Beqa Lagoon Resort, Fiji
When traveling to a foreign country you are not always going to have ADA accessibility so you must improvise. The wheelchair below did a very good job on my trip. Tips at the resort are not excepted; They have a Christmas fund and we brought lots of chocolate and trinkets for the children. I did tip outside the resort.
If you are looking for great diving, great food, and people and are up for a challenge, Fiji is a do-able trip. Depending on you physical strength and wheelchair, you might require additional help.
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The chair used on the trip has a 26 inch width and ether 21 or 23 inch height depending on if I used the cushion or not. I removed my seat cushion for most of the trip, because I do not like it to get wet and to reduce the height.
Fijian ADA requires four Fijians. Back breaking assistance was required, but the Fijian people were great and were very helpful in assisting where the wheelchair could not take me. Thank you(Vinaka Vakelevu) for all the assistance that I received; I could not make the trip without you.
There are not wheelchair friendly vans or buses on Fiji.
Once transferred from a bigger boat to a small boat and to shore, there was about a 4 foot or 1 meter incline to the dive shop.
The dive prep area had plenty of room and tables to lift up on and put on the wet suit. Dive gear was totally handled by the dive team. I found it easier to boat dive then shore dive, because you had a 100 yard swim to the reef and the logistics of getting back in the chair was difficult. I left my wheelchair on shore and required assistance to get to the dive boat; dive team was great. Once on the boat, I used a dive belt to secured myself to the boat for safety. I found that water conditions could change very fast and there could be strong current one minute and none the next. The best way we found to help a disabled diver in strong current was to have the dive buddy come behind the disabled diver and push on the tank.
The stairs from the dive prep area to the dining area was the only steps that was not ramped. Help was always 2 minutes away. The bridge required a rolling start to get over from one direction.
When I arrived, there were three set of steps that I had to be carried up. Ramp was very steep and I required my wife's assistance.
They built a ramp into the room the first day and a second ramp the day after. I found the ramp into my bure (room) to steep to handle alone.
Stepping stones required a little wheelchair maneuvering. Here are two different paths. I found that I was riding a wheelie allot because the front wheels fell between the stones.
My wife and I were upgraded on the room which we found very friendly. Not like the USA, the bed was the perfect transfer height. Doors were all 32 inches and I had 2 inches to spare on the wheelchair width. They had two of the far left bathrooms in the dining room. I could turn around in the bathroom; might be tight with cushion. Toilet was two inches lower than the wheelchair without cushion. with no safety bars, but toilet paper holder was strong enough for a little support. After bumping a three inch curb in the shower I was able to turn and shower in my chair. ( Leave the D-locks brakes at home.) Don't forget your shower wand, good supply of drugs. There are no hardware stores or pharmacies on Beqa Lagoon!. Feel free to contact me for more information at victor@hsascuba_scuba.com
Beqa Lagoon Resort, Fiji
Box 112 Deuba
Fiji Island
Phone: 
+ 679 330 4042
Fax: + 679 331 5139
Email: gm@beqalagoonresort.com