Diving In Fiji -- Fiji is justly famous among divers as being the "Soft Coral Capital of the World" because of its enormous number and variety of colorful soft corals. These species grow well where moderate to heavy currents keep them fed. In turn, the corals attract a host of fish. As one example, more than 35 species of angelfish and butterfly fish swim in these waters.
The Top Dive Sites -- Several of Fiji's most popular dive destinations are in Northern Fiji. The colorful Rainbow Reef and Great White Wall are both on Vanua Levu's barrier reef but within a few miles of Taveuni. The Great White Wall is covered from between 23m and 60m (75 ft. and 200 ft.) deep with pale lavender corals, which appear almost snow-white underwater. Near Qamea and Matagi, off Taveuni, are the appropriately named Purple Wall, a straight drop from 9m to 24m (30 ft.-80 ft.), and Mariah's Cove, a small wall as colorful as the Rainbow Reef. Also in the north, Magic Mountain on the Namena barrier reef around Moody's Namena has hard corals on top and soft ones on the sides, which attract an enormous number of small fish and their predators.
Another popular site is Beqa Lagoon, easily reached by boat from Pacific Harbour, about 48km (30 miles) west of Suva. The soft corals in Beqa's Frigate Passage seem to fall over one another, and Side Streets has unusual orange coral.
The relatively undeveloped island of Kadavu is surrounded by the famous Astrolabe Reef, where holes in the coral attract volumes of fish and other sea life.
Even the heavily visited Mamanuca Islands off Nadi have their share of good sites, including The Pinnacle, a coral head rising 18m (60 ft.) from the lagoon floor, and a W-shaped protrusion from the outer reef. A drawback for some divers is that they don't have the Mamanuca sites all to themselves.
All but a few resorts in Fiji have dive operations on site. Many of them have contacts in North America.
The Fiji Aggressor II -- One of the best ways to dive a lot of reefs in Fiji, and especially the out-of-the-way sites, is on a live-aboard dive boat. The best is the 101-foot long, 10-passenger Fiji Aggressor II, which makes weekly voyages from Suva through the reefs off eastern Viti Levu. It is equipped with photo lab, video, and high-speed canopied dive boat. You'll dive for 5 1/2 days out of the week, making at least 2 dives per day. Rates begin at US$2,400 per person, including accommodations, meals, snacks, and unlimited diving, but not equipment. For information and reservations, contact Aggressor Fleet (tel. 800/348-2628 or 985/385-2628; fax 985/384-0817; www.aggressor.com).
