Tag: #FijiSnorkeling

Unforgettable Fiji experiences for Families

Posted on by Jameel Mohammed

Family destinations don’t come better than Fiji. It’s 330 islands are like one big tropical playground. Here are eight unforgettable experiences for lucky families staying at Jean Michel Cousteau Fiji Resort (JMC) – Fiji’s best family resort (just saying).

 

Let kids be kids!
JMC is all about old school fun. Let your kids kick off the shoes, play in the sand, climb trees, kayak and swim in our languid bay. See the joy on their face as they make friends in kids club, laugh with their nannies and buddies, join in all the fun activities at Bula Club and explore our magical treehouse playground built in a magnificent rain tree. Our seven-hectare resort is like one safe, big beachy playground. Devices? What devices.

What lies beneath
Fiji’s the ideal spot for budding snorkelers and divers to explore fish filled waters. JMC offers twice daily snorkeling trips for families, typically led by one of our two resident marine biologists and accompanied by your child’s nanny or buddy. Our snorkeling trips in glass bottom boats are safe, easy and super fun for kids. There are 15 snorkeling sites within 15 minutes of the resort while once a week we offer an exciting night snorkel off the jetty. Resident marine biologist Johnny Singh leads many of our snorkeling trips and brings the coral city to life by explaining what you see underwater.

Finding Nemo
Children wanting to take their first underwater breaths can join our combined snorkeling and scuba course for kids aged eight to 10. When they feel ready, they can learn to dive on world class reefs – including Namena Marine Reserve which inspired the movie Finding Nemo. Guided by experienced instructors from the Cousteau Dive Centre, diving together as a family is an experience you’ll never forget.

Village visit
Most Fijians still live in traditional villages in a multicultural society. At JMC families have the opportunity to visit the local Nukubalavu (meaning Long Beach) Village where many of our staff and their families come from. Meet the village chief, enjoy traditional dance performances and learn about the villager’s way of life. There are lots of local kids to meet, handicrafts to buy and it’s a great way to connect with authentic Fijian culture. Our complimentary village visit runs weekly and it’s not to be missed.

Leap from the jetty
Take a leap from our jetty into clear fish filled waters. Make sure you organise for one of our staff to capture this special moment – it’s a rite of passage at JMC – and hours of fun

Back to school 
Families love our Friday afternoon visits to a local school. Kids are invited to join children of their own age at one of Savusavu’s local primary schools and participate in class for a short time to make a new friend and a pen-pal. Expect lots of fun. Interacting with local kids is a moment you’ll never forget.

Crab race
Join the hunt along the shoreline for the speediest hermit crab and sign up for our weekly crab race. This fun event for the whole family involves lots of laughing, yelling and a prize for the winner. Who knows you may have the next Usain Bolt of the crab world on your hands?!

Why this remote far-flung Island Resort is closer than you think

Posted on by Jameel Mohammed

Jean Michel Cousteau Resort has been nominated under Resorts for Conde Nast Traveler Reader’s Choice Awards 2023. Voting will run through June 30, 2023.Click here if you would like to vote for Jean Michel Cousteau Resort.

Known for its world class diving, magnificent pearls and charming harbourside town, Fiji’s “Hidden Paradise” feels far from the well-worn tourist trail yet Savusavu is a mere hour’s flight from Nadi International Airport. Yep, paradise is closer than you think.


Secluded beaches and spectacular reefs
Located on Vanua Levu’s remote southern coast, Savusavu is where you’ll find the five-star eco-friendly Jean Michel Cousteau Fiji Resort offering luxurious seclusion within easy reach of Nadi International Airport.

A string of secluded and (mostly) empty palm fringed bays and inlets along with world class snorkelling and diving on pristine reefs await.

Cousteau Dive Centre takes guests to incredible (and uncrowded) dive sites like Barracuda, Alice in Wonderland and the world-famous Namena Marine Reserve. At any one time only a handful of divers explore Vanua Levu’s pristine reefs. You’ll soon discover why Jean Michel Cousteau (son of famous ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau) refers to Fiji as the world’s soft coral capital.

Cool off at the stunning Nakawaga Waterfall
Head inland for an adventure of a lifetime at the incredible Nakawaga Waterfall. Tucked well of the beaten track in verdant jungle you’ll find the spectacular and powerful waterfall following a short but steep hike. Cool off with a dip in the natural pool at the base or, if you’re feeling adventurous, take an exhilarating leap from the top. Be sure and bring a snorkel mask so you can spot small fish and swim beneath the falls. While it feels a million miles from anywhere, the falls are in fact only 20 minutes from Savusavu township (JMC runs complimentary guided tours to the waterfall each week).

Do yoga on a private island
As the sun sinks over the Coral Sea, join a sunset yoga class with arguably the world’s best view. This once in a lifetime yoga class takes place on JMC’s very own private island reached by wooden runabout through dreamy, aquamarine-colored waters.

Known as Naviavia (which in English translates to ‘want to be’), this postcard perfect island is owned by local Fijians and lies just off the secluded shores of Savusavu Bay, on Fiji’s second largest island, Vanua Levu (Big Land).

Across the channel the thatched roofs of JMC resort’s bures are visible yet you’ll feel completely removed from life and its cares.

Lose track of time
Known as Fiji’s “Hidden Paradise”, Savusavu’s deep harbour, spectacular reefs and secluded, palm fringed bays are not just postcard perfect. Here the earth beneath your feet oozes an energy that instantly makes you feel calmer, walk slower, breathe easier. Time seems to slow down, and unfailingly you lose track of it.

Reset with a snooze in a hammock, a barefoot stroll along a palm fringed shore or just kick back with a book on a daybed with a cocktail. Life moves decidedly slower on Fiji time.

Get away from it all
Travellers can reach Vanua Levu’s luxuriant shores via a one-hour flight from Fiji’s Nadi International Airport, arriving at Savusavu Airport. From there, it’s a 15-minute transfer by air-conditioned minivan to Jean Michel Cousteau Fiji Resort.

It may feel like one of the most remote places on earth but truth is, it’s within easy reach. Read more about Travel & Leisure’s ‘12 of the most remote places on earth you can visit’ – including Savusavu home to Jean Michel Cousteau Fiji Island Resort.

Kids’ Paradise: Fun-Filled Activities at a Fiji Family Resort

Posted on by Jameel Mohammed

Get kids off the iPad and exploring both on land and underwater. Championing old school fun and unleashing your child’s inner Huckleberry Finn. Yep, Jean Michel Cousteau Resort Fiji (JMC) is a kids’ paradise.

Relaxed old school fun
JMC offers a healthy dose of old school fun. Kids can collect hermit crabs, make friends with other children in kids club, build sandcastles, play soccer, try tennis, do craft and spend hours splashing and playing Marco Polo in the pool. Somehow days stretch on forever and your kids will never want to go home.

JMC All-inclusive Resort Kids Craft

Adventure
At JMC we’re all for getting kids off devices and becoming captains of their own adventure aka Huckleberry Finn. We love seeing kids run barefoot and free around our secure, eco resort (basically one big playground) with its sweep of protected beach. Build a billi billi raft and set sail, climb a tree, hike to a waterfall, swim in a jungle pool and explore the magic of the underwater world.

JMC All-inclusive Fiji Eco-resort

The Coral City
Imagine the look of wonder on your child’s face as they explore underwater snorkel and dive sites with whimsical names like Chimneys and Alice in Wonderland with its mushroom-shaped corals, sea fans, clown fish, vivid crinoids and intricate sea sponges.

Known as the world’s soft coral capital, Fiji is arguably the best place in the world for kids to learn to snorkel and dive. JMC offers Padi Dive Courses and experiences for kids 10 years and over while children as young as eight years can learn fun bubble making in the pool. Littlies old enough to swim meanwhile can get started by snorkelling.

As children grow more confident, they can join grown-ups in experiencing deeper sites like ‘Grand Central Station’ at Namena Marine Reserve, considered by Jean Michel Cousteau to be one of the top 10 dive sites in the world. There they can see hawksbill turtles, large schools of barracuda and circling reef sharks.

JMC All-inclusive resort kids padi diving

JMC bears the famous aquatic adventurer Cousteau’s name and is the only resort in Fiji that employs two full-time, onsite marine biologists. Our marine biologists enthusiastically impart Cousteau’s passion for the ocean to adult and small guests through our excellent ‘School Under the Sea’ program (involving a stamp passport system), snorkelling expeditions (including fun night snorkels), glass bottom boat rides and educational presentations.

