Diving in Fiji

[Armando D.]

Has anyone been diving in Fiji? Thoughts?? I am heading there in the fall and we are going to be diving off the island of Beqa and staying on land there. Any first hand thoughts are appreciated.
Armando

[Eddie Clamp]

Has anyone been diving in Fiji? Thoughts?? I am heading there in the fall and we are going to be diving off the island of Beqa and staying on land there. Any first hand thoughts are appreciated.
Armando

I went there with my wife in 2001 and had a brill time.

Have a look at this from 2004: http://www.bsac.com/diverreports.asp?itemid=721&itemTitle=Fiji+%2D+Crusoe%27s+Retreat&section=1245&sectionTitle=Australasia+%2F+Pacific

[rose]

Yes, I dived Beqa (pronounced Benga) Lagoon in '04. It's along the Coral Coast of Fiji and gets high rainfall, so while diving in your "fall" is technically a better time to be there for sunshine, do not be surprised if you get a little bit of rain as well.

We were based at Pacific Harbour and used one of the then 3 operators who do the run out to Beqa every day (can't remember which one, sorry). Pacific Harbour doesn't have much nightlife and from memory, there were only around 4 restaurants, although that may have changed....but I suspect not much. It's all very laid back and enjoyable.

The diving can be very good, btw, and you may see some big shark action.

[Eddie Clamp]

Yes, I dived Beqa (pronounced Benga) Lagoon in '04. It's along the Coral Coast of Fiji and gets high rainfall, so while diving in your "fall" is technically a better time to be there for sunshine, do not be surprised if you get a little bit of rain as well.
The diving can be very good, btw, and you may see some big shark action.

Have had a look at my dive log for 2001. We stayed on Castaway Island (do not ask me the proper name). I dived Eka (fish) bazzaar, The Pinnacles, Yandua Island reef, Seven Sisters Reef and best of all Supermarket Reef.

Supermarket reef (so I was told was where a local diver had fed sharks in the past). On passage along the reef we were surrounded by Black and White tip sharks plus many Grey reef. One insisted on nuzzling my BCD pocket :-).

[rose]

Castaway Is is part of the Mamanuca group, west of Viti Levu (the "mainland"). You would most likely have flown into Nadi (and spent the night there) prior to heading out to Castaway, Eddie.

If you have time, Armando, get yourself over to Ovalau Is (just off the east coast of Viti Levu) and spend a few days in Levuka, the old capital. It is quite charming, with many of the waterfront buildings retaining their old facades. Check out Ovalau Watersports and if the conditions are right, ask them to take you to Wakaya Passage for a dive. You won't be disappointed.

[Eddie Clamp]

Castaway Is is part of the Mamanuca group, west of Viti Levu (the "mainland"). You would most likely have flown into Nadi (and spent the night there) prior to heading out to Castaway, Eddie.
.

You are right we flew into Nadi and went out to the island by boat the next day. Flew back from there on the scariest Flying Boat ever. Engine appeared to cut out half way through the flight :eek:

[dpregan]

You should do the shark dive.

It is incredible!!

We saw at least 3, 3-4 metre long bull sharks. There is also commonly a 6 metre tiger shark but it wasnt there when we went. Plus about a million white and grey tips. (No cages!) It is in Beqa Lagoon and you can do it from the Island I think. I did it from the mainland though. There are two companies you can do it through. Here are both links so you dont think im a rep.

www.fiji-sharks.com

www.aquatrek.com

You wont regret it.

[ChangeAgent]

was there in 1997 for 7 weeks. can not remember where I did my diving was on several islands. do some of the outer reefs, we had bronze whalers (5 + meters) and bull sharks there, and do some of the colored walls (strong current) these are soft corals by the square mile. superb drift dives.

[ChristianG]

we had bronze whalers (5 + meters)
Really? Do you mean Carcharhinus brachyurus (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copper_shark)? If so there's a tad of exaggeration involved, there are actually few sharks which can measure 5 metres.

[John Bantin]

This just about covers the two different types of diving in the Fiji islands:

http://www.divernet.com/cgi-bin/articles.pl?id=4753&sc=1019&ac=d&an=4753:+Diving+with+the+BAD+BOYS+...

http://www.divernet.com/cgi-bin/articles.pl?id=5216&sc=1019&ac=d&an=5216:+Colours+of+the+rainbow+...

[Eddie Clamp]

[QUOTE=John Bantin]This just about covers the two different types of diving in the Fiji islands:

http://www.divernet.com/cgi-bin/articles.pl?id=4753&sc=1019&ac=d&an=4753:+Diving+with+the+BAD+BOYS+...

http://www.divernet.com/cgi-bin/articles.pl?id=5216&sc=1019&ac=d&an=5216:+Colours+of+the+rainbow+...[/QUOTE

Many thanks John! I always enjoy reading about your holidays. :D

[ChangeAgent]

Really? Do you mean Carcharhinus brachyurus (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copper_shark)? If so there's a tad of exaggeration involved, there are actually few sharks which can measure 5 metres.


Indeed it was CB. (http://www.teara.govt.nz/EarthSeaAndSky/SeaLife/SharksAndRays/5/ENZ-Resources/Standard/7/en)

At the time we had pictures and positively identified it (buddy had camera). As to the size our excitement might have increased it a tick.

As we jumped of the boat and wanted to go to the outer reef there was a group of about 7 of them between the reef and us. We also had some other group of divers on board (Americans, and relatively poor divers) who probable set a record at breathing speed and exciting the water. We hung there for about 10 minutes at about 40 feet with the deep blue in our back and the sharks in front cruising the reef and eying us. Than they left to not be seen again, and I admit to spending the rest of the dive looking over my shoulder mote often than usually. However a unforgettable experience.