Month: June 2017

Top tips for taking great underwater photos

Posted on by Anita Mitchell

When you're not enjoying facilities at our 5 star Fiji resort, there's a good chance you'll be living it up at the beach. The glistening azure waters of Savusavu Bay and beyond offer incredible opportunities for you and your family to explore the vibrant marine life either snorkelling or scuba diving. 

If you want to show everyone back home some of the unique beauty of Fiji's oceans – as well as capture the kids in action with their snorkels – there's no better way than to dabble in some underwater photography. 

Here are a few of our top tips to help you take some great underwater pictures. 

What you'll need 

At the least, you'll need a waterproof case for your smartphone that will be able to protect it while you're taking snaps under the sea. You can choose between either a fitted case or a dry bag. The former is a hard shell that fits snugly over your phone such as the iThrough Underwater Case or the Optrix Pro. 

The alternate is a dry bag, a clear pouch that seals shut, allowing you to still access your phone. Just be sure to check the depth limitations before you take your device snorkelling, as some cases are only water resistant up to a depth of one metre. 

If you're interested in taking things to the next level, you can bring a waterproof camera, or an underwater housing for your existing camera. 

Before you dive in 

Make sure your device is fully charged, and that you have plenty of free storage available – there's nothing worse than spotting a beautiful fish, or some colourful coral and realising that you can't take the shot! 

Those thinking of bringing DSLRs should be comfortable navigating the various settings, as exposure and metering may work differently underwater.  

If you're interested in going scuba diving with your partner or your older children, but you don't have your licence yet, the Cousteau Dive Centre is here to help! We offer a wide range of scuba courses, for beginners to those seeking more advanced qualifications. 

When you're in the water 

For the best results, make sure you're close to your subject, whether it's your kids or a lazy crab scuttling along the rocks. You're going to need to use your camera's flash to get the most out of your shots, as the water can reduce your subjects' contrast and colour. 

Get down on a level with the marine life, or even better, get beneath them and shoot your photos upwards on an angle. Try to avoid taking photos looking downward on the back of marine life – this means you will miss out on the fish's (or your family's!) eyes. 

To freeze the movement of fast-moving fish underwater, you'll need a shutter speed of about 1/125 seconds, although you can use slower speeds for still subjects if necessary. 

As the ocean can be a difficult environment for cameras to gain accurate focus, it's a good idea to use the centre-weighted or spot-focusing modes on your DSLR if possible. If you use flash, make sure you leave your white balance settings on Auto for the best results.  

Dreaming of swimming in the Fijian sea? 

If you're ready to try out some of our tips for yourself on an all-inclusive family holiday to Fiji, the team at Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort can't wait to help you book your stay. To find out more about our packages for family holidays, get in touch with us today. 

3 spa treatments to try on your Fijian holiday

Posted on by Anita Mitchell

There's nowhere quite like Fiji for taking a step back, slowing down and relaxing. Maybe it's something about the azure waters stretching as far as the eye can see, the swaying of palm trees or the golden sand between your toes. 

At the Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort, we know how important is it to be able to unwind and breathe easy on your Fiji getaway, whether you're here on a romantic couples holiday or you've got the whole family in tow. That's why we offer our world-class spa facilities just a stone's throw away from the beach in our bures, with a range of blissful treatments to help you loosen those knots and rejuvenate your skin.

About our spa treatments 

While you're here in Fiji, you can experience the unique blend of 'liga mana', meaning 'gifted hands', and 'vuda', meaning 'Mother Earth'. Our massage technique is inspired by traditional Fijian practices, while the natural oils and products we use are derived from the bountiful local ingredients.

For winding back the years 

Our Koko Rapture treatment uses an organic cacao base that has been fermented and sun-dried to activate its powerful skincare properties. It's applied using a banana leaf wrap, allowing your skin to benefit from this anti-oxidising and anti-aging treatment while you enjoy a reflexology massage for your hands and feet. Finally, a gentle, rhythmic massage helps to improve lymphatic circulation. 

For the ultimate facial 

The Vakacegu treatment, which translates to 'peace be with you', is a facial treatment unlike any other. It combines deep cleansing and exfoliation as well as a tension-releasing facial massage to truly rejuvenate your skin. Using only the purest local ingredients and oils, the Vakacegu involves a pH balancing facial mask in addition a nourishing hair treatment oil to restore softness and texture. Finally, a soothing scalp massage helps to send you off feeling like you're walking on air.

For full-body rejuvenation

If you've been feeling a little run down with the stresses and strains of everyday life, the Maucokona treatment is for you. Meaning 'complete', or 'fulfilled', Maucokona is a regenerative treatment that draws inspiration from traditional Fijian tribal practices to leave you feeling re-energised and relaxed.

It begins with a body massage, integrating pressure points and rhythmic techniques to ease muscle aches and pains as well as native aromatic oils specially chosen for your needs. The treatment helps to encourage better circulation, relieving tightness and detoxifying the body.

Ready to plan your blissful retreat to Fiji? Don't hesitate to get in touch with out team at the Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort about arranging your dream holiday today. 

Why it’s important to go on holiday

Posted on by Anita Mitchell

 

With the constant demands of life, work and family, sometimes it feels impossible to even imagine going away on holiday. However, this institution of leaving home behind for a change of scenery could be more important than you think. 

Here are just a few of the reasons why you shouldn’t put off that luxury family holiday or your romantic Fiji getaway for too long. 

You can reconnect with your family 

When you travel together as a family unit, you have more opportunities to be in each other’s company and share new experiences together. A study by Perdue University even found that family holidays helped to contribute to family cohesion.

A happiness boost 

A gourmet meal for two, snorkelling in the azure waters of Savusavu Bay, a relaxing massage at the spa… any of these activities on offer at the Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort is enough to bring a smile to our faces, but do they have an effect on our health and well-being once we’re back home? 

Research by a university in the Netherlands found that 60 per cent of employees reported a ‘substantial improvement’ to personal factors such as fatigue, mood, energy levels, tension and health after going on holiday. 

Going on holiday could be better for your career 

But don’t just take our word for it. Burnout sees many hardworking employees and entrepreneurs have to cut their time short in their chosen field or position, often due to a lack of work-life balance. 

Many studies have observed the positive impact of going on holiday on burnout and stress levels. Jesse Pujji, CEO of Ampush, has this to say:

“Vacations with loved ones will help entrepreneurs avoid burnout. It’s important to put on an out-of-office message, too, and not respond to emails. Another benefit of taking a vacation is you set a good example for hard-working employees.”

Become closer with your significant other

A luxury couples vacation in Fiji is the perfect opportunity to bond with your other half. A survey by the U.S. Travel Association found that almost four out of five couples who travelled together believe that travel was a positive influence on their relationships, while over 70 per cent of holidaying couples thought that travel inspired romance.

If you’re thinking about popping the question on your romantic break, all the better! 

Ready to book your dream getaway? 

While you’ve been reading, the blissful shores of Fiji have been waiting. If you’re ready to stop daydreaming and start planning, get in touch with the friendly team at the Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort.