Other costs
South Pacific Projects offers high quality and professionally managed expeditions at very competitive prices. We wish to make it clear that despite the favourable living conditions at our project site, we do not offer Resort Dive Holidays. Volunteers need to be aware of exactly what our expedition costs cover and what additional costs you may expect to incur.
Your Expedition Payment Covers:
• Dormitory accommodation at the South Seas Hotel from the start date of the expedition
• Breakfast and dinner in Suva while at the South Seas Hotel
• Transfer to Leleuvia Island from Suva at the start of the expedition
• All accommodation whilst on Leleuvia during the expedition (including bedding)
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner while on Leleuvia during the expedition
• Training in PADI SCUBA diving courses with a PADI Dive Instructor
• All scientific and cultural training by our experienced and qualified staff
• The use of our SCUBA diving equipment (BCD, Regulator, Dive Tanks, Weights and Weight Belts)
• All logistical costs while conducting expedition SCUBA dives and community trips
• Tuition, pastoral care and the attention of our permanent staff members
• First aid and health and safety protocols from our Dive Manager and Expedition Team
• Transfer back to Suva from Leleuvia at the end of each 6 week expedition
Additional Expenditure:
• Transport to and from Suva (international flights, including any relevant taxes)
• Food and accommodation before and after the start and finish dates of the expedition
• Travel Insurance and Dive Insurance
• Personal dive equipment, e.g. fins, mask, snorkel, dive torch/boots, wetsuit and dive computer
• Optional overnight excursions to Levuka ($90FJD) and Suva ($110FJD) during the expedition
• PADI Open Water and Advanced Open Water SCUBA Training manuals
• Lunch in Suva at the beginning of the expedition
• Expenditure for extra luxury items such as drinks and snacks from the bar on Leleuvia
• Food and accommodation during the interphase (up to six days between groups) if you are staying for more than 6 weeks.
New dolphin project during week six of every expedition
Our new dolphin research & conservation project is available for a £300 supplement to volunteers joing the project for at least six weeks. At the end of week five, you will be transferred from Leleuvia to another location to meet staff from the Whale & Dolphin Conservation Society who will trainyou to assist in important spinner dolphin research. Space on this unique project are limited to just eight per expedition group and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.
Interphase
All expenditure during interphase at the end of each expedition is the responsibility of the volunteer. Volunteers can stay on Leleuvia Island at the normal resort rates of $50FJD to $60FJD per day, or stay in Suva or travel elsewhere during the interphase. At the end of each expedition all volunteers and staff traditionally travel to Suva together (transfer costs back to Suva only are covered) and go out to dinner to celebrate!
Dive Manuals
PADI requires that all students purchase their own manuals, please only purchase new Open Water and advanced Open water manuals with all of the knowledge reviews inside and intact. We recommend that you obtain your PADI dive course manuals before you arrive in Fiji, depending on your current qualification level and what qualification you want to achieve while with us. This will allow you to begin reading the material and begin your knowledge reviews before you arrive to give you a head start and to cut down on training time. You can obtain all PADI dive manuals from a registered PADI Dive Centre near you, which you can locate on www.padi.com. Please purchase the manuals at least one month prior to your expedition to allow time for the delivery and to ensure you receive them in time.
If you are unable to purchase your required PADI Training manuals prior to arriving in Fiji, you can purchase new PADI Open Water and Advanced Open Water manuals from us when you arrive in Fiji. If you decide to do more dive training and further PADIqualifications during your expedition, we include the cost of all the PADI manuals and training materials in the price of the courses. Please see below:
Additional Dive Courses
All PADI manuals for each of the dive courses you intend to take are included in the price
It is compulsory for all volunteers to be trained to a minimum of PADI Advanced Open Water before conducting any survey dives, if you are undertaking either the PADI Open Water of Advanced Open Water Courses while with us the cost is included in the expedition price (manual not included). If you would like to take part in an additional dive course please inform SPP staff of which course/s you are interested in.
SCUBA Tune Up – £65 (PADI Manual included)
This course is compulsory for qualified divers that have not dived in more than 6 months. The course aims to refresh the knowledge and skills of qualified divers that have not dived for an extended period to increase their confidence in the water.
Emergency First Response (First Aid Course) – £125 (PADI Manual included)
The emergency first response course is a requirement of the PADI Rescue Diver Course, but can be taken as a separate first aid course giving you the necessary skills to help out people in need in the water and out. We also offer refresher courses for Emergency First Response if your certification is out of date.
Rescue Diver – £275 (PADI Manual included)
The Rescue Diver Course is one of the most worthwhile dive courses to gain a qualification in giving you the confidence, skills and training to help your fellow divers when they are in need.
Divemaster – £549 (PADI Materials included)
The Divemaster Course is for the diver that wants to take the next step and become a PADI Professional or for the diver that wants to know more about all facets of diving. If you want to take the Divemaster Course you will need to book on an expedition for a minimum of 12 weeks to complete the required course work.
Reef Fish Identification Guide Book
We strongly recommend that you purchase the following reef fish identification guide book prior to your departure:
Title: Reef Fish Identification Tropical Pacific
Author: Allen, G.R., Steene, R. & Humann P.
Year Published: 2003 (it has since been re-published)
Cost: £20 (from)
This guide book is essential for all volunteers to learn the required fish species lists. We have several copies on Leleuvia, but we have found it to be beneficial for volunteers to have their own copy for private study. The guide book can be purchased from most book stores, including Amazon.