Lying in the crystal waters of the South Pacific, Fiji is the ultimate dive destination. For the nervous beginner to the confidant professional, Fiji has it all. Teaming with life from the smallest nudibranch all the way up the food chain to the impressive Tiger Shark and everything in between. Fiji will take your breath away.
Diving is year round with water temperatures ranging from 24°C from June to September a 3mm or 5mm wetsuit is sufficient. November to April tends to be hotter with temperatures up to 30°C where a rash vest, bikini and shorts are all you need.
With many dive sites located around the islands here are 5 dive sites you must get in your log book.
Beqa Lagoon
Titled the “Best Shark Dive in the world” by Dive Magazine and featured on the BBCs South Pacific series Beqa Lagoon shark dive is the number 1 dive experience not only in Fiji but the world. With the chance to witness up to 8 different species of sharks including the Bull shark and the odd Tiger shark.
Of course sharks aren’t the only marine life you get the chance to see. Teaming with over 400 species of fish including Giant Trivially, Māori Wrasse and Giant Groupers you won’t know where to look next.
This dive site is situated in a designated protected Marine Park and Shark Reef Marine Reserve. Making it the first one in the waters of Fiji! The recommended dive operation to do this experience with is Beqa Adventure Divers. They are the original shark dive specialists, with a friendly and professional team who work with locals and are entrusted to the day to day management of the marine park.
The morning involves two dives, both of which take place in Beqa Passage. Only a 20 minute boat ride away the first dive takes place at 30m for the first 17minutes of the dive. Here is where you will see the Bull sharks feeding. The second part of the dive takes place in the shallows where the smaller sharks hang out. Total dive time is 45minutes. After an hours surface interval on the boat it’s time to drop down for the second dive. This takes place at 16m for 35minutes. Again another chance to see these Bull Sharks feed along with other shark species. If you are having a very lucky day a Tiger shark may appear from the blue and show the Bulls who the real boss on the reef is.
Diver level: Advanced with 30+ logged dives with at least 5 deep dives (30m/100ft)
Ningali Passage
A small break in the barrier reef of Gau island. Ningali Passage has a mild to strong current. Somewhere to witness Grey Reef sharks cruising the currents along with pelagic species. Giant groupers, barracudas and sea snakes are some of the life that travel using the currents.
With a ledge at 20m you can sit comfortable, tucked out of the current and take in all the sites. For the rest of the dive you can simply drift up to the shallow part of the channel into the lagoon.
For the best visibility it is best to dive 1.5 hour before high tide and 1.5 hours after. The Aggressor Fleet is a top live-aboard that travels between the Fijian islands. Ningali passage is one of the dive sites on the week long itinerary.
Diver level: Advanced
E6 Bligh Waters
Fiji is known as the “coral capital of the world” and for good reason. The array of colours that hide underneath the turquoise surface will blow away. With this pinnacle starting from 1m and dropping down to the depths of over 900m, it is a feast for the eyes with the abundance of soft and hard coral with something for all level of divers. To get the chance to dive this spectacular coral wonder, a trip on the Siren Fleet will take you directly to site.
Diver level: All levels
The Mamanuca Islands
These beautiful islands offer easy access to many stunning dives sites. If you don’t have your sea legs and prefer to have base on a tropical island the Mamanuca islands are host to many resorts. Subsurface Fiji are a dive operation that will pick up divers from 11 different resorts around the islands and take you to the many dive sites from a 2 minute to 30 minute boat ride.
Diver level: All levels
Manta Reef @ Kadavu Island
The fourth largest barrier reef in the world, The Great Astrolabe stretches along the island of Kadavu. One of the favourites is Manta Reef. It is well worth the 40 minute boat ride to jump in at this feeding/ cleaning station to see the majestic Manta ray. There is even the chance to encounter the occasional Great Hammerhead shark. This site is becoming renowned throughout the diving world. Matava resort is not only a great place to stay but offers trips to the reef and this is their signature site.
Diver level: All levels
