Updated September 18, 2022
Are you looking for your dream dive vacation? This is the second in a series of reviews of the best dive resort locations worldwide. In fact, this one is kind of a hybrid, where resorts and liveaboards will be discussed. In this post, the focus will be on Fiji. Below is a description of the diving and a review and comparison of the best dive resorts and liveaboards with photos, videos, and a map.
For other great worldwide liveaboard and resort diving locations and services, click on Liveaboards/Resorts on the menu at the top and choose a title from the list.
Have you been diving in Fiji before? If so, I’d love to know about your experience. What dive shop or liveaboard did you use? Which dive spots are the best and what are the conditions there regarding the visibility, current, water temperature, sealife attractions, etc.? Please post your response in the comments section at the bottom and we’ll all learn something we can use.
Best Scuba Diving Fiji
Fiji is renowned for its soft coral. In fact, Jean Michel Cousteau calls it the “Soft Coral Capital of the World.” There are barrier reefs with lagoons and fringe and patch reefs providing caves and caverns, swim-throughs, and walls, all bathed in currents bringing the nutrients that fuel all sorts of sea life, with 390 species of soft and hard corals and 1,200 species of fish, including many pelagics and a big population of resident sharks.
Best Fiji Diving Sites
Taveuni and the Koro Sea, including the Somosomo Strait have great soft corals, wall diving, and coral tunnels and are excellent for pelagics.
Kadavu is a distance from the big resort areas providing a more peaceful environment. It includes the Great Astrolabe Reef, a barrier reef with the usual rich Fijian soft coral and reef life where manta rays are common.
Viti Levu is the big island where the capital, Suva, is located on the south end. Rakiraki and Bligh Water on the north end offer a pristine reef with abundant fish life. Pacific Harbor in the south is where the famous Fiji shark dives happen (see video below the Volvoli Resort review). 8 different sharks come around including tawny nurse sharks, whitetip, blacktip and grey reef sharks, sicklefin lemon sharks, silvertip and bull sharks, and the bad boys the region, tiger sharks.
Beqa Lagoon off Beqa Island just to the south of Viti Levu is behind a barrier reef and another bountiful dive area that has the benefit of being relatively close to Suva and the main airport.
Seasons and Conditions
Diving is a year-round activity in Fiji. The main season for tourists is in winter from April to September.
The best visibility is from July to December when the water is cooler, on average 25°C (77°F) hitting lows of 22°C (72°F). This temperature reduces plankton and increases vis to >50 meters. From November to April (summer) temps range from 28-30°C (82-86°F).
December to March is the rainy season with a greater chance of typhoons. The rain results in more runoff from rivers decreasing the vis.
From November to April the water is warm enough for a 3 mm full wetsuit or even perhaps a shorty. From May to October, some divers will want 5 mm of protection.
Reef Summary
Depth: 5 to >40m
Visibility: 15 to 40m
Currents: none to very strong
Surface conditions: mostly calm but can be choppy further from shore particularly from July to September
Water temperature: 28-30°C (82-86°F) in summer
Experience level: beginner to advanced
Number of dive sites: >150
Fiji Liveaboards and Dive Resorts
There are three outstanding liveaboard safaris and 3 primary resort areas each represented by 2 resorts that are reviewed with links for booking and details.
