Explore Rakiraki

Rakiraki, nestled on the north side of Viti Levu in Fiji, is fast becoming a diving paradise. Just a 2.5-hour drive from Nadi International Airport, this hidden gem offers an unforgettable underwater adventure. Divers are greeted by vibrant marine life, including the majestic manta rays, playful dolphins, and even the occasional whale. The area is renowned for its unspoiled reefs that teem with diverse species, making every dive a new exploration.

The dive sites around Rakiraki are as varied as they are captivating. From the dramatic drop-offs and towering pinnacles to the colorful coral gardens, each site offers a unique experience. Noteworthy spots include the Vatu-i-ra Passage, known for its exhilarating currents and abundant marine life, and Wheatfield, where schools of fish dance among the coral. Whether you dive from shore, take a boat, or embark on a liveaboard adventure, Rakiraki promises an extraordinary dive experience immersed in Fiji's natural beauty.

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Diving in Rakiraki

Rakiraki, located on the northern coast of Viti Levu, Fiji, offers dive travelers an exhilarating mix of shore and liveaboard diving experiences. The region is renowned for its vibrant coral reefs and diverse marine life. One of the standout dive sites is the "M.V. Ovalau" wreck, which provides a hauntingly beautiful exploration of a sunken ship, now a thriving habitat for a variety of fish species and coral. Shore dives in Rakiraki are equally captivating, with "Bligh Waters" being particularly popular for its colorful coral gardens and the chance to spot reef sharks. Night dives reveal a different world, showcasing bioluminescent plankton and the nocturnal behaviors of marine creatures like octopuses and eels. This balance of shore and liveaboard options ensures that divers of all preferences can find an unforgettable underwater adventure in Rakiraki.

Top Wildlife Sightings in Rakiraki

Rakiraki, located in Fiji, is renowned for its vibrant marine life, particularly its coral reefs teeming with diverse species. Divers can expect to encounter a variety of common reef fish such as butterflyfish, angelfish, and parrotfish. These species are generally abundant year-round, offering a colorful underwater experience.

Seasonal highlights in Rakiraki include sightings of larger marine animals. From May to October, the waters are frequented by reef sharks, adding excitement to diving trips. Additionally, green and hawksbill turtles are often spotted gliding gracefully through the water, especially near coral gardens. Occasionally, manta rays can be seen, primarily around the month of June, providing a spectacular sight for divers.

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 600

Wrasse

978 Sightings
J
98
F
70
M
106
A
56
M
93
J
66
J
156
A
78
S
90
O
65
N
42
D
58

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 27

Barracuda

961 Sightings
J
78
F
66
M
145
A
88
M
111
J
79
J
83
A
89
S
77
O
49
N
43
D
53

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 200

Moray Eel

892 Sightings
J
69
F
77
M
92
A
47
M
110
J
92
J
104
A
89
S
64
O
66
N
33
D
49

Green Turtle

296 Sightings
J
11
F
28
M
22
A
22
M
25
J
22
J
37
A
40
S
25
O
22
N
23
D
19

Hawksbill Turtle

168 Sightings
J
7
F
13
M
14
A
9
M
16
J
12
J
24
A
33
S
12
O
14
N
6
D
8

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 300

Octopus

145 Sightings
J
7
F
3
M
10
A
9
M
8
J
21
J
21
A
17
S
24
O
11
N
4
D
10

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 28

Clownfish

2.6k Sightings
J
186
F
317
M
329
A
199
M
246
J
184
J
299
A
181
S
218
O
150
N
110
D
163

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 90

Angelfish

2.2k Sightings
J
183
F
262
M
277
A
166
M
201
J
132
J
248
A
152
S
176
O
131
N
99
D
137

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 100

Parrotfish

2.1k Sightings
J
171
F
249
M
303
A
152
M
189
J
149
J
241
A
142
S
180
O
110
N
92
D
134

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 130

Butterfly Fish

2.1k Sightings
J
147
F
221
M
299
A
157
M
191
J
153
J
240
A
154
S
183
O
128
N
96
D
108

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 40

Triggerfish

1.7k Sightings
J
159
F
197
M
230
A
103
M
153
J
103
J
205
A
120
S
139
O
92
N
76
D
110

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 8

Bannerfish

1.5k Sightings
J
125
F
172
M
215
A
101
M
135
J
101
J
186
A
103
S
123
O
81
N
72
D
82

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 150

Sweetlips and Grunts

1.5k Sightings
J
132
F
152
M
224
A
119
M
135
J
95
J
158
A
113
S
115
O
89
N
65
D
72

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 130

Pufferfish

1.4k Sightings
J
132
F
128
M
205
A
90
M
132
J
103
J
169
A
102
S
112
O
91
N
61
D
76

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 85

Surgeonfish

1.4k Sightings
J
131
F
132
M
204
A
89
M
126
J
86
J
184
A
91
S
95
O
88
N
81
D
85

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 350

Damselfish

1.4k Sightings
J
137
F
108
M
150
A
85
M
143
J
107
J
194
A
99
S
126
O
85
N
65
D
85

