Family first at Fiji's Plantation Island

Whether you’re an intrepid, intermediate or plain passionate about diving, trying to find a holiday haven to suit the family can be a tricky ask. Plantation Island Resort in Fiji has an answer for everybody.

For many New Zealanders, a Fiji holiday is synonymous with both family holidays and epic underwater marine adventures. However, while young kids can often be looked after while parents undertake a few dives, as they get older it’s a good idea to be able to introduce them to the world of scuba diving.

A family affair

Fiji is the perfect spot to induct your kids into the world of diving, and based at Plantation Island Resort is PADI 5-star professional dive company Subsurface Fiji, offering multiple dive options for adults and kids alike, from beginners to experts. 

Subsurface offers a range of scuba introduction courses for kids. Children can take ‘discover scuba’ lessons, which makes for a memorable holiday experience – and often leads to the beginning of a lifetime passion for youngsters. It also teaches the whole family about coral preservation for the next generation.

Plantation Island Resort is the perfect spot to call home when you’re looking to embark on a shared family dive experience in Fiji. With its beachfront location looking out onto crystal-clear waters, safe shallows for little ones, and plenty of activities on offer, there’s always something to do at Plantation, whether you’re wanting time out – or time in the beautiful Pacific Ocean.

There’s plenty to keep younger ones happy at the resort, with a playground, creche and kids’ club available for youngsters up to 12, and affordable babysitting. The resort also offers snorkelling trips and lessons as a great place to start for anyone who’s never experienced the joy of watching marine life in its natural habitat. There’s even the option of a marine conservation learning session or building a fish house at the kids’ club that is then moved underwater so you can visit your own creation on your return visit! There’s also a unique underwater museum which is a great place to dive or snorkel.

Once the kids are older, however, they may want to venture further afield. The best way to start your child’s scuba journey is to encourage them to learn a little theory online before you leave for your holiday. You may even decide to let them try a dive or two in New Zealand before you leave so they feel even more confident once they arrive in Fiji.

Many families choose to complete their dive certifications while holidaying in Fiji together. It’s a great bonding experience, as parents love watching the kids learn and experience diving for the first time, while youngsters can get their first glimpse of a colourful dive site, teeming with tropical fish and coral. While Plantation Island isn’t a dive-specific resort, there are plenty of colourful dive sites teeming with tropical fish and coral for novice divers, and wrecks, drifts and walls for the more adventurous diver, and groups are separated according to ability.

Dive options for kids

Once on their PADI Discover Scuba programme, kids start in the pool to perform a few basic skills with their dive equipment, before heading out onto the reefs. 

Participation for all diving is at the discretion of dive professionals, and you can be sure that your kids are in good hands as they explore the safe, calm waters surrounding Plantation Island Resort with experienced Dive Masters.

Training professionals

Subsurface is a 5-star affiliated PADI training provider that has been operating in the Mamanuca Islands for well over 20 years. They offer a range of dive options; contact your team at Plantation Island Resort for more information.

Bubble Maker Designed for kids aged 8-10 wanting to experience breathing underwater.

Discover Scuba Dive This is an opportunity for anyone 10 years and over to experience diving for the first time. There is a short training session followed by a reef dive. 

PADI Open Water Course The first scuba certification level. A PADI Instructor will teach you how to scuba dive in a relaxed, supportive learning environment. By the end of the course, you'll have the skills and knowledge to dive at home or abroad and be an ambassador for the underwater world.

PADI Advanced Open Water Course Experience new adventures with an instructor by your side. Designed for novice divers who want to improve their skills.

PADI Rescue Diver Improve your confidence and become a better dive buddy through fun role playing and skill practice

The theory for the courses can be purchased and completed in advance to enable guests to maximise their holiday time. Visit https://store.padi.com/en-us/courses/open-water-diver/p for more. 

Subsurface also offers refresher courses for previously certified divers who would like to be reacquainted with Scuba. For previously certified divers Subsurface offers two daily scuba trips departing Plantation Island Resort at 8.30am and 2.00pm. Their dive team are experienced and friendly and will help even the most nervous divers to experience the underwater world in a safe and enjoyable environment.

Click here for more on Plantation Island Resort and scuba diving, and to book your trip.