TRIP ITINERARY Diver’s Dream

Day 01 - Monday    
Depart the USA
All of Rustic Pathways scheduled group flights to Fiji depart from
Los Angeles.  Our carrier is Air Pacific – Fiji’s national airline.  The flight each week is non-stop to Nadi International Airport and is escorted by a Rustic Pathways Flight Leader. The flight departs LAX in the evening and takes about 10 hours.  During your flight take the time to get to know other students on your flight, get some sleep in preparation for your arrival in the South Pacific, relax with a movie or two and start to settle into the easy-going and friendly nature of the Fijian’s and their legendary hospitality.
    
Day 02 – Tuesday
In transit
Today is “lost” as you cross the international dateline, but don’t worry too
much… you will get it back on your way home!
    
Day 03-Wednesday!
Bula!  Welcome to Fiji! 
You will immediately be greeted by our Rustic Pathways staff start the journey of a lifetime.  After hoping off a plane you will hop into a car then onto a boat for a 4 hour ride through the breathtaking Yasawa Islands.  Pass by some of the most beautiful islands in the world while enjoying a nice cold ice-cream bar and talking with your new friends.  The last stop in the Yasawa Islands in Nacula Island and that is what you will call home during your stay.  Toba Totoka, meaning “Beautiful Bay” is the name of our Nacula Island Base where you will be partaking in your exciting activities.

By the time you reach Nacula Island there will be a village ready to welcome you with open arms.  Lunch will be waiting for you after you unpack all your belongings.  After lunch you will start orientation with your trip leaders about what to expect over the next week. 

Once you have finished orientation throw on your swimsuit, snorkel, fins and head out to see some of the beautiful marine life that the South Pacific has to offer.  There is a beautiful reef right outside of Toba Totoka and you can usually spot a multitude of fish, squid and puffer fish.  If you are not up to snorkeling, spend time relaxing in the sun or pull out a kayak and explore the bay.

During the evening, you can sit around a bonfire and share stories or play the guitar as the local Fijians accompany the melodies with song.  Be sure to look up at the beautiful night sky and take in the breathtaking stars!

Day 04 and 05  – Thursday and Friday
Dive, Dive, Dive
Over the next three days you will get to experience the underwater environment up close and personal.  Each morning you will start off with breakfast at the Toba Totoka then travel to Westside Water Sports on Nanuya Island to start your dives.  There are over twenty different dive spots and each one is different from the next.  Explore the “Pinnacle” which is covered with flowing yellow soft coral or experience “The Maze” where there are a multitude of caves you can swim-through.The great thing about diving is that you will never have the same dive twice!

After each day of diving you will be ready for some rest.  Back at Toba Totoka, relax and exchange stories with the rest of the students at the house.  Students from various programs will also be at the base so spend some time sharing about daily adventures.  While you are not exchanging stories you can also kayak, snorkel, windsurf, kite-surf, play soccer, ping pong or just chill on the beach.

Each evening will offer an exciting activity and after dinner your can participate in a traditional Fijian Meke, night fishing, capture the flag, beach bonfires or sunset hikes up to the tallest point on the island.  The night is what you make of it so get ready for an amazing time!   

Day 06 – Saturday
Within the Fijian culture there is always need for a day to relax.  Your Saturday will be observed as a day to rest, relax and enjoy the company of family and friends. Spend the day enjoying the wonders that Fiji has to offer in whatever way that fits your mood!  How you spend your day on Saturday is up to you.  You can go swimming, snorkeling, island hopping, visit an underwater cave, spend the day at a spa or go hiking.

Days 07 – Sunday
Shark Dive!
What scuba diving trip is complete without an adrenaline filled dive with real sharks.  Spend your first dive of the day submerged with some of the most feared creatures on earth.  No need to fear though, these sharks are fed fish by the dive operators so you are safe to float on the line and enjoy the view as sharks as large as 12 feet swim past you.   

Day 08 and 09 – Monday and Tuesday   
Island Paradise and Ocean Fun
There is still more diving to be had in Fiji as you complete your final two days of dives.  Enjoy your time underwater while practicing doing some flips or blowing circle bubbles under water.  Make sure that you bring your underwater cameras to document all of the action that is taking place.

After your last dive of the week spend some time enjoying the beach or walking around the island.  Feel free to roam through the village and spend some time with the Fijian families that you have met during your stay in Malakati.  You will be treated like family at this small village and the Fijians will certainly miss you when you depart.  

