Fiji Scuba Diving Holidays

Fiji scuba diving holidays are amongst the best in the world with thousands of dive sites, dive operators at most resorts, dedicated dive resorts with all the latest equipment and instruction, and several excellent live aboard dive charters to explore the unexplored reefs of the outer islands. Highlights include a fantastic variety of colourful soft corals, over 1200 species of fish, 12 species of whales and dolphins, lots of specialist scuba diving resorts and live aboard dive charters as well as excellent snorkelling off the beach. Fiji dive sites offer good variety and easy access.

Over 400 species of corals, sea walls and drops
Fantastic marine life including bull sharks, turtles, rays and exotic schools of fish

Advanced drift dives and some wreck dives
The Astrolabe Reef - Kadavu, Southern Islands
Rainbow Reef between Taveuni and Vanua Levu, Northern Islands
Beautifully warm seas all year round (26c - 31c)

Scuba Diving Practicalities

Throughout the islands, coral reefs are accessible either directly from the beach (ideal for beginners and non-dive partners to enjoy snorkelling) or for the more specific sights, just a short boat ride away. Most resorts in Fiji offer PADI dive courses, starting from the comfort of the resort swimming pool but quickly moving into the wonders of shallow coral seas.

Many of the dive operations will be independent companies operating from the premises of the resort. The majority are active members of the Fiji Dive Operators Association and agree to be bound by the Association's code of practice and thereby support the Fiji Recompression Chamber Facility. In cases of diving emergencies, divers will be taken by sea, road or air for re-compression treatment. Charges vary according to circumstances so it is best to have adequate insurance cover. At some of the smaller budget resorts cowboys do exist, so choose carefully and if you're a beginner, don't jump to the chance of diving without proper PADI certified instruction.

Certified PADI dive prices for a two-tank dive start from around the F$150 mark and an open-water course with 4 dives start from F$700.

PLEASE NOTE - No dive can be undertaken 24 hours prior to flying (local or international flights).

Fiji's Top Dive Sites

There are so many wonderful dive sites in Fiji that it's difficult to know where to begin.The best known coral reefs in Fiji are the Rainbow Reef between Vanua Levu and Taveuni (best access from Taveuni resorts); and the Astrolabe Reef which wraps itself around the east side of Kadavu. These are both big reefs with numerous dive sites and are have excellent drop-offs and drift dives for advanced divers, as well as stunning soft corals for the which can be enjoyed by all, even beginners.

The only problem faced by dive novices or casual holiday-divers in these specific dive-orientated resorts is that you may feel over-powered being surrounded by dive fanatics; and if there are only one or two novices, you may have to accompany these advanced divers on dive excursions and miss out on sites more geared to your level. For this reason, holiday-divers are often better catered for in the Mamanuca Islands and Yasawa Islands. That's not to say the dive sites here are inferior. There are in fact some very good coral reefs, drop-off's, drift dives, wrecks and shark encounters to enjoy in these waters too and it is probably as good a place as anywhere in Fiji to see dolphins and turtle.

If you're wanting to dive nutrient rich passages which attract the big pelagics: bull sharks, tiger sharks, tuna, barracuda and Trevally often in great numbers, then the passages north and south of Viti Levu are the places to head: namely Nananu-i-Ra island / off Savusavu in the north; and Beqa Lagoon in the south.

The following are what we consider the best ten Fiji dive resorts for experienced scuba divers:

Best Dive Resorts in the Fiji Islands
Resort Name (click for details & pix)	Picture	Summary (hotel style)	Hotel Rate (F$)	Our Best Rate (click for quotation)
Koro Makawa Resort Kadavu Island		1 rooms Beach Resort	$ 890
Matangi Island Resort Off Taveuni Island		14 rooms Island Resort	$ 800 - 1,400
Toberua Island Resort Off Ovalau Island		15 rooms Island Resort	$ 648 - 996
Paradise Taveuni Taveuni Island		12 rooms Ocean Resort	$ 700 - 760
Koro Sun Resort Savusavu, Vanua Levu		18 rooms Ocean Resort	$ 670 - 1,200
Lalati Resort Beqa Island		8 rooms Beach Resort	$ 610 - 1,140
Garden Island Resort Taveuni Island		30 rooms Ocean Resort	$ 439 - 763
Matava Resort Kadavu Island		10 rooms Ocean Resort	$ 420 - 540
Waidroka Bay Resort Coral Coast, Viti Levu		18 rooms Ocean Resort	$ 250 - 395
Papageno Resort Kadavu Island		15 rooms Beach Resort	$ 235 - 355

Viti Levu

The majority of Viti is not great for scuba diving although there are two spots with some of the most sought after dives in Fiji.

The famous shark feed at Beqa Lagoon offers close encounters with many species of sharks including bull sharks and tigers - it's located an hour boat ride from Pacific Harbour with daily departures.

