Diving in Beqa Lagoon
Some of the best dive sites in the world! The multi-hued soft corals and an immense variety of marine life are what differentiates South Pacific diving from diving in the Caribbean, and in the crystal clear waters of Beqa Lagoon, you’ll find your dive sites are considered by many to be some of the best dive spots in the world. Soft corals unique to Fiji proliferate here, due to the nutrients in the tides that flow in and out of the lagoon.
You’ll be entranced by our sea life – Angels & Butterflies, Groupers & Coral Cods, Sweetlips & Batfish – all meander in and out of kaleidoscopic colored coral reefs. Schooling barracuda, big-eyed trevally, triggerfish, rays and turtles, and the Great Shark Encounter. Crustaceans big and small – from the tiny sea spiders to the painted spiny lobsters, vibrant crabs to cleaner shrimp, and the elusive and rare blue ribbon eel.
Immerse – In UnderWater Wonders
Beqa Lagoon diving is captivating. Surrounded by one of the world’s largest barrier reefs, it pops up on lists all over – including the top 10 dive destinations in the world and one of the “1,000 Places to See Before You Die.” Surrounded by over 190 miles of hard and soft coral reefs, this amazing living aquarium delights both novice and seasoned divers alike.
Visibility lies between 60-100 feet, with warm tropical water temperatures that vary depending on the season, ranging from 73ºF/23ºC to 83ºF/28ºC. Your expert Dive Team at our own Blue Starfish Dive Centre has led groups from across the globe. We have PADI Dive Masters and Dive Instructors, specialists in many fields – fish identification, underwater photography, nitrox, and more. Combined with Lalati’s intimate size, the Dive Team epitomizes the personalized experience you get on each and every dive trip and two purpose-built, dedicated dive boats offer comfort and safety to our divers
From Mucks to Wrecks
With the encompassing reef, there is an unlimited number of dive sites in Beqa Lagoon, and most areas close to your front door as a quick 5-20 minute boat ride away. A kaleidoscope of soft corals abound. You’ll find amazing biodiversity of colorful reef fish and pelagics – with over 1000 species to enjoy. A huge variety of soft, hard, leather, and whip coral abound as well as multi-colored sponges.
There are 5 wrecks available to Lalati divers, some of which are covered in multicolored soft corals and invertebrates. And for the nudi fans, you’ll love the hundreds of different species, in spectacular colors, that you’ll find.
There are literally hundreds of dive sites in Beqa Lagoon. Here are some of our favorite ones!
The Bistro (a.k.a. The Shark Dive)
Our most requested dive site! Take the ultimate plunge into shark-infested waters where you can see up to 8 different shark species! Whitetip, Blacktip, Silvertip, Grey reef, Nurse, Lemon, Bull, and the queen of them all… Tiger shark! Kneel down at the bottom and watch the feeding! The excitement isn’t just in the sharks, however, as The Bistro also brings large Remora, Giant moray eels, huge Grouper, Giant Trevally, Snappers, and many more participants all forming a massive fishball! After one of the feedings, maybe you’ll swim by an over-turned shipwreck for a quick tour. This dive is a great show you don’t want to miss!
Dive Level: Advanced
Current: Mild to Very Strong
Maximum Depth: 26 m / 85 ft
Travel time: 40 minutes
Million Dollar Point
A site worth its weight in… fish! A beautiful, length of coral with plenty to offer. Start with a few small coral bommies and make your way to the main part of the reef. Scattered soft corals and beautiful hard corals add plenty of colorful views. See a variety of shrimps tucked away in the cut-ins as well as eels and octopus. Along the top, you will see loads of reef fish darting around from small groups to huge schools. Whether you stay near the small bommies or head straight to the lengthy section of the reef, you’ll be sure to get your fish worth!
Dive Level: Intermediate
Current: Mild to Strong
Maximum Depth: 30 m / 100 ft
Travel Time: 20 minutes
Juvenile Box
I think it’s playtime! Numerous scattered coral bommies lie at shallow depths spread over a large distance. Zigzag your way through the site and see a variety of creatures from Napoleon wrasse, Trumpetfish, and playful Turtles. Plenty of bits to look under and see what’s hiding below, with a plethora of beautiful hard corals! Move along one side of the scattered bommies or weave your way around them thought. An all-around, relaxing, and gorgeous dive site, this place reminds you
why you love to dive!
