About the country
The Fiji archipelago, in the Pacific, is part of the western Pacific region that includes Papua, New Caledonia and Vanuatu, more commonly known as Melanesia (a term that remains up for debate among geologists and anthropologists).
The waters of the Somosomo channel plunge us into an Indo-Pacific atmosphere full of life and coral. The Rainbow Reef is absolutely stunning, with its multicolored hard and soft corals. There are more than twenty sites, which you can dive again and again depending on the current’s direction. The reefs never drop below 30 meters, except for the Great White Wall. This deep, magnificent dive site is reachable depending on the tides. It’s part of the top 10 most beautiful sites in the world, and it lives up to its reputation : it’s the only place in Fiji where it “snows” !! Since dive clubs only go on specific dates, usually twice a week, it’s worth checking to make sure you land on the right dates, …
Dives in the south-southeast of Viti Levu and southeast of Vanua Levu offer a different topography : walls, pinnacles and passes. There’s less coral than in the north, and visibility isn’t as good, but there are more pelagics. We got to enjoy the sight of 4 humpback whales from the boat.
The dives are drift dives, and the current can be moderate to strong depending on the tide, but there are dives for every level.
Our opinion
Difficulty
Visibility
Diversity
Atmosphere
Practical
In September 2018.
Taveuni Dive has 3 boats at a small marina a 2-minute walk from the resort. The biggest boat can take 9 divers. There are five dive masters. We dived with David and Alfred, two passionate locals. Groups are capped at 5-6 people, we never did the same site twice all week.
The sites are 15 minutes by boat from the marina. Two dives in the morning starting at 8am, and one offered in the afternoon, though the timing on that one stays tricky, “Fiji Time”
Fiji Aggressor has a capacity of 10 people, an old boat that isn’t particularly well maintained, with an unpleasant smell in the cabins, quite expensive for what’s on offer. Only the captain and the dive master save the trip, offering some really beautiful dives depending on the mood and the weather : macro or a good drift dive in the current. 4 to 5 dives a day when the weather allows, from the boat or the zodiac.
Since 2019, this cruise has been pulled from the Aggressor website.
In September 2018.
In Taveuni : Taveuni Dive Resort : A really beautiful resort set in a lush garden, opened in 2017, still has room to improve, it’s more of a resort than a dive resort. A bit pricey for what you get.
In Suva : Grand Pacific Hotel : A splurge , this magnificent hotel is steeped in history, Queen Elizabeth once stayed here. The rooms are large and comfortable. The service is impeccable.
In Nadi : Tropic of Capricorn : a simple backpacker hotel with a magnificent view over Wailoaloa Bay. Lovely staff, small bar where you can order food and drinks.
In Nadi : Fiji Essence and Spa, for a really pleasant transit and rejuvenating massages, 5 minutes from Nadi airport, transfer included.
In Suva : Grand Pacific Hotel for the historic setting, to grab a drink or dinner. One of the only buildings worth seeing in Suva.
At Gau or Taveuni : Get invited to the village of Somosomo, to chat with the villagers, listen to their songs and enjoy delicious local food.