Scubaroo
Contributor
Fiji uses the Australian/New Zealand plug, 50-60MHz at 240V. Several places I've seen in Fiji have had 110V shaver outlets that accept US plugs, but ask ahead. If you've got a low draw charger, you can probably run it off the charger outlet (I rang my Maha C777 off a shaver outlet for several closely monitored hours 
). Bamboo Beach had a BMF 240-110V converter for people to run battery chargers off, given the large number of US visitors - other destinations may have similar arrangements. If you're taking anything that uses non-rechargeable batteries - bring spares! We saw C cell batteries selling for about $20 Fijian a pair ($11-12 USD) at one resort.
My wife and I each took a 10W HID (canister & Light Cannon) and were glad we did - daylight starts to run out as you go deeper, just like anywhere, and the colour differences at depth were amazing with the HID. One dive the DM even borrowed my lighthead mid-dive and used it to light up some stuff to show other divers.
We were given 3300psi ali 88's with yoke fittings. Neutral when empty. You will probably get those rather than the Luzfer/Catalina et al 77.4's. DIN valves were unheard of. We perpetually had short fills but that's probably specific to the guy filling the tanks.
3mm suits were fine - plan on wearing booties - lots of coral and stuff in the shallows and tidal flats. I would hate to have to kick off a pair of full foot fins and walk anywear in Fiji. Don't pick up the cone shells - they shoot poison darts. Don't pick up the blue ringed octopus - they bite and inject poison. Don't eat the Denarau "beef" burgers - they gave me food poisoning. DO go to the Ports'O Call restaurant at Fiji Sheraton Denarau if you get the chance - best meal I've ever eaten.
Given the ripping currents at some dive sites (and the recent tragedy), bring your biggest baddest SMB and other surface signalling gear (another good use for HID). I'm giving serious consideration to one of those 10' high surface inflate puppies for future trips and even an EPIRB. Didn't have a problem with taking the backplate along.
Hats, sunscreen and bugspray. Tipping is NOT customary, and in fact discouraged in some places - instead you'll probably be asked to kick in to a staff "holiday fund" or similar at the end of your stay (depending on where you stay). Given the standard of living of most Fijians, I think on our next trip we'll be hauling along some stuff like school supplies or kids shoes or something. It just didn't seem "quite right" with us that we were still being encouraged to give a gratuity by the resort owners, but the typical amounts were the equivalent of 2 months wages for a local, and it was going into a "holiday" fund. I'm not fully up to speed on how the whole thing works, but it just felt like the amounts of money in question could be put to much better use.
If there's any little treats you can't live without (like candies/chocolate) - bring them - everything is shipped into Fiji and western luxuries cost a fortune.
Above all have fun.
). Bamboo Beach had a BMF 240-110V converter for people to run battery chargers off, given the large number of US visitors - other destinations may have similar arrangements. If you're taking anything that uses non-rechargeable batteries - bring spares! We saw C cell batteries selling for about $20 Fijian a pair ($11-12 USD) at one resort.My wife and I each took a 10W HID (canister & Light Cannon) and were glad we did - daylight starts to run out as you go deeper, just like anywhere, and the colour differences at depth were amazing with the HID. One dive the DM even borrowed my lighthead mid-dive and used it to light up some stuff to show other divers.
We were given 3300psi ali 88's with yoke fittings. Neutral when empty. You will probably get those rather than the Luzfer/Catalina et al 77.4's. DIN valves were unheard of. We perpetually had short fills but that's probably specific to the guy filling the tanks.
3mm suits were fine - plan on wearing booties - lots of coral and stuff in the shallows and tidal flats. I would hate to have to kick off a pair of full foot fins and walk anywear in Fiji. Don't pick up the cone shells - they shoot poison darts. Don't pick up the blue ringed octopus - they bite and inject poison. Don't eat the Denarau "beef" burgers - they gave me food poisoning. DO go to the Ports'O Call restaurant at Fiji Sheraton Denarau if you get the chance - best meal I've ever eaten.
Given the ripping currents at some dive sites (and the recent tragedy), bring your biggest baddest SMB and other surface signalling gear (another good use for HID). I'm giving serious consideration to one of those 10' high surface inflate puppies for future trips and even an EPIRB. Didn't have a problem with taking the backplate along.
Hats, sunscreen and bugspray. Tipping is NOT customary, and in fact discouraged in some places - instead you'll probably be asked to kick in to a staff "holiday fund" or similar at the end of your stay (depending on where you stay). Given the standard of living of most Fijians, I think on our next trip we'll be hauling along some stuff like school supplies or kids shoes or something. It just didn't seem "quite right" with us that we were still being encouraged to give a gratuity by the resort owners, but the typical amounts were the equivalent of 2 months wages for a local, and it was going into a "holiday" fund. I'm not fully up to speed on how the whole thing works, but it just felt like the amounts of money in question could be put to much better use.
If there's any little treats you can't live without (like candies/chocolate) - bring them - everything is shipped into Fiji and western luxuries cost a fortune.
Above all have fun.