- Liveaboards – Fiji Aggressor, Nai’a, Reef Endeavor
- Viti Levu Resorts – Volivoli Resort, Beqa Lagoon Resort
- Taveuni Resorts – Sau Bay Fiji Retreat, Paradise Taveuni Resort
- Kadavu Resorts – Kadavu Matana Resort, Papageno Resort
Fiji Liveaboard Dive Boats
Featuring
- Unfortunately, no schedule for 2022, hope they will soon be back cruising
- Visits the Koro Sea & Kadavu Island
- Itinerary: Wakaya Island, Gen Stone, Golden Rock, Wakaya Pass, Kadavu Islands, Broken Stone, Eagle Rock, Naiquoro Passage, Pacific Voyager Wreck, Seafan Alley, Yellow Wall, Nigali Passage
- Scuba equipment ($175 per trip)
- Nitrox fills for enriched air certified divers ($100 per trip)
- Experienced English-speaking divemasters (max number of 10 divers per DM)
- Single supplement: +65%
- Maximum of 10 guests, small dive groups
- All cabins with en-suite facilities
- American dishes, barbecues, and local cuisine
- Local beer and wine free of charge
- Steel-hulled boat
- 1 x 10 passenger diving dinghy
- 2 x 20-person capacity life rafts
Featuring
- Cruises Bligh Water, Namena & Koro Sea
- Itinerary: Bligh Water, Vatu-i-ra, E6, Mt Mutiny, Cat’s Meow, Namena Marine Reserve, North Save-A-Tack Passage, Two Thumbs Up, Tetons, Mushrooms, Gau, Jim’s Alley, Nigali Passage, Koro Sea
- Scuba equipment ($100 – BCD & Reg for 7 nights or $140 – BCD & Reg for 10 nights)
- Nitrox fills for enriched air certified divers ($150 for 7 nights or $210 for 10 nights)
- Experienced English-speaking divemasters (max number of divers per DM is 9)
- Single supplement: +75%
- International cuisine
- All cabins have ensuite facilities
- Special photography trips
- Cameras: room, PC, camera rental, rinse tanks
- Complimentary dinner wine
- Large boat with a steel hull
- 2 x life rafts
- 2 x 60 HP 6.8m motorized dinghies
Luxury Cruising & Diving – Reef Endeavor
Check for Full Details at Liveaboard.com
Best Fiji Dive Resorts – Viti Levu
- Over 50 sites most of which are just 20 minutes boat ride away from the resort including Papuan Explorer and Ovalau wrecks, ‘Breathtaker’ deep reef site
- Swimming pool
- Kayaks, fishing, parasailing, jet skis, wakeboards, beach volleyball
- Cultural shows, ceremonies, dancing, and village tour
- Babysitting and cots
- Offers full board and diving packages
- Scuba equipment (approx. $25 per day, or $180 per week)
- Unlimited self-guided shore dives
- 4 dive boats
- Add-on package: 2-night add-on stay at Pacific Harbour on Viti Levu, to allow you to witness the not-to-be-missed shark feed diving
Featuring
- Diving around Beqa Island
- Shark dive experience to the Cathedral (Beqa Island’s own base for shark diving)
- Large beachside swimming pool
- 7-day-a-week events program
- Massage
- Babysitting and cots
- International and local dishes
- Offers full board and diving packages
- Scuba equipment (approx. $40 per day)
- Nitrox available
- Unlimited self-guided shore dives
- 3 dive boats
- Experienced English-speaking divemaster (maximum 7 divers per DM)
Best Fiji Dive Resorts – Taveuni
Sau Bay Resort
Featuring
- Stay away from the crowds
- Complimentary use of snorkeling equipment
- Free kayaks and sailing dinghies
- Lots of activities
- Spa and massage service
- Fijian and international specialties
- Other dining options available in the area
- Dive sites: Somosomo Strait, Rainbow Reef within 10 minutes boat ride
- Several dive packages are available
- Scuba equipment (BCD, regulator, and short wetsuit, approx. $41 per day)
- 1 divemaster is provided for every 6 divers
- The main dive boat is a 10m custom-built aluminum monohull vessel with a 225 HP engine and a maximum speed of 20 knots
Featuring
- Swimming pool
- Live Fijian entertainment show
- Optional speedboat/jetski transfer
- Babysitting and cots
- Offers full board and diving packages
- Fijian, Italian, and seafood specialties
- Unlimited self-guided shore dives
- Scuba equipment (BCD, regulator, and wetsuit, approx. $20 per day)
- Nitrox fills for enriched air certified divers,
- Experienced English-speaking divemaster (maximum 5 divers per DM)
- Dive sites: Taveuni, including Vuna Reef, Rainbow Reef
- 10-meter and 15-meter dive boats
Best Fiji Dive Resorts – Kadavu
Featuring
- Beach and lounge bar
- Fijian and international cuisine
- Sea kayaks (free of charge)
- Local community visits
- Live music twice per week
- Babysitting
- Offers full board and diving packages
- Dive Sites: North and west Kadavu – Seafan Alley, Yellow Wall, Manta Reef, Evil Trench, Moray Reef, Canyons (all on Namalata Reef) or the dive sites in the Motu Marine Protected Area (30 minutes from the resort)