Off the north coast of Viti Levu, is the Vatu-i-Ra passage with some of the most extensive dive sites in the islands - many reefs here are still undiscovered. There is limited accomodation in this region with only a small cluster of hotels around Rakiraki & on Nananu-i-Ra Island, mostly for budget travellers.

Resorts in Viti Levu Recommended for Scuba Diving Holidays
Resort Name (click for details & pix)	Picture	Summary (hotel style)	Hotel Rate (F$)	Our Best Rate (click for quotation)
Sonaisali Island Nadi South		123 rooms Island Resort	$ 620 - 914
Pearl South Pacific Pacific Harbour		78 rooms Beach Resort	$ 401 - 848
First Landing Resort Vuda Point, Nadi		32 rooms Beach Resort	$ 385 - 540
Waidroka Bay Resort Coral Coast, Viti Levu		18 rooms Ocean Resort	$ 250 - 395
Uprising Resort Pacific Harbour		24 rooms Beach Resort	$ 235- 375 Dorm - $ 45
Mango Bay Resort Coral Coast, Viti Levu		24 rooms Beach Resort	$ 200 - 280 Dorm - $ 36
Anchorage Resort Vuda Point, Nadi		39 rooms Beach Resort	$ 198 - 358
Betham's Cottages Nananu-i-Ra Island		8 rooms Beach Resort	$ 100 - 160 Dorm - $ 30
Seashell at Momi Momi Bay, Nadi South		30 rooms Ocean Resort	$ 93 - 224 Dorm - $ 32

 

Beqa Lagoon

Beqa Lagoon is a great dive destination renowned for its soft corals and pelagics. On the northern end of the lagoon is the famous shark dive, accessible by boat from Pacific Harbour on the main island of Viti Levu (approx 1 hour boat time).

Resorts in Beqa /  Pacific Harbour for Scuba Diving Holidays
Resort Name (click for details & pix)	Picture	Summary (hotel style)	Hotel Rate (F$)	Our Best Rate (click for quotation)
Lalati Resort Beqa Island		8 rooms Beach Resort	$ 610 - 1,140
Pearl South Pacific Pacific Harbour		78 rooms Beach Resort	$ 401 - 848

Kadavu

World famous Astrolabe Reef on Kadavu in the Southern Islands (45 minutes flight from Nadi) has excellent hard and soft corals and excellent marine life. More soft corals along the north and south coast with some excellent caves and deep drop-off's on the western tip of Kadavu. Good all-round diving centre but south-easterly tradewinds can make diving difficult at times. On calm days, visibility up to 150 metres. Beqa Lagoon to the north of Kadavu includes numerous soft corals, reef bommies and passages. Small secluded dive resorts accessible only by boat. Lush rainforest and tropical beaches. Humid and wet at times. Very traditional Fijian lifestyle and culture.

Resorts in Kadavu Recommended for Scuba Diving Holidays
Resort Name (click for details & pix)	Picture	Summary (hotel style)	Hotel Rate (F$)	Our Best Rate (click for quotation)
Koro Makawa Resort Kadavu Island		1 rooms Beach Resort	$ 890
Matava Resort Kadavu Island		10 rooms Ocean Resort	$ 420 - 540
Papageno Resort Kadavu Island		15 rooms Beach Resort	$ 235 - 355

Ovalau Region

Two separate barrier reefs between Viti Levu and Vanua Levu in the north east of Fiji are assessable from Nananu-i-Ra and the Lomaiviti Group. Rich area fed by tradewind currents with excellent marine life including Manta Rays and hammerheads as well as bommies and pinnacles in the lagoons. A handful of small island resorts, some luxurious. Also accessible by charter dive boats that explore some of the unexplored areas of these huge reefs including the up-and-coming E6 reef. Shipwrecks can be explored around the old Colonial capital of Levuka on Ovalau.

Resorts in Ovalau Recommended for Scuba Diving Holidays
Resort Name (click for details & pix)	Picture	Summary (hotel style)	Hotel Rate (F$)	Our Best Rate (click for quotation)
Toberua Island Resort Off Ovalau Island		15 rooms Island Resort	$ 648 - 996
Naigani Island Resort Off Ovalau Island		16 rooms Beach Resort	$ 220 - 385
Caqalai Island Resort Off Ovalau Island		12 rooms Island Resort	$ 110 Dorm - $ 35

Vanua Levu & Taveuni

World famous Rainbow Reef in Northern Islands (1 hour 20 minutes flight to Taveuni lies between Taveuni and Vanua Levu and has lots of scuba diving experiences including the Great White Wall (all white soft corals) and advanced drift diving through channels. Numerous smaller reefs around Vanua Levu, Taveuni, Qamea, Laucala and Matangi Islands with abundance of soft and hard corals and excellent marine life. There are excellent drift dives and corals around Namena Island off Savusavu Town where several dive operators are based. The Northern Islands have been developed for Eco-tourism as well as diving and the regions outstanding mountains, rainforests and waterfalls are all relatively accessible with tours and trails to the major attractions. These islands can be humid and wet at times.

