Scuba Diving
Fiji owes the title "Soft Coral Capital of the World" in large part to the extraordinarily diverse sea life on Rainbow Reef in the Somosomo Strait between Taveuni and Vanua Levu, and on quieter Vuna Reef at the Taveuni's southern tip. While the seas in Somosomo Strait can be rough and the tides strong, divers are rewarded with brilliant colors and a huge array of fish and pelagics. Visibility is excellent year-round but is exceptional during the colder months from May to November. Different companies dive different sites and even call the same site by different names.
Auntie's Bommie. Auntie's Bommie has brilliant soft coral in shades of red, purple, violet, blue, yellow, and white lining a coral head at a depth of 65 feet (20 meters). Leopard sharks are sometimes seen here among moray eels, parrot fish, basslets, and other species.
Fish Factory. Fish Factory is popular with beginners for its multicolor soft coral, giant clams, and tons of reef fish, including occasional stonefish and leaf scorpions, starting at a depth of just 20 feet (6 meters) and extending to around 500 feet (152 meters).
Great White Wall. The Great White Wall has dramatic walls covered with bright white coral from a depth of about 50 feet (15 meters) until past 200 feet (60 meters), with a tunnel from 20 feet (6 meters) to around 90 feet (25 meters). You can spot eagle rays, manta rays, lion fish, and occasionally barracuda.
Paradise Dive Shop. This dive shop dives the Rainbow Reef's most popular sites as well as quieter Vuna Reef. Combination dive and accommodation packages are available and can include learn-to-dive courses. Check the website for specials. Paradise Taveuni Resort, Taveuni, Northern. 888–0125; www.paradiseinfiji.com.
Rainbow Passage. Rainbow Passage is a submerged reef starting at around 25 feet (7–8 meters) with the area's famous profusion of soft corals and fish life. It has sea fans, whips, fusiliers, hawk fish, pipe fish, barracudas, and clown fish among other species.
The Zoo. The Zoo is a 100-foot (30 meter) wall dive home to big fish including barracuda, reef sharks, eagle rays, and manta rays.
Taveuni Dive. Based at the Taveuni Estates residential community, Taveuni Dive dives at Vuna Reef and Rainbow Reef with four boats; double dives occur every morning. Taveuni Estates, Waiyevo, Taveuni, Northern. 828–1063; www.taveunidive.com.
Dolphin Bay Divers. Owned by a Swiss-and-German couple and based across the Somosomo Strait on Vanua Levu, Dolphin Bay Divers has budget accommodation and offers diving and dive courses to guests at all the resorts on Taveuni, which is a 20-minute boat ride across the strait. Vanua Levu, Northern. 992–4001; 999--9995; www.dolphinbaydivers.com.