Dive Level: Beginner
Current: Mild to Medium
Maximum Depth: 20 m / 65 ft
Travel Time: 30 minutes
Circus
Come one! Come all! One of the staff favorites, this dive site can be magical! Make your way around a large coral bommie (the Circus tent) and see all! Black ribbon eel, a variety of Nudibranch, Lionfish, Pufferfish, Octopus, Turtles, and resident White tip reef sharks! Smaller, neighboring bommies draw you out where you might see schools of pelagic fish swimming out in the blue. Giant sea fans and beautiful, scattered soft corals crowd the top of the coral, with a large patch of Anemones that appear to “glow” bright red and pink! If you look closely near the top, you might be able to spot two Scorpion leaf fish! You won’t want to leave the tent!
Diver Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Current: Mild to Strong
Maximum Depth: 25 m / 82 ft
Travel Time: 30 minutes
Best of the Best
It can’t get much better. Spiral your way around this gorgeous bommie and seen plenty! Shrimps, Nudibranch, Octopus, and Blue ribbon eel. Large sea fans amongst colorful hard corals make for great photos. Around the deep end, look out for pelagic passerby; Trevally, Marble Rays, Barracuda, Whitetips, Blacktips, and even the Tiger shark has made a swim by before! As you near the top, a large swim-through is filled with soft coral beauty! The top of the bommie lies at perfect safety stop depth where you’ll be entertained by hundreds of small, colorful reef fish. Definitely a staff favorite!
Diver Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Current: Mild to Very Strong
Maximum Depth: 25 m / 82 ft
Travel Time: 20 minutes
Carpet Cove Reef & Wreck
The site so nice we dive it twice! Always a staff pick, this site never disappoints! Enjoy two dives at Carpet Cove; first to the wreck, second on the reef. Dive in and make a 5-minute swim out to the deep where a 45-meter long fishing trawler rests upright. See how the sea has gotten revenge and covered the wreck with beautiful, colorful corals. Look in every nook and cranny and see many different\ Nudibranch species as well as shrimps and Scorpionfish. On your second tank, spend time around the reef with scattered coral bommies covered with fish! Lionfish, Eels, big schools of Fusiliers, Octopus, Blue-Spotted, Stingrays, Turtles, and Whitetip shark call this place home.
Diver Level: Beginner to Advanced
Current: Mild to Very Strong
Maximum Depth: 30+ m / 100+ ft
Travel Time: 25 minutes
Glory Hole
It really is quite glorious! This beautiful dive site likes to show off the sea’s beauty. Descend down to a lovely shallow area with great coral formations hosting a variety of Nudibranch, Flatworms, Shrimp, and Crab. Be prepared, as you may see some macro critters you have never seen before. Beautiful coral cut-ins house beautiful Sea fans and colorful Soft corals. Make your way around a high pinnacle while you keep an eye out in the blue for pelagic life. You’ll wish your safety stop were longer as you hover at the top of the main bommie and watch
numerous, small reef fish dancing in the currents. Just along the side is a little swim-through that makes for amazing photos! Soft corals line the inside, and huge Lionfish hover about. You’ll see why it’s one of our favorites!
Diver Level: Intermediate
Current: Mild to Heavy
Maximum Depth: 25 m / 82 ft
Travel Time: 20 minutes
Three Virgins
The ladies of the deep! Down in the deep blue await three beautiful pinnacles full of life! As you make your way around the site you’ll stop for a visit and “flirt” with each lady. Whip corals, Bush corals, and scattered Soft corals wrap around the bases, with healthy, beautiful hard corals closer to the top. The base of the pinnacles has a spacious, flat bottom with sprouts of Tube corals. Keep a lookout into the blue as well as to the deep bottom for pelagic fish and resting sharks. Whichever pinnacle you choose to spend most of your time with, you won’t be disappointed in the beauty!
Diver Level: Intermediate
Current: Mild to Strong
Maximum Depth: 30m / 100 ft
Travel Time: 25 minutes
Seven Brothers
The good ol’ boys’ club! Maybe you’ll see them all, maybe you won’t, but you’ll definitely want to take your time through this dive site. Seven distinct bommies lie one after the next with depth on one side and shallows on the other. Choose your path of going along one side or peeking in between to see what awaits you. Turtles, Fusiliers, Napoleon wrasse, giant pufferfish, Octopus, and plenty of hiding Shrimps and Nudibranch love to hang out with these seven boys. On the deeper side, you might see some White tip and Blacktip reef sharks pass by to check out the party!
