Fiji is known for its palm-fringed beaches, lush rainforests, and cascading waterfalls, yet its spectacular underwater world makes it a prime place to travel on a tropical vacation. Diving is becoming increasingly popular in Fiji, so much so that the island nation is now known as the Soft Coral Capital of the World. Here, novice and expert divers can explore nutrient-rich waters alive with colourful sea life. Around 1,000 species of fish and several hundred types of coral live off the sparkling shores of Fiji, attracting Grey Reef sharks, manta rays, five species of turtles, and a multitude of colourful fish that you can swim with.
Fiji offers year-round diving with good visibility and a range of accommodations to suit any budget. Go diving and stay in a stunning 5-star resort or a moderate guesthouse, or experience a liveaboard (a boat that provides overnight accommodation and dive instructors). You’ll submerge yourself in an unforgettable aquatic adventure. Here are the best places to go diving on your Fiji vacation.
1. Koro Sea, Bligh Water
Named after the famous Captain Bligh of The Bounty, the Bligh Waters are a stretch of sea that separates Fiji’s two main islands of Vanua Levu and Viti Levu. This is a popular area to dive via a liveaboard. A liveaboard can move between the islands, allowing you to spot schooling barracuda, hammerhead sharks, and eagle rays as you enter The Cathedral – an awesome swim-through with light filtering down from above.
2. Kadavu Island
Kadavu is one of the less visited islands of Fiji, precisely why you should go there. You can explore an amazing coral reef approximately 62 mi (100 km) long, making it the fourth largest barrier reef in the world, with easy access. Kadavu is home to the Great Astrolabe Reef, which features several underwater passages, submerged pinnacles, and manta ray cleaning stations. It’s a bit off the beaten path, and there are no major resort chains here, so you’ll get a more authentic Fijian feel. Many of the bays nestled along the Kadavu Island coastline are also perfect for sea-kayaking, swimming, and snorkelling.
3. Taveuni
Taveuni is known as the Garden Island, and the place is an eco-tourist’s dream. The world-famous Somosomo Strait, Great White Wall, and Rainbow Reef attract divers from across the globe with their dazzling corals and diverse marine life. Dotted around the island’s perimeter are black-sand beaches. Nearby islands of Laucala, Matagi, and Qamea have stunning white beaches and luxury resorts, a perfect base for your Fiji vacation.
4. Viti Levu – Beqa Lagoon
The main island Viti Levu’s dive sites are the easiest to access when you arrive in Fiji and are privy to a truly awesome shark-feeding dive for experienced scuba divers and thrill seekers. Viti Levu’s fabulous resorts are only an hour or two’s drive from the hub city of Nadi, whether you travel to the north coast area of Rakiraki or the south coast’s Pacific Harbour.
The world-renowned Beqa Lagoon offers some spectacular resort diving. The Beqa Lagoon has an awe-inspiring variety of marine life and is a popular location for less experienced divers and those with fewer vacation days. Here, you can go shark diving with over 100 dive sites, including walls, wrecks, and bommies (pinnacles). Most Fiji resorts here offer diving as an excursion you can book locally.
Happy diving!
What do the experts say?
For first-time visitors, I suggest splitting their stay to experience a few nights at a resort along the Coral Coast, where they could experience a visit to a local village, then end their trip at one of the islands in the Mamanucas to experience some different beaches and activities. For returning visitors, I recommend exploring a different group of islands, such as heading to one of the Northern Islands, which is a short flight from Nadi.
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