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DIVING IN TAVEUNI

Known in the colonial days for its prodigious coconut plantations, today Taveuni is a landmark for divers. Beneath the surface of the sea lies an incredible eco-system that rivals the rich bio-diversity found on land. Fed by nutrients that emerge from the depths of the Tongan trench, Taveuni is famous for its multitude of reef fish. However, if there is one trademark or signature species in the area, it is soft coral, which billows and undulates in the currents. Soft coral comes in dramatic, often electric hues of orange, red, pink, and white-fringed by purple.

Aqua-Trek Taveuni dives the Somosomo Strait, a narrow waterway located between Taveuni and Vanua Levu. Scuba diving in the Somosomo Strait is said to be "... unequaled anywhere else in the world". Along the southeast shore of Vanua Levu one will find a barrier reef continually fed by microorganisms washed in by the currents which are driven by the narrowing of the funnel-like strait. Protruding into the strait from the Vanua Levu side is the magnificent Rainbow Reef. Here one can find one of the most famous dive sites in the South Pacific, the Great White Wall. There are a number of other world class dive sites located throughout the area and new attractions are found all the time. It is estimated that divers have explored only 3% of the entire reef system in the Taveuni area.

Dives We Offer

Garden Island Resort is on the north coast of Taveuni, which happens to be directly offshore from the Somosomo Strait. The distance of the sites ranges from 10 to 20 minutes by boat. A typical dive involves mooring, briefing, descent down a line, and a guided tour. Drift dives are done when site and tides are favorable.

Specialized Facilities

Photogaphers will enjoy having a full-service photo center with E6 processing on site as well as dedicated rinse tanks. Camera rental and film sales are also available. Nitrox divers are encouraged to take advantage of the only dive center on Taveuni offering Nitrox. There are also Nitrox regulators for rental, and courses in enriched air diving are available. A small retail sales section offers diving accessories and souvenirs.

COURSES OFFERED

Discover Scuba Diving Course: This two hour introduction to diving is aimed at the neophyte who has never donned a wet suit. You will learn how to breathe with the aid of scuba gear, and experience enough to come back for more.

PADI Open Water Certification Course: This four-day course will earn you the world's most recognized diving certification. Here you will learn all the requisite skills to enable you to dive with confidence anywhere on the planet.

Further Dive Courses: As a PADI 5 Star Gold Palm Resort, Garden Island Resort teaches all PADI courses up to Divemaster.

TAVEUNI DIVE SITES

  1. Dakuniba Pass is a 100 foot maximum (30 meters) wall dive where you'll see pelagics such as barracuda, sharks and tuna. There are also some beautiful gorgonian fans at this site which is about 30 minutes by boat from the resort. (Note that this is the most distant dive site that we visit.) It's only done on outgoing tides.
  2. The Zoo, a 20 minute ride, also has its share of big fish including barracuda, reef sharks, bronze whalers, eagle rays and manta rays. It's a wall dive again with a 100 foot (30 meters) maximum depth that is only done on outgoing tides.

  3. The Great White Wall is a legendary dive named because of the unusual soft coral that inhabit the area. Starting at a depth of about 50 feet (15 meters) and continuing to over 200 feet (60 meters), this underwater escarpment is covered with an almost luminescent white coral tinged with lavender. It's only 15 minutes by boat from the Garden Island Resort and is explored at a maximum depth of 100 feet (30 meters). Only dived on incoming tides.

  4. Annie's Bommie has been likened to a coral head that glows like a Christmas tree. Only 65 feet (20 meters) down, it is lined with spectacular multi-colored soft coral that includes all shades of red, purple, violet, blue, yellow and white. The diversity of fish is also extraordinary including wrasse, parrot fish, damsels and a host of other species.

  5. The Corner is located on the same reef as Annie's Bommie and is roughly the same distance from shore (15 minutes) and located at the same depth, 65 feet (20 meters). There is a wonderful variety of multi-colored soft coral. It's called 'The Corner' because it's actually a corner of a large reef. In reality it's an oasis of soft corals and there is often an unbelievable amount of fish life that the diver passes through.
  6. The Ledge, located only 10 minutes from shore and at a depth of 65 feet (20 meters) is one of the most popular dives aside from the Great White Wall. It consists of a pinnacle of coral that rises from a depth of 200 to 250 feet (80 to 90 meters) almost to the surface. It's a magnet for reef fish and pelagics, with lion fish in residence in the overhangs and crevices. There are also outstanding soft corals here as well as a tremendous variety of underwater flora and fauna that makes for good night diving. Another plus is that it's easily accessible and great for photos.

  7. Jerry's Jelly is a series of coral heads covered in every conceivable color of soft coral. It's a favorite of photographers because of the colors, the abundant tropical fish life, and the numerous small caverns and crevasses that mark the reef. It's located 15 minutes away by boat and is at a maximum depth of 65 feet (20 meters).
  8. Blue Ribbon Eel Reef, a 15 minute boat ride and 65 to 85 foot (20 to 25 meters) dive, is done as a drift dive. There are some incredible violet soft corals as well as an amazing density and variety of fish. The main attraction of course is the blue ribbon eel, which measures about the length of a finger but has strikingly vivid bands of blue and yellow. Despite the coloration these eels are hard to find for neophytes but our dive guide can easily point them out.

  9. The Yellow Tunnel is located 10 minutes away by boat and is at a depth of 85 feet (25 meters). It's an astounding display of yellow soft coral on a wall with a vertical swim-through. One actually swims through a chimney-like structure. There is also a wonderful variety of fish here.

  10. The Cabbage Patch is a garden of unusual cabbage-shaped (hard) coral ranging in size from 3 to 15 feet (1 to 5 meters) in diameter. It's not unusual to see cabbage-shaped coral here but why they are here in such abundance is a mystery.