems, ways of identifying diver stress and panic, and how to administer diver first aid.
Please Note: If you are already qualified to Rescue Diver level or beyond, you have different options available to you. There are some PADI speciality courses you can do that would greatly benefit your volunteer work, such as fish identification and coral conservation courses. If you are to undertake your Rescue Diver qualification, you will need to complete the Emergency First Response Course. This can be done prior to arrival or arranged locally at a reasonable cost.
This is a really exciting part of the programme, especially if you have not scuba dived before. You will learn all of the basic theory of scuba diving in classes, while also practising the principles you have learnt in a controlled environment. After passing your exams, you will need to complete your first open water dives to receive your Open Water Certification. This will enable you to get your PADI card and official log-book! The other qualifications from this programme are outlined below.
Scuba Instruction
All diving is conducted under the supervision of a fully qualified Scuba Instructor and will include all of the necessary equipment and resources to complete each course. All examination fees are also included in the programme.
The Koro Sun Dive Centre itself is based on the island of Vanua Levu, one of the largest islands in Fiji, located Northeast of the main island of Viti Levu. The centre has been running for a number of years and is located at the Koro Sun Resort.
Cultural Experience
What will I experience?
This part of the programme is a lot less structured, to reflect the genuine Fijian daily routines. You will learn as much as possible as village members, being welcomed to the Island with a typical “Bula” and taking part in the rituals such as the “Sevusevu” ceremony, where the famous kava drink is shared!
Conservation Project
Our Marine Researcher, an employee of the Jean-Michelle Cousteau Resort in Fiji, directs the project. The Jean- Michelle Cousteau Resort is an award winner in ecotourism, a leader in the establishment of the current Savusavi MPA and is connected with one of the world’s leading research centers. The association of the Cousteau name with this project shows the value and quality of the marine conservation work you will undertake. During your stay, you will have the chance to attend conservation lectures given by the Cousteau Marine Scientist, which will enable you to view the underwater eco-systems you will experience with knowledge.
With your involvement, the project aims to support the existing MPA (Marine Protected Area) in Savusavu Bay, Vanua Levu Island. A marine protected area is a place where corals, fish and other marine eco-systems are allowed to flourish without risk of being altered or harmed by man. This is a particularly difficult challenge in a country like Fiji, where natural weather events impact on reef health and the people live a largely subsistent lifestyle and rely on the sea to provide them with food and an income. As a result, fish populations have fallen and ecosystems are being threatened.
As a volunteer, you will gather base-line data to provide evidence of reef health in areas that are not protected.
This information, once collated and analysed, will provide valuable research material, which may be published with a view to establishing an additional MPA.
However, villages have traditionally selected areas where they limit or stop fishing and gathering, in order to allow species to regenerate. Although this custom has slowed in recent years, the project aims to gain the support of local communities and encourage the development of some underwater areas to host the breeding stock for re-population of the reef ecosystem.
Over the medium term the project is looking to establish a database of information on non-MPA dive sites, to support the established MPA and rebuild the eco systems through the following volunteer activities:
- Reef surveying,
- Fish identification,
- Artificial reef construction
- Harbour/Reef clean-ups
Conservation Training and Coordination
All necessary training for the volunteer project i.e. reef building and surveying techniques will be conducted by our local Marine Scientist and project leader. They will take you through the important considerations, ensuring you are aware of the goals of the project and the importance of accuracy when implementing each activity.
Dive Sites and Recreational Dives
Throughout the programme you will take part in a number of dives – purposeful dives for the project and diving course; and recreational dives to see the abundant marine life and corals. Most dives will take place around Koro Sun and Savusavu Bay areas.
During the programme, you should expect to complete up to 30 dives, which includes the PADI Course dives and those on the conservation project. Please note, however, that weather and unexpected illness may affect this.
Koro Sun sites
The local sites are only a few minutes from the scuba diving centre but offer great pelagic, shark, soft coral and swim-through diving. One of these sites, "Dream-house" is renowned in Fiji for its big fish action with large schools of Barracuda and occasional visits by Hammerheads. "Purple Garden" is a wonderland of purple soft corals with topography to take your breath away, including big drop- offs, canyons and swim- throughs.
Savusavu Bay sites
Savusavu Bay offers awesome safe diving in protected water with beautiful coral heads covered in vivid yellow soft corals and an abundance of fish.
Group excursion
On days 33-34 there will be an overnight group excursion (transport, accommodation, breakfast and dinner included on the trip). The location and activity type of the excursion varies according to the time of year, weather and the wishes of the group. Therefore, the trip you undertake may not even be decided until you are there! However, a few of the possible options include:
- Taveuni Island - Known as the “Garden Island”, Taveuni is the third largest island in Fiji. The island is covered in tropical rainforests and 3 well known waterfalls are within easy trekking distance.
- Natewa Bay – This is the largest deepwater bay in the South Pacific. It has beautiful panoramic views and fantastic snorkling. There is a hidden lake, which is connected to the Koro Sea and a salt lake with surrounded by rainforest and coconut plantations.
- Labasa Town and the surrounding area – the town itself is an excellent destination to see the Indian and Fijian cultures blended together. There are many ethnic craft shops to visit and the town is a beautiful sight in November when the local Hindu people celebrate Diwali. Around the town, there are archaeological ruins, beautiful beaches and even a floating island!
Please Note: During nights 29-36 (excluding day 33 when you go on the excursion), you will stay in a backpacker lodge near Savusavu Town. This will enable you to visit different dive sites and be better placed for the overnight ferry to Suva on day 37.
Relaxation week
The final 4 days of the programme are spent relaxing on the Coral Coast at one of the top backpacker resorts. You are completely free to do as you wish during this part of the programme, with opportunities to snorkel, go diving or just topping up your tan.
Accommodation is provided in a dorm-style lodge. Breakfast is included, but you will need to budget about £6 each day for lunch and dinner.
Accommodation and meals
During the first week of the conservation programme (week 2), you will be accommodated in a small family-style backpackers near Savusavu. Rooms will have our volunteers sharing, based on a mixed or single-sex basis (group determines who they wish to share with.)
Two meals a day are included during this part of the programme (breakfast and dinner). Meals are made with local ingredients; however, different diets can be catered for. Volunteers will need to purchase their own lunch each day, which can be done on the way to the dive site each morning. You should budget £2 approximately each day for this.
During weeks 3 to 4, you’ll be staying in comfortable rental accommodation located close to the Koro Sun Dive Centre. Here you can relax and prepare all of your meals with the comfort of modern conveniences and you are also encouraged to invite your local friends to come to and enjoy the hospitality of the house. All meals are included during these weeks.
For your final week on Vanua Levu, you will return to a backpackers lodge near Savusavu town (with breakfast and dinner included). This will enable you to visit different dive sites and be better placed for the overnight ferry to Suva on day 37. During this week you will also have the opportunity to go on a two day, overnight group excursion.
Programme Support
Throughout your programme, you will have the support and supervision of our Scuba Instructors, conservation researchers and coordinators. Each are fully qualified and experienced, and are able to provide you with all the instructional and safety support necessary on a programme like this. They will also provide you with competent assistance and help you with any questions or advice you may need during your stay. The coordinators and programme staff will be on hand throughout the day and will be available to you 24 hours a day if you have any serious problems or emergencies.
In addition, we will provide you with a 24 hour emergency contact number before you depart, so that you can contact one of our UK staff at any time should you need to.
Orientation
At the start of your programme you will receive a local orientation, to go alongside your predeparture handbook. This orientation will be conducted by one of our programme coordinators, one of the village elders and your Dive Instructor, and will cover the following areas:
- Scuba Course Outline and Criteria: You will be briefed on what the course requirements are and what is expected of you at the assessment stage of each qualification.
- Programme Outline: What to expect at each stage of the programme and some more information about the conservation project.
- Safety: How to keep safe in the local area and how to ensure everyone’s safety whilst on the programme.
- Expected Behaviour: How to ensure you respect the local people and the environment.
- Questions/Answers Session: An opportunity for you to ask any further questions.
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