Other than at Tokoriki, where do you like diving in Fiji?
Let me start by saying straight away, that if you are after uncomplicated but still lovely dive sites, flexible dive schedules, small groups and a friendly uncompetitive dive atmosphere, all set in the most beautiful of locations then you’ve found us!
However it is also great to venture elsewhere to explore other dive locations in Fiji. We’ve dived in many locations in Fiji - the northern Yasawas, all around the Mamanuca islands from Tavarua to the Sacred islands, in the Lomaiviti Group, Taveuni, Vanua Levu, The Great Sea Reef and around Namena Island. We’ve also dived extensively in the Bligh waters and done the Beqa Shark Dive. The only area of Fiji we are still absolutely itching to explore is Kadavu Island to see manta rays without the crowds!
It is impossible to say where our favourite or the best diving is, but listed below are some of our favourite reefs outside of those at Tokoriki which we adore.
Before I share a few of my favourite dive sites, please know that operators change in time, as does the quality of each reef. We therefore suggest that you do your own homework regarding where to stay based on current reviews.
Grand Central Station: accessible from a liveaboard or from Vanua Levu - although it’s quite a long way out. It is a world class dive site in it’s truest sense, located in the Namena Marine Reserve in Fiji. It is a high energy, current swept dive known for its big-animal potential and in large numbers. We saw Grey reefs, Silky Sharks, Whitetips, a Greater Hammerhead, massive schools of big eye trevally, chevron barracuda, tuna, snapper, red bass and fusiliers. On the reef top vibrant soft corals and rich reef micro life including blue garden eels.
Advanced Diving.
Nigali Passage: accessible from a liveaboard - just offshore from Gau Island in the Lomaiviti group. It is a fast pace drift dive and deep. Strong tidal currents can exceed 4 knots, timing the dive right is essential. The passage is famous for its large resident school of grey reefs, hammerheads and whitetip reef sharks. Large groups of trevally and barracuda. Beautiful corals line the passage. Manta Rays are frequently seen at Nigali, although we didn’t see any.
Black Magic Mountain: A world famous dive site in the Vatu-i-Ra passage within Bligh water. Best accessed from Volivoli Beach Resort. The mountain is a pinnacle topping just 5 metres from the surface to around 26 metres at its deepest depth. The mountain is smothered with soft corals and small fish life.
Easy/Intermediate Diving.
E-6: A world famous dive site in the Vatu-i-Ra passage best dived from Volivoli Beach Resort with Ra Divers. It is a massive standalone open ocean sea mount which at its shallowest is a metre from the surface, but then plunges down to over 900 m. The site features a massive swim shoe shaped swim through known as The Cathedral. It’s walls are lined with massive gorgonian sea fans and soft corals. The summit of the mount is smothered in hard corals.
Advanced Diving.
Beqa Shark ‘feeding’ Dive: Bull Sharks, Tiger Sharks, Grey Reef Sharks, White-tips, Black Tips, GTs, Snappers, Groupers and more. This is a shark feeding dive not for the faint hearted. We did our dive with Brandon Paige the founder of the dive with AquaTrek, based at the Pearl at Pacific Harbour. Since then other operators offer Shark Dives around Fiji including Beqa Adventure Divers and Beqa Island Resort. In the Yasawa Islands, Barefoot Kuata run a similar Shark Feeding Dive Program.
Intermediate/Advanced Diving.
The Great White Wall: Perhaps the most famous of all of Fiji’s dives and situated on Fiji’s Rainbow Reef - accessible from Taveuni, Vanua Levu, Laucala and Qamea Islands. Imagine a steep wall smothered in luminescent ice-white soft corals. Current swept.
Intermediate/Advanced Diving.