Types of Diving available in Fiji

Diving at Blue Lagoon Beach Resort is excellent (Courtesy of Management)

With around 1000 species of fish and several hundred types of coral and sponges, Fiji offers a unique diving experience. With adrenaline-pumping shark dives where you come face to face with grey reef sharks, Silvertips, and Hammerheads, to a slightly slower pace between May and October each year, the islands are blessed with the arrival of the Giant Manta Rays – one of the largest fish in the ocean.

Fiji is also home to five species of turtles, the most famous being the Hawksbill Turtle, which is now a protected species. Many of the resorts listed below, now have conservation programs to look after these precious locals.

With over 4000 square miles of coral reef, Fiji Islands offer divers unparalleled marine biodiversity.

Shark Diving in Fiji

If you feel like going beyond the beautiful reef dives venture into reef passages and experience an adrenaline-pumping dive adventure of a lifetime, by swimming alongside several different types of sharks ranging from Bull Sharks | Lemon Sharks | Grey Reefs Sharkl | Blacktip Reef Sharks | Tawny Nurses Shark | Tiger Sharks | Whitetip Sharks | Silvertips Sharks | Hammerhead Sharks.

Manta Ray Seasonal Diving

Manta Ray Seasonal Diving in Fiji – Kokomo Private Island Fiji

If you’re looking for an amazing experience at a slightly slower pace, you can swim with the giant Majestic Manta Ray. Between May and October each year, these elegant creatures bless the waters off Fiji with a visit, Manta Rays are one of the largest fish in the ocean, some span as big as 6.5metres. Manta rays FAQ

The resorts that offer Manta Ray Dives are as follows – Mantaray Island Resort, Barefoot Manta Island Resort, Paradise Cove Resort, Kokomo Private Island, Nanuya Island Resort, The Remote Resort, Matava Resort.

Must Read – Swimmimg in with Manta Rays in Fiji | A Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Wreck Diving in Fiji

Those that seek a little change of pace, should discover the many wrecks scattered around Fiji. Read the following articles Amazing Fiji Wreck Diving Volivoli Beach Resort, and Captain Cook Cruises Diving Packages.

Night Dives in Fiji

Descending into the dark. For some people, this looks a little frightening but what lurks below is an amazing wonderland of nocturnal marine life illuminating the dark to attract their prey. Many resorts offer night dives that have to be arranged at the resort and generally require a minimum of 4 divers to go out. Read ‘Go on a Night Dive with Atu Kele’ account of ‘i quote one of the most annoying yet funniest night dive I have ever done’ experience at Mantaray Island Resort

Awesome Adventures Fiji offers a guided night snorkeling trip, for the less advanced but equally curious explorer. Snorkeling at night is a completely different experience than snorkeling during the day. Different fish are out than those found in the day and some even hunt during the night. Coral reefs become more active and alive at night with shrimp and plankton swimming in bunches and corals can be magnificent at night as most of the time they are closed up during the day and at night transforms into living animals blooming out in stunning colors feeding with their tentacle bodies. Further Information

Free Diving in Fiji

Freediving at Mantaray Island Resort (Courtesy of Liquidstate Freediving)

Freediving can be a positive life-changing experience, slip into the water explore the real beauty of the underworld in its most natural form. Freediving can easily be explained as being in and under the water whilst holding one’s breath. Humans first started freediving through necessity, for food, trade-able items or items lost overboard, however in more recent times, freediving has evolved into a recreational pastime, a way to take photos, catch food, and as a sport. To take your first step into this new world, Liquidstate Freediving based in Savusavu is the first to bring AIDA freediving education to Fiji.

Frequently Asked Questions | By Marina Walser @ Dive Academy Fiji at Viani Bay Resort

Is freediving the same as snorkeling? Snorkeling is primarily a surface activity with maybe a few dives down, where the snorkelers observe the reef below them. In Freediving the objective is to maximize the time underwater on one breath. You get closer to marine life and stay longer.

Why not just scuba dive instead of freediving? Scuba diving is not for everyone, equipment might not be available, or it is simply not allowed to scuba dive, which is the case in many areas where manta rays, whale sharks, or whales are around. Freedivers get closer to marine animals who don´t like the noise and the bubbles of scuba divers.

Why take a course and not only practice on your own? The snorkeler, being on the surface, breathes through the snorkel most of the time, while the freediver tries to maximize the amount of air inhaled before immersion and minimize the amount of oxygen used while being underwater. Thus, techniques and preparation are vital to staying safe during freediving. A professional instructor demonstrates and assesses the skills and helps the students to improve these. He also ensures the safety and accompanies the students during the deep dives. After the course, the freediver is equipped with the knowledge and techniques to further train and expand the skills – with a qualified buddy.

Do you need special equipment? Mask, fins, and snorkel are all that is required. During the course, students also wear a weight belt and weights to be neutrally buoyant when exhaling at the surface. For protection against the sun or from getting cold, exposure or a wetsuit is recommended. A dive watch or computer with freediving mode is helpful to monitor and control the activity. Special freediving equipment like masks with smaller volumes or longer fins help to further improve the freediving skills. During the course, the students learn what to look for with their static and dynamic apnea, free immersion, constant weight freediving as well as safety principles. Techniques on how to immerse effortlessly, efficiently use fins, and position the body in the water lead to increased distance and depth. Jone, who went freediving in the ocean since he was a child, also explains the benefits of special freediving equipment combination of mental and physical work that creates the fascination of freediving and makes it an increasingly popular activity. If you struggle to meditate, try freediving.” states Marina Walser, who trains the relaxation and breathing techniques with the freediver students at Dive Academy.