Resorts in Text recommended for Scuba Diving Holidays
Resort Name (click for details & pix)	Picture	Summary (hotel style)	Hotel Rate (F$)	Our Best Rate (click for quotation)
Matangi Island Resort Off Taveuni Island		14 rooms Island Resort	$ 800 - 1,400
Qamea Resort & Spa Off Taveuni Island		18 rooms Beach Resort	$ 700 - 1,200
Paradise Taveuni Taveuni Island		12 rooms Ocean Resort	$ 700 - 760
Koro Sun Resort Savusavu, Vanua Levu		18 rooms Ocean Resort	$ 670 - 1,200
Garden Island Resort Taveuni Island		30 rooms Ocean Resort	$ 439 - 763
Naveria Heights Savusavu, Vanua Levu		3 rooms Town B&B	$ 240 - 410
Savusavu Hotel Savusavu, Vanua Levu		54 rooms Beach Resort	$ 135 - 215
Bibi Hideaway Taveuni Island		6 rooms Lodge	$ 86 - 118

Mamanuca Islands

Rich nutrients carried by strong south-easterly currents feed the Malolo Barrier Reef, a ten mile long system along the south-eastern side of the group which extends to Castaway Passage. This nutrient flows create the best setting for marine life in the western side of Fiji with over 400 species of colourful reef fish as well as dolphins, sharks and turtles. Hard and soft corals, fans, caves and pinnacles set as the backdrop. Unfortunately, such is the popularity of the Mamanucas and resort-diving that many divers are either novices or recreation divers and some have little consideration for the protection of the reef or the marine environment. Shark and fish feeding is common to make the dives more appealing, look but don’t touch practice is often overlooked and the popular dive sites can be overcrowded. For a more peaceful environment, dive the Outer Reef around the islands of Tokoriki, Monuriki and Vomo where large pelagics are common and some unusual sites make diving for beginners and experienced divers a more fulfilling experience.

The compact nature of the group means that all dive sites are accessible from all resorts but even so, the further out you are, the better the dive quality and expereince.

Resorts in Mamanuca Islands Recommended for Scuba Diving Holidays
Resort Name (click for details & pix)	Picture	Summary (hotel style)	Hotel Rate (F$)	Our Best Rate (click for quotation)
Vomo Island Resort Mamanuca Islands		12 rooms Island Resort	$ 1,850 - 2,450
Tokoriki Island Resort Mamanuca Islands		29 rooms Beach Resort	$ 1,135 - 1,595
Castaway Beach Resort Mamanuca Islands		65 rooms Island Resort	$ 1,077 - 1,377
Lomani Island Resort Mamanuca Islands		22 rooms Beach Resort	$ 705 - 950
Musket Cove Resort Mamanuca Islands		45 rooms Beach Resort	$ 596 - 859
Matamanoa Island Mamanuca Islands		33 rooms Island Resort	$ 495 - 795
Mana Island Resort Mamanuca Islands		150 rooms Beach Resort	$ 432 - 1,020
Bounty Island Resort Mamanuca Islands		16 rooms Island Resort	$ 348 - 431 Dorm - $ 77
Beachcomber Island Mamanuca Islands		40 rooms Island Resort	$ 205 - 378 Dorm - $ 36
Ratu Kini's Mamanuca Islands		10 rooms Beach Hostel	$ 202 - 325 Dorm - $ 42

Yasawa Islands

Although the Yasawas have fantastic snorkelling lagoons, scuba diving is rather more limited. more so because there are fewer dive operators in this region. There are good diving reefs and great caves to explore off Kuata Island in the Southern Yasawas and a number of coral reefs around Nanuya Island in the Northern Yasawas.

Resorts in Yasawa Islands Recommended for Scuba Diving Holidays
Resort Name (click for details & pix)	Picture	Summary (hotel style)	Hotel Rate (F$)	Our Best Rate (click for quotation)
Yasawa Island Resort Northern Yasawas		17 rooms Beach Resort	$ 2,019 +
Captain Cook Cruises Cruise - Yasawa Islands		Cabin Cruise	$ 918
Octopus Resort Southern Yasawas		24 rooms Beach Resort	$ 179 - 824 Dorm - $ 40
Blue Lagoon Resort Northern Yasawas		14 rooms Beach Resort	$ 179 - 569 Dorm - $ 45
Manta Ray Resort Central Yasawas		16 rooms Beach Huts	$ 145 - 275 Dorm - $ 50