Taveuni Diving

Rainbow Reef and the Somosomo Strait

Although Taveuni is called the "Garden Island" because of the richness of its topside flora, the name could equally apply to the remarkable, colourful scenes beneath its waters. The Somosomo Strait is the stretch of water between the island and Vanua Levu. The Strait almost single-handedly earns Fiji its title as "The Soft Coral Capital of the World". Nearby, the world famouns Rainbow Reef and Great White Wall have been noted in the 'Top 10 Dive Locations in the World' by U.S. Divers magazine.

Currents are variable in Taveuni but you should at least be prepared for some as it is seldom entirely still here. Normally the currents are little more than a gentle helping hand along the way, guiding you past some of the most wonderful proliferations of soft corals on the planet. When the current is present to any reasonable extent the grateful corals expand to their finest and most enchanting, whereas without the current they would retract into barely visible balls - and who wants that?

It is not all sessile stuff when diving in Taveuni however as the nutrient rich waters also result in the presence of plenty of pelagic fish species and you can expect to see barracudas, reef sharks and manta rays, particularly at a site aptly named The Zoo.

There are also some really rewarding sites off the little islands to the north east which you will surely visit if staying for several days. Here there is less current but still plenty to see and these sites can make an interesting change from the Somosomo Strait where diving can, in every sense, be truly breath-taking.

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Diving Season

Although you can dive Taveuni all the year round, the main diving season is April to October. November to January tend to see the most rainfall with the rainy season officially extending into March. Prime visibility is during Fiji's winter months of July to September when the surface can be a little choppy and potentially as cool as 22°C. During the November to April summer months, water temperature can reach a pleasant, bathtub 30°C.

Reef Basics

Great for: Large animals, reef life and health, visibility
Not so great for: Snorkelling
Depth: 10 - >40m
Visibility: 15 - 40m
Currents: Gentle to very strong
Surface Conditions: Mainly calm but can be choppy further from shore particularly during July to September when visibility is at its best
Water Temperature: normally 28 - 30°C
Experience Level: Beginner - advanced
Number of dive sites: 10
Access: Taveuni resorts and liveaboards
Recommended length of stay: 7 - 10 days

Dive Sites

More detailed information on Taveuni dive sites:

Dive The World Recommendations: Rainbow Reef and The Great White Wall.

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