Where is the best shore-accessible, walk-in snorkeling in Fiji? Can you expect good snorkeling near any of the island resorts in the Mamanucas or do you find it is just going to be consistently inferior to spots North and East of Viti Levu?

Hi, IPMsMom - I have snorkeled four different years in Fiji in various locations (including Matangi). The best snorkeling I think is in the Yasawa group. I am sorry I can't name the islands for you as we were on a Blue Lagoon cruise. Really did find the shore snorkeling in that area wonderful. Conditions in some places have changed so even that may be different now.

Did you take a Blue Lagoon Cruise in the Yasawas? Can you make any recommendations or observations based on your experience? We would be traveling with three kids (youngest is over 10) and wondering what that would be like. The cruises sound wonderful to the Yasawas! Ideally, I would combine that with a weeks stay at a Manamuca resort.

Yes, we did the 7 day 6 night Club cruise. The second trip we did the Gold and the snorkeling was not as good as it does not do the Yasawas. Look on their website and you will see they snorkel from quite a few islands. Also, they encourage children and the crew members will love them.

Thanks, Louise. I was wondering what I should consider between the Gold Club Cruise and the Club Cruise. I definitely want 6 nights and the Gold Club sounds like it returns to the mainland half way through and then goes back out again with a different group for a slightly different itinerary. I would rather stay gone for the full 6 nights with the same group--and this is how the Club Cruise works I guess. Sounds like it gets to more places this way, too. I am most interested in great snorkeling and beautiful beaches. I am considering Navini and Blue Lagoon. Hope that my kids won't feel too isolated at Navini--someone recommended Treasure Island, but it looks so packed in. Sixty+ bures on a small island. Haven't ruled out Cousteau's either, though it is awfully expensive. We are not divers and I wonder if it's worth it for us.

Hi, again. Yes,the Gold does return half way through. My husband and I were the only ones who did the back to back and had a rather wasted day while the ship returned passengers just doing 4 days and preparing to pick up new ones. Found the snorkling not as good either. The advantage is it is a nicer boat. Although I haven't been to Cousteaus, I think that it does not have sandy beaches. Check and make sure. We have stayed at Matangi, Vomo, a resort on the main island which I can't remember the name of and Matamanoa but still loved that Club cruise most.

Thanks again. We are coming from the U.S. and I think we'll look to stay two weeks to make the tremendous distance worth it. What do you think about a week at a resort and then a 6 night Blue Lagoon Cruise? Still considering Cousteau's though it brings the price up considerably. Particularly because you have to take a little plane two and from Savusavu/Nadi to get there. More travel=more cost. But I hear such wonderful things about Cousteau's.

You might try a forum search on the different resorts. Or, sometimes you can get a good price on www.luxurylink.com (usually half price deals). I have bid on travel and can recommend the site. I do think a resort stay and a cruise would be very nice.

Walk-in snorkelling is probably best in either the Yasawas or Mamanucas as the most of the resorts are built on gently sloping coral/sand cays. Most of the northern resorts have deeper water off the beach as they're on rock islands. There has been some damage to coral due to cyclones - but the fish are spectacular. All of the resorts take boats out for snorkelling as well.

Thanks. I think we'll combine a week on a Mamanuca island resort with a week on a Blue Lagoon Cruise to the Yasawas to get the best of both worlds.