Explore Vanua Levu

It’s easy to see why Fiji is known as the soft coral capital of the world when diving in Vanua Levu. The surrounding waters provide perfect conditions for the lush growth of colorful soft corals, which need strong currents and nutrient-rich water to thrive. The effect is a rainbow of flower corals, tree corals, leathery corals, sea fans and sea whips in kaleidoscopic shades of red, pink, brown, white, orange and purple.

The reef topography decorated by this colorful carpet is known to offer fun swim-throughs, caverns and caves which are great spots to search for cryptic critters like nudibranchs and shrimp. Vanua Levu dive sites may also feature walls, bommies, sloping reefs and pinnacles. Some of the best Vanua Levu dives are drifts, during which the current entices the soft corals to balloon into full glory, but there are plenty of sheltered sites as well. Dive courses from beginner to divemaster are available.

Some highlights of Vanua Levu megafauna include schooling hammerhead sharks, manta rays, turtles, dolphins, whales, grey reef sharks, whitetip reef sharks, leopard sharks, schools of barracuda, Napoleon wrasse and plenty of medium-sized reef fish. Vanua Levu macro-critters include plenty of nudibranchs, other gastropods and crustaceans.

Vanua Levu diving is best enjoyed at dedicated dive resorts. Liveaboards in Vanua Levu only visit the Namena Marine Reserve, which dive centers and resorts can reach on a daytrip.

Places to explore

Savusavu

Explore Vanua LevuIt’s easy to see why Fiji is known as the soft coral capital of the world when d

Dive Activity

Diving in Vanua Levu

Vanua Levu, the second largest island in Fiji, offers diverse and thrilling diving experiences for enthusiasts. Among its top sites is the renowned "Dream House," a pinnacle famous for its rich marine biodiversity, including frequent sightings of hammerhead sharks. "Natewa Bay" offers a unique opportunity to explore one of the world's largest bays with vibrant coral gardens and the occasional manta ray gliding gracefully by.

For wreck diving aficionados, the site known as "Namena Marine Reserve" features a variety of sunken vessels that provide a habitat for an array of marine life. Shore dives can be easily accessed from locations such as "Savusavu," where calm waters and colorful reefs provide an immersive experience for divers of all skill levels. Both shore and liveaboard diving options are well-balanced here, offering flexibility and convenience while exploring the underwater wonders of Vanua Levu.

Top Wildlife Sightings in Vanua Levu

Vanua Levu, the second largest island in Fiji, is home to a diverse range of marine life, making it a prime destination for divers. Common reef fish such as butterflyfish, parrotfish, and angelfish can be seen year-round, adding vibrant colors to the coral reefs. These species are easily encountered during dives, especially around Namena Marine Reserve and Somosomo Strait, where the biodiversity is particularly rich.

For those interested in larger marine creatures, seasonal highlights include sightings of reef sharks, turtles, and manta rays. Reef sharks are commonly seen throughout the year, while turtle sightings are more frequent between June and October. Manta rays, on the other hand, are often spotted from May to October, particularly around the famed Rainbow Reef. Divers visiting these locations during these months have a higher chance of encountering these majestic species, making it an exhilarating experience for all levels of 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: 27

iStock-Global_Pics

Barracuda
13 Sightings
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0
F
1
M
0
A
1
M
4
J
1
J
0
A
2
S
2
O
1
N
0
D
1

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

Total number of species: 200

Alamy-WaterFrame

Moray Eel
9 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
2
S
2
O
0
N
0
D
4
Shutterstock-Shane Myers Photography

Green Turtle
8 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
1
J
2
J
0
A
0
S
2
O
3
N
0
D
0

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

Total number of species: 600

iStock/ultramarinfoto

Wrasse
6 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
4
J
0
J
1
A
1
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

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

Total number of species: 25

iStock/Juliosanjuan

Eagle Ray
4 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
1
J
1
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
2
N
0
D
0
Shutterstock-Ed Jenkins

Hawksbill Turtle
4 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
2
J
0
J
0
A
1
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0
iStock-crisod

Reef Manta Ray
4 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
3
N
0
D
0
AdobeStock/G Russel Childress

Great Hammerhead Shark
3 Sightings
J
0
F
1
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
1
O
0
N
0
D
1
Alamy-Christian Zappel

Scalloped Hammerhead
3 Sightings
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0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
1
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
2
Alamy/National Geographic Image Collection

Oceanic Whitetip Shark
3 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
2
O
0
N
0
D
1
iStock/Divepic

Giant Oceanic Manta Ray
3 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
1
O
0
N
0
D
2
AdobeStock-Magnus

Humpback Whale
1 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
1
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0
iStock/HakBak1979

Bull Shark
1 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
1
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0
Show More

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

Total number of species: 28

Udo Kefrig

Clownfish
17 Sightings
J
3
F
1
M
1
A
0
M
4
J
1
J
1
A
3
S
2
O
0
N
0
D
1
iStock-June Jacobsen

Whitetip Reef Shark
15 Sightings
J
4
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
1
J
0
A
0
S
1
O
6
N
0
D
3

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

Total number of species: 3000

SSI-Peter-Schinck

Nudibranch
14 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
3
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0
J
1
A
3
S
3
O
0
N
2
D
0

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

Total number of species: 100

iStock-burnsboxco

Parrotfish
13 Sightings
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3
F
1
M
1
A
0
M
5
J
0
J
1
A
1
S
1
O
0
N
0
D
0

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

Total number of species: 40

iStock-wrangel

Triggerfish
13 Sightings
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3
F
0
M
0
A
1
M
5
J
1
J
1
A
2
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

