Ra Divers - Fiji Islands

Fiji Time: 21. 07. 2008 - 02:43 hrs

About us

Accommodation

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About Fiji Islands:

Fiji Islands A - Z

... A ... B ... C ... D ... E ... L ... O ... T ... V ...

Airport:
Also know as the junction of the South-Pacific, the Fiji Islands have two international airports:
Nadi International Airport (the larger one) is appoached from all bigger airlines and continuation to alomst all destinations in the South-Pacific region.
Suva International Airport (in Nausori) usually is approached from Qantas and Air Pacific from Australia and there are flights to Tonga, Tuvalu and some other destinations.
»»» From both airports you can get local flights to different destinations within Fiji.

Banks & Currency:
For tourists important banks are the ANZ and Westpac Banks as they are international banks and you can exchange cash-money (US$, NZ$, AUS$, Euro and Switzerlands Francs) here as well as cash Travellers-Cheques and collect money from your Credit-Card-Account (Master & Visa are accepted. everywhere)
There are lots of Bank-Machines (automatic-teller) around the main-island. With your EC (Euro-Cheque) Card (presupposed there the MAESTRO-Sign on it and you have a PIN-Number) and also with your Credit-Card (with PIN) you can obtain there cash-money up to F$ 1,000.00.
You will find the following notes and coins on the Fiji Islands:

Bank-Notes: 2 $, 5 $, 10 $, 20 $ und $ 50
and Coins: 1 c, 2 c, 5 c, 10 c, 20 c, 50 c, 1 $

Opening-Hours:
Monday - Thursday: 09:30 - 15:00 hrs
Friday: 09:30 Uhr - 16:00 hrs
Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays the banks are colsed. Bank-Machines (automatic-teller), mostly from ANZ are located in/at: Nadi, Nadi Airport, Suva, Nausori Airport, Sigatoka, Lautoka, Ba, Tavua, Pacific Harbour, Labasa and Savusavu - some are direct at stores like MH etc.
If you are from Australia, New Zealand and other South Pacific Islands you also use your Westpac- or ANZ-Cards (please ask your bank).

All bigger hotels and resorts as well as stores and shops accept Visa and also Master-Cards.

To convert your currency please use our : Currency-Converter

Communication:
There is Fiji Telecom, responsilbe for Telephone and Internet (Connect) and also Vodafone for mobile phones.

Telephone:
Most of the hotels and resorts offer international calls, otherwhise you have to go to the Fiji Post or to a telephone booth (prepaid cards).

If you want to call to Fiji Islands the country code is: 00679, there no area-codes and the phone-numbers have seven digits.
If you want to call from Fiji to other countries you have to use the international country codes which you can find on the first pages in the telephone directory.

Internet:
There are lots of Internet-Cafés in the bigger towns and all have differents rates/prices. The cheapest and the fastest possibility is to use the Cafés from Connect. As well many Hotels and Resorts offer Internet-Service to their guests.

Vodafone / Mobile Phone:
If you can use your mobile phone from home you have to check with your provider. Some offer roaming service.
A favorable alternative are the Prepaid Cards offeres here in Fiji. You get the first one for at about F$ 91.00 (including F$ 60.00 fro calls) and for recharching you can get them from F$ 10.00 up to F$ 100.00. They are available at every Post Office and as well some hotels will have them.
Please note the Mobile Phone Service is digital not analog.

Departure-Tax:
For the departure, there is actually to heed not much. With some airlines, the Departure-Tax is already included in the price of the flight-ticket - Information you will get from your flight-operator or Tavel-Agency. If that should not be in case, put direct F$ 30.00 per person into your passport. Then you have everything ready and have to go and get money from the automatic teller once again extra. As well it is possible to pay the Departure-Tax with your Credit-Card, but then an additional fee of F$ 5.00 would be raised.
Children under 12 years don't have to pay the Departure-Tax.

Doctors, Pharmacies and Hospitals:
Fiji has well trained general-doctors and specialists. On the main-island of Viti Levu you will find doctors in large numbers whereas only a few on ther outer islands. In Suva, there is since some years the "Private Hospital" - more to it under hospitals. A list of doctors you will find direct on the first pages in the Telephone-Directory and if you stay in a hotel or resort please turn to the reception. Most of the hotels and resorts have doctors which are ready on retrieval.

For smaller aches you can visit a pharmacy as wel, as they have well trained and very helpful personnel. The attainability of the pharmacies is, ever after, where you are, quite well and many have opened until into the evening-hours.

Regularly Opening-Hours:
Monday - Thursday: 08:00 - 17:00 hrs
Friday: 08:00 - 18:00 hrs
Saturday: 08:00 - 13:00 hrs
Sunday& Public Holiday: 09:00 - 12:00 hrs
Lots of pharmacies have however their own Opening-Hours between 07:00 and 20:00 hrs.

