A world famous holiday destination popular for it’s pristine beaches, clear blue waters and wealth of marine life, it’s no big surprise that FIJI also a top class scuba diving destination. For those of you who have heard the name Fiji but can’t quite place it on a map, the Fijian Islands are situated in the Southern Pacific Ocean, north-east of New Zealand and alongside Vanuatu. It is THE destination for a dive trip of a lifetime.
Dubbed the ‘soft coral capital of world’, Fiji is home to some of the planet’s prettiest, healthiest and most colorful soft coral you can find. But that’s not all these crystal clear waters hold. The 300+ islands and atolls are entwined in a complex system of barrier reefs so vast that an entire lifetime would not be enough to see them all. With about 1000 species of fish, several hundred types of corals and sponges, an infinite array of crustaceans, mollusks, anemones, worms and other invertebrates, the shallow coral gardens and the deep sloping shelf reveal something different and spectacular on every single dive. Although more prominent for it’s coral reefs, in recent times cave divers have discovered some intricate underwater cave systems. Ship wrecks too can be found in some regions which make for great dive sites with a historical twist. Of all the dive destinations out there, Fiji is truly a divers paradise both above water and below.
The most notable Islands and areas to dive while in Fiji include:
Mamanucas
The closest destination to the international airport and just a short plane ride or ferry ride away, these islands have a huge barrier reef encircling them which creates a protected shallow lagoon with plenty of dive sites. The Mamanuca dive sites can easily be accessed by boat (20 mins or so) from the Nadi area on the main island of Viti Levu. The dive sites include ‘Gotham City’ on the outer barrier reef; ‘Namotu Wall’ that drops off to a 1000 meter plunge into the depths of the Pacific and displaying prolific marine life including reef sharks, barracuda and the likes; ‘The Big W’ is on the edge of the abyss which provides big fish action and frequent sighting of Manta rays, whale sharks and ocean going sharks; ‘Wilky Wall’ a drift diving site with plenty of pelagics and ‘Castaway Passage’ is a break in the barrier reef allowing large volumes of ocean water into the lagoon and lots of marine life with it including rays and unexpected pelagics like marlin and yellow fin tuna.
Beqa Lagoon
Just south of Viti Levu and Suva lies Beqa Island, one of the most popular of Fiji’s scuba destinations for those seeking to avoid a domestic flight. This region offers a variety of different diving experiences that you can undertake, depending on your level of experience. You can expect pinnacles, plenty of soft corals and even wreck dives. Rated one of the best lagoons in the South Pacific, the dive sites at Beqa include sites like ‘Side Streets’, ‘Caesar’s Rocks’, ‘Tasu Number 2’, and ‘Carpet Cove’ which offer an abundance of brightly colored soft coral and a range of marine life which includes shark encounters at some sites.