Diver Level: Intermediate
Current: Mild to Strong
Maximum Depth: 25 m / 82 ft
Travel Time: 25 minutes
Nudibranch City
Why not visit and paint the town red?… and blue…and pink… and… Colorful, scattered bommies make up this city to give you a gorgeous dive spot. Nudis run the city, but there are many more critters to see! Turtles, Octopus, Red-tooth triggerfish, Clown triggerfish, and Fusiliers conjure up here to shop around. Head to the deeper area and just “outside of town” you may see numerous Titan and Yellow-Margin triggerfish swimming about and possibly nesting. Rest near the mooring for your safety stops and get your eyes full of beautiful hard coral gardens. A great site for all types of divers!
Diver Level: Beginner
Current: Mild to Medium
Maximum Depth: 25 m / 82 ft
Travel Time: 20 minutes
Frigates Wall
The type of wall you definitely want to stare at! The longer journey for this spot is always worth the time! Head to the outer reef on the southwest corner and be on the edge of the deep, deep blue! Once there, you’ll take the plunge for your first of two drift dives along Frigates. However, don’t let the name fool you; the outer reef is shaped like a row of open hands. You’ll move in and out, around, and even though all of the “fingers” of the reef. Amazing reef formations and
fantastic visibility make it difficult for you to decide where to focus your attention. See Blue Dragon Nudibranch, Golden Cowries, Moray eels, large schools of Parrotfish, and perhaps some White tip sharks or Sting rays passing by. Go on the journey and you’ll agree why it’s a staff pick! The topography here cannot be beaten!
Diver Level: Intermediate
Current: Mild to Medium (Drift Dive)
Maximum Depth: 30+m / 100+ ft
Travel Time: 1hr+
**This dive site has a 250FJD fuel surcharge split between all divers/snorkelers on the boat. Because of the lengthy travel time, lunch will be provided on the boat.
Joe’s Rock
Too much kava can lead to a good thing. On the leeward side of Beqa rests one of our favorite dive spots – a small, but amazingly gorgeous pinnacle! Start out at the bottom with a little muck diving as you hunt for Electric Fire Clams, Nudibranch, Octopus, and Scorpion fish. As you spiral your way up, your breath will be taken away with the numerous yellow soft corals that line the pinnacle. Closer to the top, you’ll be surrounded by reef fish; Moon wrasse, Yellowtail fusiliers, Neon fusiliers, and Glassfish dart all about and you can even spy tiny lobsters in the reef holes. You’ll be amazed at how complex the layout of this little “rock” is. Slices, holes, and overhangs make the top a picturesque site! (Don’t forget to ask your guide for the story behind the name.)
Diver Level: Beginner
Current: Mild to Heavy
Maximum Depth: 19 m / 62 ft
Travel Time: 20 minutes
Bobcat Canyon
Here, Kitty, Kitty! Just on the eastern side of Beqa there sits an area of the outer reef that will leave you mesmerized! This beautiful hard coral dive site has rows of long coral bommies that form amazing canyon-esque formations. Swim around or zigzag your way through each little canyon. Keep an eye out for Whitetips, Turtles, and pelagic fish as well as big schools of Fusiliers. As you make your way into the shallows, the hard corals will pop with life and color! If the sea is feeling generous, you may even see a passing Manta-Ray… you just never know!
Diver Level: Beginner-Intermediate
Current: Mild to Medium
Maximum Depth: 25 m / 82 ft
Travel Time: 30 minutes
Blue Wall
Sometimes it’s good to feel a little blue. Join us at one of our favorite sites! Just on the outer reef to the east, there exists a solid wall of gorgeous hard coral. Here the visibility can be like a swimming pool and you can see from the top of the wall (5 to 10 meters below the surface) all the way to the bottom which goes down to 30 meters and below. Look up and you’ll see Unicornfish and Surgeonfish that like to swim in your bubbles. Look down, and you might see Blacktips and White tips doing swim-bys along the wall… back and forth… and back… and forth… and back…
Diver Level: Intermediate
Current: Mild to Medium (Drift Dive)
Maximum Depth: 30+ m / 100+ ft
Travel Time: 15 minutes
House Reef
Welcome home, Muck Divers! This is just the spot for macro lovers with the desire to explore! Walk out to our shallow reef off shore and who knows what you’ll find; scattered polyps with Squat anemone shrimp swinging their bums up and down, Banded sea snakes tunneling into the sandy bottom, or hiding Nudibranchs. If you move stealthy, you can catch different Gobies just outside of their hiding places before they dart back in. Spend time heading north along the house reef, hang out under the jetty, or head to the south and see our house wreck: a small, old plow! Muck Diving is definitely like a box of chocolates!
Diver Level: Beginner
Current: None to Mild
Maximum Depth: 20 m / 65 ft
Travel Time: How fast do you walk?