Play Robinson Crusoe
At JMC we’ll pack you off with a substantial picnic, snorkeling and kayak gear and deliver you to your own private atoll. Take a siesta in a hammock, build the ultimate sandcastle and snorkel the shallow reefs. You’ll feel just like Robinson Crusoe. The kids will love having the island, and you, all to themselves. Just call us on the two-way radio when you’re ready to come home.

Kids club
Our award-winning Bula Club is not just any old kids club. Even if your child has been reluctant to attend kids club elsewhere, we almost guarantee that won’t be the case at JMC. Days are jam packed with fun activity, laughs and adventure from sunup to sundown where kids are safe in the hands of our specially trained nannies and buddies. It’s a fluid arrangement where parents can enjoy as much couple time as they choose. Trust us: the pull for kids to be at what is surely the world’s most fun kids is real.

JMC Fiji All-inclusive Resort Kids Paradise Waterslide

One word: waterslide!
Yes, we offer a packed schedule of fun activities, kayaks, snorkel gear, SUP boards and complimentary expeditions to waterfalls, markets, mangroves and more but one thing all kids say they love most about JMC (aside from our incredible staff that is) is our waterslides! We offer two slides – one in the Bula Club’s toddler pool and the other in the main pool. Yet another thing that makes JMC a kid’s paradise.

Five reasons why an all-inclusive Fiji resort makes perfect holiday sense

Posted on by Jameel Mohammed

Kick back, order a drink and do as much or as little as you want. Booking an all-inclusive stay at Jean Michel Cousteau Resort Fiji takes the stress out of travel.

1. Rest easy – everything’s taken care of
One of the biggest advantages of an all-inclusive resort holiday is peace of mind. Once you’ve budgeted the per night cost for your stay, (almost) everything else is included. No calculating transfer costs, budgeting for a nanny/babysitter, planning for meals or carrying around a wallet. Kick back on our sun lounger by the Serenity Pool – we’ve got this.

2. No hidden extras
At Jean Michel Cousteau Fiji Resort (JMC) there are no hidden extras. Our all-inclusive rates cover transfers, meals, non-alcoholic drinks, full time nannies and buddies, complimentary Bula Club access, a comprehensive activities program (including snorkelling trips, kayaks, SUP, sailing) and so much more. You can dine a la carte three times a day, order a bowl of fries for hungry kids post swim, enjoy morning and afternoon tea (yep, our staff are trained baristas) and we’ll collect you and deliver you back to the airport. If you’re travelling with kids, our full-time nannies and buddies are available from 8am to 9pm daily. No sweating the bill at checkout time – it’s all covered so you can relax.

JMC All-Inclusive Resort SUP Stand up paddling

3. You can try everything on offer
Fancy snorkelling? Our all-inclusive rate includes twice daily adult and family snorkelling trips including quality snorkel and mask sets. Want a hit of tennis? Grab a racket and our court is all yours. Want to take a catamaran out for a spin? Be our guest. Kids want a quick SUP before breakfast? Let us set the boards up for you and store them when you’re done. We’ll take you on complimentary tours to the farmer’s market, mangroves, waterfall, local village and more. Do as much or as little as you like knowing it’s (pretty much) all included.

4. No forking out every time your child wants something
We all know how expensive travelling with kids can be! Our all-inclusive rate covers three meals a day for kids as well as morning and afternoon tea, snacks and drinks, complimentary Bula Club access and best of all a full- time nanny or buddy from 8am-9pm daily. How good is that?! If you’ve got multiple kids, JMC’s all-inclusive rates are a no brainer when it comes to value.

JMC Resort All-Inclusive Resort Massage

5. All you need is spending money
Once you know how much your holiday is going to cost all you’ll need is some spending money for cocktails by the pool, dive trips or a well-earned massage or two in our rustic spa bure lapped by the waves. Oh, and we have a boutique too stocking a range of locally made handicrafts, jewellery, resort wear and more if you want to treat yourself.  You’re on holidays after all.

What is the best new activity to share as a family?

Posted on by Anita Mitchell

SCUBA stands for Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus. It is possible to become trained in scuba diving and gain a globally recognized PADI certification, all within a family vacation.

You can learn the science and techniques of spending so much time underwater. You can swim with fish large and small, connect with the tranquility of Fiji’s tropical waters and broaden your understanding of how spectacular our planet is. There is a small amount of studying and a huge amount to talk about. This is an ideal activity to share with your nearest and dearest as they get older and start taking part in the world on their own.

Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort’s professional dive centre offers experienced  instructors catering to all of your needs at competitive prices. Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort trains more divers in Fiji than any other resort. To take part you need to be at least 10 years of age. The most basic course is an Open Water Diver certification, and students younger than 15 years of age who complete the course become Junior Open Water Divers. For those who are 15 years of age and above, the full Open Water certification is something you can keep and use for the rest of your life and is recognized all over the globe.

Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort offers resident marine biologists to assist with expanding your knowledge.

To learn more about scuba diving with Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort Fiji you can refer to our frequently asked questions about diving or you can choose from one of the dive packages.

And don’t forget: Two children under the age of thirteen stay for free when you book your holiday with Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort. 

#FijiFamilyResort #FijiMarineBiologist #FijiDiving #FijiSnorkeling #FijiResort

How can I feel like myself again?

Posted on by Anita Mitchell

Fiji Spa and Wellness
Healing at Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort Fiji

Fiji has a rich history of traditional healing, a true hands-on approach with massage playing a central role. Talent for healing others is considered by those in Fiji as something inherited, with certain skills shared within families through generations. One Fijian family might specialize in healing throat issues, while another family are those to see for joint pain. These practices can seem fanciful to Western ears, where tales of extraordinary acts of healing done solely by touch are at odds with the practices of Western medicine and may not sound credible. This said, the Fijians with direct experience of such things swear by them.

We at Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort have seen first-hand the unusual healing abilities of the people of our Fijian community. It is a holistic and natural approach to wellness and wellbeing, incorporating local time-honed knowledge with natural ingredients. Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort offers a world-class spa service with a difference. Our full spa menu was designed by a local female healer named Viri Marivale. Viri has healing in her lineage, hailing from Natewa on the island of Vanua Levu. We have witnessed Viri provide transformative treatments for our guest and she continues to provide an exception healing service at Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort, incorporating cold pressed coconut oil, honey, flowers, nuts and spices in treatments provided in a luxurious tropical setting.

Fiji Wellness Eesort Spa
Rediscover the sound of your true self beneath all the noise of modern living.
Fiji Wellness Spa Foot Soak
Soak in the sun and soothing sounds of paradise

Each massage is designed to provide a function, be that to improve circulation, deep tissue relief, balance of the musculoskeletal system, rejuvenation, vibrancy, stress relief and more. We store so much within our bodies and not all of it is beneficial, so why not release that which doesn’t serve us well? Viri and gifted others at Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort can help you with that.

In addition to spa treatments, Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort Fiji offers other ways for guests to feel the healing benefits of Fiji and its pristine environment. The warm waters of the South Pacific ocean are cleansing and taking part in the world class diving, exceptional snorkelling sites, waterfall visits, kayaking, and so many more exceptional activities each help restore balance and bring us back to a more natural pace and peace of mind. To stay at our award-winning luxury family friendly resort, please find a date perfect for you.

Enquire Now to learn more about availability at Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort and share the wonders of Fiji with your family.

#FijiFamilyResort #FijiMarineBiologist #FijiDiving #FijiSnorkeling #FijiResort #FijiSpa

 

How can I learn about sustainability while on holiday in Fiji?

Posted on by Anita Mitchell

At Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort Fiji guests have ample activities to choose from and many are not what you expect. Sure, there is world class diving, exceptional snorkelling sites, waterfall visits, spa treatments, kayaking, and so much more of the excellence Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort is known for, but this award-winning luxury family friendly resort offers less common choices too, including:

Junior Chef Program

Children want to learn and want to be involved. Incorporating an education with fun activities is the best way to learn. That’s why children take a tour of Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort’s organ garden and learn about organic farming practices as they harvest fresh produce, dressing in a chef’s uniform before helping prepare fresh and healthy meals in the Bula Club Kitchen.

Our Organic Garden provides 20 per cent of food for our guests.
Our Organic Garden provides 20 per cent of food for our guests.
What do your kids have to look forward to on a family holiday in Fiji?

Mangrove Planting

Mangrove Planting brings many benefits. Mangroves are fish nurseries, providing a safe haven for juvenile fish as well as protecting shores against coastline erosion. Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort guests have worked with our resident marine biologists to plant 7,500 mangrove saplings in the last year alone. Whoop!