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

Total number of species: 8

Alamy-Reinhard Dirscherl

Bannerfish
13 Sightings
J
3
F
0
M
1
A
0
M
3
J
1
J
1
A
3
S
1
O
0
N
0
D
0

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

Total number of species: 90

Shutterstock-Rich Carey

Angelfish
12 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
5
J
0
J
1
A
2
S
2
O
0
N
0
D
1

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

Total number of species: 130

Shutterstock_Krzysztof Odziomek

Butterfly Fish
11 Sightings
J
2
F
1
M
1
A
0
M
5
J
0
J
1
A
1
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

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

Total number of species: 85

iStock-mirecca

Surgeonfish
10 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
4
J
0
J
1
A
2
S
1
O
0
N
0
D
0

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

Total number of species: 3

Shutterstock_Leo Lorenzo

Trumpetfish
10 Sightings
J
3
F
1
M
0
A
0
M
3
J
0
J
0
A
3
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0
AdobeStock-Marc Henauer

Grey Reef Shark
9 Sightings
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0
F
1
M
0
A
1
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
2
S
1
O
4
N
0
D
0

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

Total number of species: 40

iStock-Hoatzinexp

Jackfish
6 Sightings
J
1
F
1
M
0
A
0
M
3
J
0
J
0
A
1
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

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

Total number of species: 150

Shutterstock-aquapix

Sweetlips and Grunts
6 Sightings
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1
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
4
J
0
J
1
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

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

Total number of species: 350

Alamy-Andre Seal

Damselfish
6 Sightings
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0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
4
J
0
J
1
A
1
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

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

Total number of species: 130

AdobeStock-JirinaVFR

Pufferfish
6 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
2
J
0
J
1
A
1
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
1

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

Total number of species: 60

iStock-Global_Pics

Soldierfish
5 Sightings
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1
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
3
J
0
J
1
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

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

Total number of species: 15

Shutterstock-Al McGlashan

Tuna
5 Sightings
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0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
1
J
0
J
0
A
3
S
1
O
0
N
0
D
0

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

Total number of species: 7

iStock-atese

Pygmy Seahorse
5 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
3
D
0

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

Total number of species: 250

Shutterstock-Henry_and_Laura_Whittaker

Grouper/Basslets
4 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
4
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0
AdobeStock-Nikolai Sorokin

Blacktip Reef Shark
3 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
2
N
0
D
1

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

Total number of species: 90

Shutterstock-Levent Konuk

Goatfish
3 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
2
J
0
J
1
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

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

Total number of species: 3400

Shutterstock-Shane Gross

Shrimp
2 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
1
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
1
D
0

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

Total number of species: 3

k

Cornetfish
2 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

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

Total number of species: 7000

iStock-Michael Zeigler

Crab
2 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
2
D
0

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

Total number of species: 2

Alarmy/Steffen Binke

Minke Whale
1 Sightings
J
0
F
1
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0
iStock_strmko

Silky Shark
1 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
1
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0
iStock-Nigel Marsh

Wobbegong
1 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
1
O
0
N
0
D
0
AdobeStock-Magnus

Zebra Shark
1 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
1
O
0
N
0
D
0
Alamy-Steve Woods Photography

Oceanic Blacktip Shark
1 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
1
AdobeStock-Richard Carey

Banded Sea Krait
1 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
1
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

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

Total number of species: 130

iStock-Christian von Mach

Pipefish
1 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
1
O
0
N
0
D
0

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

Total number of species: 2

iStock-stock_colors

Tarpon
1 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
1
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

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

Total number of species: 12

iStock/cinoby

Lionfish
1 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
1
O
0
N
0
D
0

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

Total number of species: 50

istock-atese

Frogfish
1 Sightings
J
0
F
1
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

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

Total number of species: 60

iStock-Global_Pics

Squirrelfish
1 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
1
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

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

Total number of species: 55

k

Lobster
1 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
1
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

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

Total number of species: 30

SSI-Peter-Schinck

Stonefish
1 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
1
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0
SSI-Peter-Schinck

Leaf Scorpionfish
1 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
1
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

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

Total number of species: 30

Shutterstock-s_a_j

Sand Eel
1 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

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

Total number of species: 25

AdobeStock_Vladimir Wrangel

Boxfish
1 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
1

The best Months to Dive in Vanua Levu

Diving in Vanua Levu is possible year-round, offering diverse marine life and vibrant coral reefs. The island's water temperatures range between 26°C to 30°C throughout the year, ensuring comfortable conditions for divers. From May to October, visibility is typically excellent, often exceeding 30 meters, making it an ideal time for underwater exploration.

However, from November to April, divers should be aware of the wet season, which brings increased rainfall and the potential for cyclones. While diving remains possible, visibility may decrease, and currents can be stronger due to weather patterns. Despite these factors, many divers still enjoy the rich aquatic life during this period, though planning around weather forecasts is advisable.

Dive Sites

Dive Savusavu, Fiji, PO BOX 013 Cakaudrove

Dream House (★4.6)

Dream House is a seamount the size of a football field. The northern edge has a drop of from 40ft to 250ft. Currents flowing over the seamount attracts many species of pelagic and brings in nutrients which soft coral and other specie of coral feed off.
REEF LIFE TAVEUNI, PO BOX 100 TAVEUNI iSLAND

Great White Wall (★4.8)

The Great White Wall is a world renowned dive site on the Rainbow Reef, featuring a stunning vertical drop covered in glowing white soft corals, when illuminated, it creates an ethereal underwater landscape teeming with colorful reef fish and vibrant marine life
REEF LIFE TAVEUNI, PO BOX 100 TAVEUNI iSLAND

Rainbow Reef (★4.5)

Rainbow Reef i, located between Taveuni and Vanua Levu, is a world famous dive site known for its vibrant coral gardens, abundant marine life, and the stunning Great White Wall a breathtaking underwater cliff blanketed in soft white corals a truly amazing spectacle!