5 curated Scuba Diving spots in Fiji, each with its own note and source.
Central · Best time: Year-round · Advanced
In the Shark Reef Marine Reserve there are two dives: the deep one at 25 to 30 metres, the second at 10 to 15. Twelve to 40 bull sharks of two to three metres pass through, along with lemon, tawny nurse, whitetip and grey reef sharks. Open Water is enough, but you need to stay calm around big animals; at Big W the terrain starts at around 30 metres and requires Advanced Open Water.
Sources: Fiji Travel
Eastern · Best time: Apr–Oct · All levels
The Great Astrolabe Reef runs about 100 kilometres around Kadavu; the reef crest sits at 15 to 20 metres and beyond it the outer walls drop past 1,000 metres. From May to October mantas gather at cleaning stations and water sits at 24 to 26 °C. Open Water covers many sites, while Advanced is recommended for the deep outer walls; access is a 45-minute flight from Nadi.
Sources: Fiji Travel
Northern · Best time: Apr–Oct · All levels
A marine reserve between Vanua Levu and Koro. Diving covers reef tops, walls and seamounts from 3 to 40 m, with some walls dropping to 60 m. Visibility 30 to 50 m, water 26 to 30 °C. Currents are mild to moderate with occasional drifts; April to September brings the most shark sightings.
Sources: PADI
Northern · Best time: Apr–Oct · All levels
Rainbow Reef sits in the Somosomo Strait, where tidal water pushes through a narrow, shallow passage. The Great White Wall swim-through starts at about 15 m and exits near 25 m; the wall itself runs down to 40 m. Visibility 15 to 40 m, water 28 to 30 °C, dropping to 22 °C from July to September.
Sources: Dive The World, Diveplanit
Western · Best time: Apr–Oct · Beginner
The manta channel between Drawaqa and Naviti is only 3 to 4 m deep across much of its width, 6 to 8 m in the central channel; mantas gather there in the plankton-rich tidal flow from May to October. Access is by boat only — swimming in from shore is banned because of the current. Diving happens on walls such as The Zoo off Tavewa, which drops beyond 50 m.
Sources: Snorkeling Report, Scuba Diver Life