Coral Planting

Guests can choose to take part in coral rehabilitation by planting coral! Healthy and abundant coral landscapes are essential to marine biodiversity. This ongoing project has led to a snorkel trail and is another example of the sustainable contributions led by Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort’s marine biologists.

Medicinal Walk

Fiji has a longstanding culture of traditional medicine. Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort doesn’t encourage the use of these traditional medicines over Western medicines, however we do want to preserve this knowledge and share it with others, which is why Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort has built an extensive collection of indigenous medicines and rare plants -some of which are extinct in the wild. Guests can learn about how these age-old practices were applied from a village elder..

Learn more about availability at Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort and share the wonders of Fiji with your family.

#FijiFamilyResort #FijiMarineBiologist #FijiDiving #FijiSnorkeling #FijiResort

 

The Family Resort in Fiji Where New Friendships are on the Menu

Posted on by Anita Mitchell

When you have been to Fiji you leave with a leading memory: ‘The Fijian people’. Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort, a Family Luxury Resort, is located in what Fijian people call “The Friendly North”, famed for the openness and warmth of its residents.

When there is such natural beauty in Fiji, warm weather, world class coral reefs, marine life and lush landscapes, why is it guests comments are about the friendly Fijians? Comments like, “The staff at the resort made for an exceptional experience and we can’t wait to go back.” and “I saw people actually cry when they left this place, it is so wonderful.”?

We’d like to introduce some of our heartwarming staff, who are so easy to connect with.

Fiji Marine Biologist - Johnny Singh

Johnny Singh is a resident Marine Biologist and Naturalist. Say what now? Yes, Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort Fiji is the only resort to employ full-time marine biologists to help visitors appreciate Fiji’s best diving and snorkeling and to understand the Cousteau philosophy. Johnny is from Fiji, studied here and also in Australia, where he earned his master’s degree from James Cook University.

Johnny is passionate about the environment, conservation, sustainability, and educating guests of all ages about the environment. At Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort, he plays four key roles:

Guest Education Informing guests about Fiji’s natural heritage, snorkeling (both day and night trips – can you spell bioluminescence?), evening presentations, all to guide guests of all ages in how to help protect the environment through action and advocacy in our daily lives.

As Environmental Coordinator. Johnny’s resort projects include integrated landscaping, creating renewable energy sources, organic gardening, recycling grey water for wetlands, composting, and more. He also ensures the resort uses eco sensitive products.

Research With the belief that we must understand something before we are able to protect it, Johnny conducts reef checks at dive sites in order to assess the health of the reefs. Guests and other volunteers are always welcome to join Johnny on these reef checks.

Local Outreach Johnny takes his educational tour on the road and visits local schools, giving presentations, sharing knowledge, and helping future generations of Fijians so that they are aware of the importance of preserving their local environment.

Not only is Johnny a delight to be around, he’s responsible for restoring mangroves in the area, repopulating nearby reefs with giant clams, and measuring the benefits of marine protected areas.

If you think this work sounds all very hip and new, Johnny Singh has been doing this work at Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort Fiji for fourteen years! When asked what project was his favourite, Johnny said, “I love all of it.”

As an example of how close guest connections run with those who work at the resort, Johnny’s daughter connects with a young past guest every Sunday to chat over Messenger. The family has been back to Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort five times and when away, one of their children communicate weekly with a friend made in Fiji.

Fiji Resort Sraff - Veiwili

Veiwili began his career at the resort as a trainee in our Food and Beverage area (restaurant). He has become one of the superstars on the floor (that’s serving floor, not dance floor -although he probably lights up a dance floor too!).

We’re so glad and grateful to have him in the team. Veiwili grew up in a fairly remote and isolated part of the island we are located on. Something about where he originates from contributed to this special person you are sure to gravitate to.

Fiji Resort - Talei

If you’ve been to Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort before, there is a good chance you remember Talei and her wonderful and welcoming smile. Talei has been at the Fiji Family Luxury Resort for nearly two decades. After running our world renowned Bula Club (Fiji’s best educational, interactive and fun Kids Club) for fourteen years, Talei is now in charge of running our restaurant (more about our fine dining experience and organic menu).

Talei would love to meet you and share in your experience. Learn how to receive a complimentary night’s accommodation

#FijiFamilyResort #FijiMarineBiologist #FijiDiving #FijiSnorkeling #FijiResort