The standard of the hospitals in the towns and on the bigger islands as well is mediocre up to good, in the rural regions rather bad. The most modern hospital is the Suva Private Hospital, which has an up-to-date equipment and treats accordingly. In the connected pharmacy you receive all, prescribed in the hospital. For "bigger stories" you should go there necessarily.

Address:
Suva Private Hospital - Private Mail Bag - Amy Street
Phone.: +679 / 330 3404 - Fax: +679 / 330 3456
Important for divers - in the Suva Private Hospital there is also the Recompression Chamber.
(24 hrs attainability)

Emergency Call: 911
(Ambulance, Fire, Police)

Duty Free Allowances:
You are allowed to brind dutiable goods not exceeding F$ 400.00 per passenger, as well (implied you are over 17 years): 500 Cigarettes or 500 Grams of tobacco, 2 Litres of alcoholic liquor or 4 Litres of beer or 4 litres of wine. Food (mostly Fruits, Vegetable, Meat ...), seeds, skins of animals, weapons etc. are absolutely forbidden.
There are no restrictions for foreign exchange.

Electricity:
The voltage is with 240 volts / 50 Hzes in the average like in Australia, New Zealand, Europe and other countries, so you can use the appliances (hair dryer, shavers, radio, chargers etc.) without misgivings as at home uses. Your require only one adapter to it like for Australia and New Zealand and this has to look like: / \. You can get it in well sorted electro-specialist stores and also here in Fiji in supermarkets..
However think about that there are only generators or solar-power on the smaller islands adn so you haven't power over the whole day.
In many Hotels/Resorts, that are visited by Americans frequently, there are even different sockets, 240 VS and 110 VS. Be careful there particularly that you catch the right and you do not inflict damages to your appliances.

Language:
The offical style/language on the Fiji Islands is English, but if you like to understand a bit Fijian pleas have a look under Say it in Fijian

Official Opening-Hours:
General Opening- / Business Hours (Stores, Shops, etc.):
Monday - Thursday: 08.00 - 17:00 hrs
Friday: 08:00 - 18:00 hrs
Saturday: 08:00 - 13:00 hrs
Many of the bigger supermarkets also are opened weekdays and on Saturday till 20:00 or 21:00 hrs and some as well on Sunday.

Tip:
Tipping is not usual in Fiji but also not prohibited. If you think to have to reward a special performance so, you can do that. It is better however, if you ask for a savings-can for employees (here known as Christmas-Found). There it would collect for all - also for them, who work behind the sceneries.

Time-Zone:
The Fiji Islands are 11 hours ahead MEZ or 12 hours ahead GMT.
As there is no difference between Summer- and Winter-Time here in Fiji the time difference (MEZ) is 10 hours in Winter and 11 hours in Summer.

Visa & Enty Requirements: (updated: April 2004):
There is no Visa required for nationals of more than 100 countries including the Commonwealth countries, USA, Japan, Israel, Germany, France, Italy, Austria, Switzerland etc. for all other countries click here (Fiji Government Homepage). On Arrival a four month visa is granted if you have a passport at least valid 3 months when enter the country and provide a Return- or Continue Fligh-Ticket

Visit a Village:
If you visit a village you should respect traditional custums and rules - therefore a typical village protocol here (Rules, you have heed/follow):

Hats, caps and sun-glasses should not be worn, as this indicates disrespect to the Chief .
Within buildings (Bures, Churches etc.) don't wear shoes. werden keine Schuhe getragen. Strip them of before being asked and put the beside.
Women must have covered their knees and shoulders and shows respect if men do the same. With a Sulu (a type of rap-around-skirt) and a T-shirt you are always dressed proper. If you do a trip and prefer short pants and a top, you should have a Sulu and a T-shirt with you (many operators provide Sulus fro visits), so you can show your respect to the village.
In traditional villages the women wear their hair open and you should do the same.
Avoid to touch a native's head. It would be viewed as an insult.
Usually is to bring a Sevusevu (present) in form of a Kava-Root for a village-visit. It is for the traditional Kava-Ceremony. You can buy them on the local markets. A root of approximately 500 g (around F$ 15 - 20) is standard.
To wander around in a village before the Sevusevu was handed over and was assumed, is not acceptable.
With arrival in a village normally you will be invited to the Kava-Ceremony and asked if you like to drink Kava. It is usual to drink the whole bowl at once. The Bilo (bowl / half of a coconut) will be passed to you with both hands and as well you should take it with both hands. Before you take it you must clap your hands one time and when returning three times.
You will sit on the floor. The men in the tailor-seat and the women with the knees bended to the side. It is impolite to sit with legs outstretched to the front.
Be carefully with pronouncing praise. If you admire something too much, the owner feels then commit to give it to you.