- Unlimited shore diving
- Experienced English-speaking divemaster (maximum 10 divers per DM)
- 2 x 200 HP triple-engine, purpose-built dive boats
Featuring
- Eco-resort and organic farm
- Massages and daily yoga classes
- Hiking trails and birdwatching
- Parrot sanctuary
- Babysitting service
- Offers full board and diving packages
- Fijian specialties, international main courses, curries, Italian food
- Dive Sites: North and west Kadavu – Seafan Alley, Pacific Voyager, Yellow Wall, Manta Reef, and Broken Stone
- Scuba equipment (BCD and regulator, approx. $16 per day)
- 4 divers per dive guide
- 4 twin 140 HP engine speedboats
Photography in Fiji
With colorful coral reefs, a variety of fish, sharks, rays, and beautiful onshore targets, there are many excellent photo opportunities. For information and reviews of dive cameras, click here:
Scuba Diving Trip Insurance
A cushion for emergencies provides peace of mind when on vacation. I recommend this diving insurance as they have worldwide coverage and provide scuba divers quality insurance and medical assistance service.
Feedback and Comments
I hope you found this post on Fiji scuba diving exciting and useful. If you have any questions or ideas, please feel free to share them in the comments section. I’d love to know of any experience you have. If there is no comments section directly below, click here: >>comments<<
I was completely terrified of the sea. As a young boy I had an experience that stayed with me till now. However about 15 years ago in an effort to fight the demon within, I went to a training center in The Philippines to learn how to dive in a pool, which was reasonably ok… And then we went to Anilao for a check out dive and I was terrified. The instructor I had was amazing and after almost 1 hour on the surface, eventually I went down to an incredible world that I fell in love with.
You post makes Fiji look amazing and a place I should surely put on my list of places to go. You content is very helpful. The listings and pricing will help anyone plan a trip. I hope one day I can visit to try some of these dives out.
As for me I am still terrified of the sea and it still takes me an hour or so to go under the water, but I do it. Once I am under I am great.
I look forward to visiting your other posts! Especially The Philippines
Great job!
Tim
Hi Tim,
Thanks for your comments and for relating your personal story, fears and all. It sounds like what you did was a sort of discover scuba diving experience in which you actually only went for the one dive in the ocean. By the way, I have been to Anilao and the diving is beautiful there. I spent several years across the way from there in Puerto Galera.
I can suggest that it is possible to permanently remove your fear with a little more training and exposure. You could do the open water diver certification course in which there are 5 pool lessons and 4 dives in open water. I have never seen someone complete the course and still have the fear you describe and I have had students who initially were as afraid as you are. If you would like guidance as to where to do a course like this, please ask. Places as beautiful as Fiji and Anilao are available all over the world to choose from
Best of luck.
Joe
I must admit Fiji is on my bucket list, Unfortunately due to my health I would not be able to dive however. I can snorkle and would love to just photograph such a beautiful place. Even though you and your site are into the diving side of tourism, would you have any recommendations for just snorkeling or photography?
Beautiful informative site, the videos are very educational.
Hi Cathy,
Thanks a lot for your kind comments.
Actually many of the places in my posts on liveaboards have excellent photography suitable for snorkelers on board. Some of them will allow passengers who snorkel only, but some of them will not. Also, some vessels go to settings with rough surface conditions not suitable for snorkeling. I can suggest that the resorts described in this post on Fiji have good snorkeling and sea life right off the beach. Otherwise on my site go to the posts on Bali and Langkayan Island in Malaysia. Excellent snorkeling with photography is accessible at those resorts.
If you have and further questions about this or anything related to travel and the sea, please let me know.
Best regards,
Joe
P.S. 10/30/18 I have just published a post on Roatan Honduras liveaboards. Both of the dive boats in that area can provide excellent snorkeling opportunities and are set up to accept snorkelers in their packages. Good luck!