How long does it take to do the PADI Freediver course and what are the times and depths? The practical part of the PADI Freediver Course is spread over two days with one confined and two open water sessions. The course approach is based on the progress of the students so that the freedivers can slowly expand their limits. The goal of the PADI Freediver Course is to hold the breaths for 90 seconds, dive a distance of 25 meters and go down to 10 meters. 16 meters is the maximum depth for the PADI Freediver. PADI Advanced Freedivers go to 2.5 minutes static, 50 meters dynamic apnea, and up to 20 meters depth. Students complete their theory using the PADI eLearning App. The app already includes the content for the Advanced and Master Freediving Courses.

How To Choose a Scuba Diving Operator?

Diving Operator Advice: A good dive shop can make all the difference on your next dive trip, and a bad one can cast a cloud over your experience or even put you at risk. This is especially true for less experienced divers who may need a helping hand from the crew. But with so many operators to choose from at the most popular dive spots, how do you know which is the right one for you? To help you out, here are five steps for doing your homework on dive shops before your next trip.

Consider Your Dive Type

At most dive destinations, you’ll find everything from resort-based shops that lean heavily on beginner-level classes and excursions to specialty shops with the gear and experience for tec diving. Create a list of dive shops that best fit your interests and experience level. Some important things to look at are the size and number of their boats, availability of nitrox, and selection of quality rental gear. Also, look for shops that are convenient for your accommodations and regularly dive into the sites you hope to visit.

Are They Established?

In some parts of the world, you may find dive operators that look good online but turn out to be little more than a guy with a boat, and these types of operations may not have the training or equipment to deal with dive emergencies. A good rule of thumb is to look for official PADI Dive Centers and Resorts, which must meet rigorous requirements for their dive services and safety protocols.

Check Online Reviews

The next step is checking online reviews, keeping in mind that every business will have its share of good and bad reviews. The important thing to look for is multiple reviews describing the same experiences; for example, consistently positive comments about the skill and attentiveness of the dive staff, or a reputation for overcrowded boats or poorly maintained equipment. Also, most review websites allow businesses to respond to reviews. A dive shop picking a fight with a past customer over a bad review is a red flag, while measured responses that show a willingness to solve the problem are a good sign.

Get in Touch

Once you’ve narrowed your choice to two or three dive operations, pick up the phone or send an email. There’s no substitute for actually speaking with someone at the dive center, and any reputable dive shop should be more than happy to tell you all about their boats, safety procedures, regular dive spots, how they conduct their classes, and any other questions you might have.

Visit in Person

Once you arrive at your destination, visit the dive shop before your first trip. The afternoon of your arrival day is the perfect time to visit, especially once the afternoon dive boats have returned. Confirm your reservations, take a look at the rental gear, examine the dive map, ask about gear storage, and don’t be afraid to chat up a member of the crew. At a good dive shop, the divemasters and instructors love talking with new divers about the day’s dives, ocean conditions, and what to expect on the boat. If they’re rude or unhelpful, consider going somewhere else.

Diving Operators and Resorts by Region

Beqa Lagoon (Courtesy Lalati Resort & Spa)

The following list of Diving Operators and Resorts are all PADI or SSI Certified. insuring the quality of service and safety expected within the field.

Diving Resort & Operators in the North

Taveuni Resorts

Vanua Levu Resorts

Diving Resorts & Operators in the South

Mamanuca Islands

Yasawa Island

Kadavu

Coral Coast & Pacific Harbour

Denarau Island

SunCoast

RA Divers Fiji

Suva

Toberua Island Resort

Scuba Diving In Taveuni

Originally titled “Riding the Rainbow in Taveuni” By DRUE SLATTER

The Pacific Ocean brims with life, especially where a phenomenon occurs when a portion of the ocean is forced through a narrow, shallow channel. Between two islands in the Fiji archipelago, that phenomenon is the Rainbow Reef. Fiji’s status as the soft coral capital of the world is cemented by the gardens of brilliant color off Fiji’s garden island of Taveuni, where the world-famous Rainbow Reef is located within Somosomo Strait. A whirlpool of nutrients is forced onto the reef by the tidal currents and produces the amazing display that impresses divers. Taveuni Dive Resort caters to the needs of underwater explorers and supports the sustainability of Rainbow and other reef areas.

My flight on Fiji Link to Matei airport arrived early, but the resort heard the plane go overhead and sent the truck in time to pick me up. Taveuni’s roads require a certain amount of driving finesse so four-wheel drives are the go-to. Taveuni is entirely the product of volcanic activity and has the fertility to show for it. The island is the top of a dormant volcanic cone. From ridges to reefs, the island is full of life but not necessarily bustling. Our drive was punctuated only by a handful of passing vehicles and hues of forest green and ocean blue were in full saturation. We passed the famous Waitavala Waterslide, a daring feat for tourists and a weekend pastime for local children. The natural streambed is a rough-and-tumble chute of about 50 meters. But I was there for the main attraction, the Scuba diving. Taveuni is arguably Fiji’s Scuba diving capital and for two days, I got to roam the crevices and curves of one of the most beautiful reef systems in the world. A particular stretch of underwater architecture is especially exciting: the Great White Wall. In the right conditions, it is exactly as its name describes a face of ice-colored soft coral. However, without the right current, it remains bare. The site is typically a drift dive and as tempting as it is, not recommend it for first-time drift divers.

Close inspection of the White Wall reveals tones of blue, purple, and red that take nothing from the grandeur of its name. There are swim-throughs and coral caves that on closer inspection, house colorful critters bound to delight. In the more sheltered areas, Gregorian fans and reef fish can be discovered in bursts of color. We returned to Taveuni Dive Resort to the smiles of Star, our bartender, and the keen interest of Carl and Muriel our hosts, all eager to hear our reaction to their “front-yard”