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 110

Snapper

1.2k Sightings
J
101
F
126
M
178
A
96
M
113
J
89
J
147
A
87
S
76
O
88
N
57
D
56

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 90

Goatfish

1.2k Sightings
J
120
F
102
M
151
A
84
M
110
J
81
J
158
A
101
S
88
O
70
N
58
D
73

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 60

Soldierfish

1.1k Sightings
J
98
F
112
M
153
A
66
M
106
J
66
J
158
A
96
S
86
O
75
N
61
D
67

Whitetip Reef Shark

1.1k Sightings
J
85
F
104
M
153
A
75
M
119
J
83
J
121
A
111
S
70
O
71
N
44
D
56

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 3000

Nudibranch

969 Sightings
J
114
F
79
M
137
A
60
M
88
J
78
J
90
A
61
S
94
O
70
N
39
D
59

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 40

Jackfish

912 Sightings
J
82
F
79
M
116
A
45
M
98
J
60
J
111
A
83
S
76
O
64
N
37
D
61

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 60

Squirrelfish

895 Sightings
J
94
F
102
M
127
A
44
M
76
J
54
J
118
A
72
S
80
O
41
N
45
D
42

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 12

Lionfish

809 Sightings
J
84
F
73
M
76
A
53
M
88
J
67
J
99
A
91
S
67
O
27
N
49
D
35

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 3

Trumpetfish

739 Sightings
J
67
F
33
M
109
A
35
M
107
J
64
J
78
A
71
S
52
O
41
N
45
D
37

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 250

Grouper/Basslets

710 Sightings
J
66
F
57
M
114
A
53
M
74
J
66
J
64
A
49
S
73
O
57
N
16
D
21

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 80

Emperor

708 Sightings
J
64
F
69
M
92
A
44
M
76
J
48
J
102
A
55
S
32
O
47
N
43
D
36

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 25

Boxfish

700 Sightings
J
71
F
61
M
99
A
37
M
79
J
62
J
91
A
71
S
25
O
39
N
40
D
25

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 250

Scorpionfish

647 Sightings
J
53
F
53
M
77
A
41
M
76
J
78
J
79
A
66
S
42
O
31
N
20
D
31

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 3400

Shrimp

570 Sightings
J
60
F
34
M
51
A
54
M
80
J
54
J
58
A
50
S
53
O
26
N
24
D
26

Garibaldi Damselfish

396 Sightings
J
64
F
28
M
68
A
11
M
30
J
9
J
57
A
20
S
30
O
38
N
23
D
18

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 7000

Crab

381 Sightings
J
41
F
16
M
14
A
34
M
80
J
46
J
43
A
42
S
29
O
14
N
6
D
16

Moon Jellyfish

381 Sightings
J
33
F
34
M
108
A
31
M
52
J
36
J
54
A
21
S
10
O
0
N
0
D
2

Blacktip Reef Shark

287 Sightings
J
25
F
41
M
24
A
20
M
28
J
12
J
48
A
14
S
24
O
16
N
16
D
19

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 60

Spiny Lobster

282 Sightings
J
35
F
16
M
8
A
10
M
54
J
32
J
44
A
24
S
33
O
5
N
6
D
15

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 15

Garfish

277 Sightings
J
41
F
12
M
45
A
3
M
33
J
31
J
22
A
45
S
3
O
23
N
9
D
10

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 20

Porcupinefish

255 Sightings
J
41
F
13
M
50
A
4
M
24
J
40
J
23
A
40
S
3
O
2
N
10
D
5

Grey Reef Shark

237 Sightings
J
28
F
8
M
5
A
15
M
34
J
38
J
25
A
32
S
7
O
25
N
13
D
7

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 130

Pipefish

235 Sightings
J
20
F
26
M
28
A
24
M
16
J
17
J
35
A
21
S
9
O
10
N
3
D
26

Common Seahorse

193 Sightings
J
22
F
32
M
19
A
19
M
14
J
10
J
16
A
10
S
10
O
11
N
6
D
24

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 55

Lobster

169 Sightings
J
4
F
6
M
4
A
16
M
45
J
35
J
19
A
14
S
7
O
10
N
5
D
4

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 2

Tarpon

162 Sightings
J
7
F
14
M
43
A
16
M
14
J
10
J
24
A
6
S
8
O
8
N
6
D
6

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 80

Stingrays

146 Sightings
J
13
F
19
M
10
A
11
M
17
J
16
J
13
A
19
S
5
O
8
N
10
D
5

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 15

Tuna

131 Sightings
J
20
F
12
M
24
A
2
M
9
J
8
J
7
A
20
S
5
O
8
N
6
D
10

The best Months to dive in Rakiraki

Rakiraki, located on Fiji's northern coast, offers year-round diving conditions, making it a favorite among divers. Water temperatures are warm throughout the year, ranging from 24°C–28°C/75°F–82°F during the cooler months of May to October, and reaching 28°C–31°C/82°F–88°F from November to April. Visibility typically ranges between 15 meters/49 feet and 40 meters/131 feet, providing excellent conditions for underwater exploration. Diving is possible all year, but the best conditions are generally from May to October when the trade winds are milder, reducing surface currents. The rainy season from November to April sees stronger winds and occasional storms, which can affect visibility and create more challenging conditions. Despite these factors, Rakiraki offers diverse marine life and vibrant coral reefs, making it a worthwhile destination for divers at any time of the year.

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