fiji travel backpacker accommodation

Fiji Travel Backpacker & Accommodation Guide


Fiji Travel Guide
Viti Levu - Nadi Airport - Mamanuca Islands - Yasawa Islands - Vanua Levu - Taveuni - Kadavu - Ovalau

Fiji Backpacking Guide - Fiji Accommodation Guide

Fiji Activities Guide
Scuba Diving - Surfing - Kayaking - Fishing - Hiking - Village Visits - Tours & Sightseeing


Fiji Scuba Diving Guide


Over 400 species of corals, sea walls and drops
Fantastic marine life including turtles, rays and exotic fish
Great Astrolabe Reef - Kadavu, Southern Islands
Rainbow Reef between Taveuni and Vanua Levu, Northern Islands
Beautifully warm seas all year round (26-31c)



Fiji's waters are considered to be among the best in the world for diving. Soft corals and an abundance of stunning tropical fish as well as reef sharks, dolphins, manta rays and turtles can be seen throughout the islands. Visibility is excellent, often more than 50 metres. There are some fantastic walls and drop-offs up to 100 metres and 30-km drift dives. Shipwrecks, caves and night dives are also popular. And the seas are perpetually warm ranging from 26c in July to 31c in January at 5 metres depth. Visibility can be substantially reduced between November and February due to plankton blooms and stronger seasonal winds that churn up the water in th mid-afternoon. After heavy rains, waters closer to the larger islands can become murky with river run off.

Throughout the islands, coral reefs are accessible either directly from the beach (ideal for snorkelling) or for the more specific sights, just a short boat ride away. Most resorts in Fiji offer PADI dive courses, starting from the comfort of the resort swimming pool but quickly moving into the wonders of shallow coral seas. Many of the dive operations will be independent companies operating from the premises of the resort. The majority are active members of the Fiji Dive Operators Association and agree to be bound by the Association's code of practice and thereby supprt the Fiji Recompression Chamber Facility. In cases of diving emergencies, divers will be taken by sea, road or air for recompression treatment. Charges vary according to circumstances so it is best to have adequate insurance cover. At some of the smaller budget resorts cowboys do exist, so choose carefully and if you're a beginner, don't jump to the chance of diving without proper PADI certified instruction.

Fiji has a number of resorts for all budgets which are dedicated solely to diving and these offer a complete experience for the true enthusiast. A few of the luxury dive specialists have E-6 film processing and video-editing facilities. There are also several live aboard dive charters that can help you explore a wide range of dive sights in Fiji and some of the remoter diving areas.


Fiji Scuba Diving Resorts


There are four regions in Fiji for world class diving. Choosing where to go might well depend on whether you just want to dive, or to enjoy some of Fiji's other activities. The islands in the Mamanuca and Yasawa Group, for example, are more archetypically south pacific being small islands with white sandy beaches, lagoons and palm trees. The Northern Islands have fewer beaches but stunning tropical rainforests to explore. The Southern Islands and Lomaiviti Group are more remote and offer the true Fijian experience cut off from the outside world.


Major Dive Attractions by Region

Mamanuca and Yasawa Islands

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Huge reef encircling both island groups creating protected shollow lagoon with numerous dive sites. Diving highlights include colourful and numerous marine life. All areas are easy to get to with plenty of holiday island resorts and several budget hideaways. Beaches excellent, weather mostly sunny. Mamanuca dive sites can easily be accessed by boat (20 mins or so) from the Nadi Area on the main island of Viti Levu. Several resorts in the Nadi Area offer full diving facilities and there are numerous day packages for snorkelling and diving.
Southern Islands

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World famous Astrolabe Reef and Beqa Lagoon includes numerous soft corals, reef bommies and passages. Small secluded dive resorts accessible only by boat. Lush rainforest and tropical beaches. Humid and wet at times. Very traditional Fijian lifestyle and culture. Beqa Lagoon can be accessed by boat (1 hour plus) from the Coral Coast on the main island of Viti Levu. Several resorts along the Coral Coast offer full diving facilities and daily access to the Lagoon and beyond.
Northern Islands

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World famous Rainbow Reef (between Taveuni and Vanua Levu) with advanced drift diving through channels. Numerous smaller reefs around Vanua Levu, Taveuni, Qamea, Laucala and Matagi with abundance of soft and hard corals and excellent marine life. The Northern Islands have been developed for ecotouism as well as diving and the regions outstanding mountains, rainforests and waterfalls are all relatively accessible with tours and trails to the major attractions. Humid and wet at times.
Lomaiviti

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Two seperate barrier feefs between the two main islands of Fiji. Rich area fed by tradewind currents with excellent marine life including mantas and hammerheads as well as bommies and pinnacles in the lagoons. A handful of small island resorts, some very luxurious. Also accessible from the North Coast of Viti Levu (and offshore Nananu-i-Ra Island) as well as charter dive boats that explore some of the unexplored areas of these huge reefs. Mostly sunny.