On Tuesday you will have the chance to purchase some presents for your family back home from the villagers.  Some of these families rely on their shell markets as their main source of income and you will see that many of the items are handmade.  Take home a beautiful shell necklace or sulu for your family and friends.  It will definitely be a gift that they will not forget.

Spend your last night reflecting with the other students in your group.  There will be a traditional Fijian Meke performed for you and the Kava will continue into the night. 

Day 10 – Wednesday    
Something to take home with you!
Well your week has flown by like a dream and you should now be well-entrenched in Fiji and much of what this easy-going island nation is all about.  You will be leaving the island mid-morning and board the Yasawa Flyer for your journey back to the mainland.  In the evening, you will be treated to a nice final meal to conclude your wonderful experience in Fiji.  This will give you some time to reminisce about your weeks adventures, exchange contact information with friends and staff and prepare for your journey home. You will be escorted to the airport by staff where you can take some time to say good-bye and will fly back to LAX with a Rustic Pathways flight leader.

Extending your Dive Week.
Weeks Two, Three, Four and beyond….
 
If you’re staying longer, there will be new opportunities for service and adventure.  Your understanding of Fijian culture will be better, the depth of the friendships you’ve made will be stronger and your ability to communicate, participate and contribute will be enhanced the greater the amount of time you spend here.  You can continue your adventure by adding on the “Big Fiji Explorer” program, or learn more about the marine environment with a week of “Marine and Environmental Monitoring”.  Trips are easy to add on so get creative when you design the summer of your dreams.
    
An Important Note about Schedule Changes:
Rustic Pathways reserves the right to change, alter, or amend the daily itinerary for this trip at any time. Changes can be made for various reasons including changes in flight or program schedules, changes in the schedules of various external tours incorporated in our trips, the addition of new activities into a trip, or the substitution of an old activity for a new activity. The itinerary shown here provides a good outline of the anticipated daily schedule for this program. As with any travel program, some changes may occur.

Diver’s Dream – FAQ
1 - What will the accommodation on this trip be like?
Students on this program will be staying on the island on Nacula.  The tents will be equipped with a mattress and linens are is quite comfortable.  Boys and girls will be places in separate tents with the counselors sleeping in adjacent smaller tents.   There will be a separate area for eating and three large bures with multiple activities in each one where students can hang out after they return from their daily activities. Showers will be heated by solar power and flush toilets will be right outside the tents.

2 - Will the students be drinking bottled water?  
Students can purchase bottled water but will be supplied with safe drinking water at each location.

3 - What kind of food will we be eating?
The food will be cooked for the student by Fijian staff on Nacula.  There will be a fix of traditional Fijian food which includes chicken, rice and various vegetables. 

4 - How many girls and boys are usually on this trip?
The average trip load is 60% girls and 40% boys.

5 - How does this program connect to other programs?
Diver’s Dream is only for students that are certified scuba divers.  If you are not certified Diver’s Dream is a great add on to the Learn to Dive in Fiji program where you will obtain scuba certification.  Other trips will be running on Nacula Island so you can easily add a week of marine research, with Marine and Environmental Monitoring or a week of Servicio comunitario with Malikati Magic. This program connects easily with other programs in the South Pacific, as well as our other countries.  Students who will be coming from or going to other countries will fly to and from Nadi, Fiji. 

6 - Will there be a flight leader to this country?
Students travelling on our group flights from Los Angeles will fly to Nadi, Fiji and will be accompanied by a flight leader.

7 - How long is the flight to this country?
From Los Angeles to Fiji is 10 hours by air.

8 - Do we need to get visas for this program?
US citizens do not need a visa for entry as a tourist into Fiji. On arrival into Fiji, immigration will issue US citizens with a tourist visa for entry into the county. No prior arrangements for US citizens are needed."

9 - What immunizations do we need to get for this trip?
All Rustic Pathways students are required to have an up-to-date tetanus shot. We suggest Hepatitis A and B and Typhoid vaccinations and recommend that you consult a doctor regarding immunizations for travel to the region. You can find additional information on immunizations for travel from the US Center for Disease Control at www.cdc.gov.

10 - What costs are not included on this trip?
Optional activities, snacks and souvenirs are not included in the program cost.  Optional activities include;
Visit to caves: $30
Island hopping: $100
Massage: $45 per hour
Wake boarding/ tubing: $30
Souvenirs and snack food: $20-$200 

11. Do I need to bring my own scuba diving gear?
It is not necessary to bring more than a swimsuit or towel as the location where we will be diving provides all equipment.  If you have a pair of goggles and snorkel and you would like to bring them it is fine.