Image: Destination image
DESTINATION / FIJI
The soft coral capital of the world with the famous Beqa Lagoon shark dive
Image: Destination image
Visibility
30m
Water Temp
27C
Max Depth
35m
Current
Mild
Difficulty
Beginner
Best Season
Apr-May-Jun-Jul-Aug-Sep-Oct
Certification
open water
Budget
$$ Mid-Range
Sharks
Manta Rays
Whale Sharks
Turtles
Coral
Macro
Pelagics
Dolphins
Depth: 18-30m | Intermediate
World-famous baited shark dive where divers kneel behind a coral wall as bull sharks, tiger sharks, and grey reef sharks swarm around feeders.
Bull sharks, tiger sharks, grey reefs, silvertips
Depth: 10-40m | Intermediate
A vertical wall completely covered in white soft coral that glows like snow in the light, one of the most photogenic soft coral sites anywhere.
Stunning white soft coral, anthias, macro life
The soft coral capital of the world lives up to the billing. The Great White Wall in the Somosomo Strait is the most intense color experience in diving — a vertical drop-off carpeted in lavender and white soft corals so dense the rock beneath is invisible. Namena Marine Reserve delivers hammerheads on the north side, barracuda tornadoes in the channel, and a manta cleaning station that runs like clockwork at high tide. Fiji rewards long stays — ten days minimum, split between Taveuni and Bligh Water.
Best months: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct. Peak: Jul-Aug. Water: 25-29C.
open water certification recommended. Minimum 0+ dives.
$160/day average. mid_range tier. Liveaboard: available.
Fiji dives best from Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, with the peak season running Jul to Aug. During these months you can expect the calmest seas, the clearest water, and the highest chance of encountering the marine life this destination is known for. Water temperature sits at 25-29C, so a 3mm wetsuit or skinsuit is all you need in the tropics.
For divers who are flexible, the shoulder months just outside peak season offer nearly identical conditions at 20-30% lower prices and with far fewer boats on the water. The only periods to avoid are the wet or cyclone windows - check the seasonal calendar below and on the dive operator websites before locking in flights.
Visibility at Fiji averages 30 meters, which ranks among the clearest dive destinations in its ocean. Early morning dives consistently deliver the best visibility and the most active marine life, which is why local operators schedule most boat departures before 9am.
Getting there: Fly into Nadi (NAN). From the airport, dive operators and hotels usually arrange transfers - budget 30 minutes to several hours depending on whether your resort or liveaboard is based on the mainland, an offshore island, or a distant atoll.
Time and money: The local timezone is UTC+12. A day of guided diving averages $160 at this $$ Mid-Range tier destination. Liveaboard safaris are available for multi-day trips to remote reefs.
Who this suits: With a Beginner difficulty profile, a beginner-friendliness score of 4/5, and a minimum of 0 logged dives recommended, Fiji is an excellent match for newly certified divers as well as veterans. It is also family-friendly, with options for non-divers.