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Explore Viti Levu

Diving in Viti Levu is possible in many areas, though the top spots include, Beqa Lagoon, Rakiraki, and the Coral Coast. The majority of these dive sites are on the south and north coast of the island. There are plenty of dive operators to choose from, including liveaboard boats. Many dive shops are peppered all over the area, including the Fijian capital of Suva, Nadi city, and even the tranquil Toberua Island, which attracts divers to its quiet, serene beaches and reefs. Denarau Island is equally worth a visit, where picture-perfect beaches and glimmering waters hold stunning coral reefs that astound even experienced divers. 

A major attraction is of course, the sharks. Pacific Harbour on the south west coast is the home of the shark feeding concession at Shark Reef. The Shark Reef Marine Reserve is considered among the must-dive areas in all of Fiji.  Due to its fame and popularity, Shark Reef is visited by dive centers and dive resorts from the Coral Coast, and many other nearby hotspots.  

There’s also easy access to Beqa Island, where the famous Beqa Lagoon lies. Divers can marvel at pinnacles, coral bommies, coral gardens and there are also a couple of small shipwrecks to explore. 

What’s more, the top sites in Bligh Water, another excellent diving area, can be reached within 20-30 minutes by boat from the northern coastal areas, particularly from Volivoli, a well-known resort popular with divers. 

Top Regions to Explore

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Diving in Viti Levu

Viti Levu, Fiji's largest island, offers a diverse array of dive sites catering to both novice and advanced divers. Notable wreck dives include the "TASU II," a former fishing vessel now teeming with vibrant marine life. Popular shore dives like the "Coral Coast" present easy access to colorful reefs and abundant fish species, ideal for divers seeking hassle-free adventures. Additionally, Viti Levu is renowned for its unique underwater experiences, such as night dives where divers can witness the mesmerizing bioluminescence and nocturnal marine behavior. The island strikes a perfect balance between shore and liveaboard diving options. While shore dives provide convenience and flexibility, liveaboard vessels offer the chance to explore more remote sites, ensuring diverse and unforgettable diving experiences. Divers can encounter unique marine life, including manta rays and various shark species, making Viti Levu a must-visit destination for any underwater enthusiast.

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Dive Sites

The best Months to dive in Viti Levu

Viti Levu offers excellent diving conditions year-round, with water temperatures ranging between 26°C–30°C/79°F–86°F. Divers can typically enjoy good visibility, often exceeding 30 meters/98 feet, particularly in the offshore reefs. However, visibility may decrease slightly during the wet season from November to April due to increased rain and river runoffs.

While diving is possible throughout the year, the best conditions are generally found during the dry season from May to October, with calmer seas and clearer waters. During the wet season, stronger winds and currents can occasionally affect dive conditions, but these are generally manageable with the right planning. Divers should be prepared for more unpredictable weather during this time.

Top Wildlife Sightings in Viti Levu

Viti Levu, the largest island in Fiji, offers diverse marine life, making it a prime destination for divers. The vibrant coral reefs surrounding the island are home to a variety of common reef fish such as angelfish, butterflyfish, and parrotfish, creating a colorful underwater landscape. Divers can also encounter schools of barracuda and trevally, particularly in deeper waters where the currents are stronger. Seasonal highlights include sightings of majestic manta rays, typically from May to October, as they glide gracefully through the waters near cleaning stations. Turtle sightings are common year-round, with green and hawksbill turtles frequently seen grazing on seagrass or resting on the reefs. Shark enthusiasts may encounter reef sharks, with the possibility of spotting bull sharks during the warmer months, particularly near river mouths or deeper channels.

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

Bull Shark

Bull Shark

2.1k Sightings
J
124
F
103
M
116
A
213
M
205
J
248
J
245
A
219
S
237
O
148
N
115
D
133

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

Total number of species approx.: 200

Moray Eel

Moray Eel

1.4k Sightings
J
96
F
97
M
138
A
145
M
192
J
144
J
145
A
149
S
109
O
80
N
51
D
64

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

Total number of species approx.: 27

Barracuda

Barracuda

1.4k Sightings
J
96
F
85
M
201
A
177
M
173
J
110
J
150
A
119
S
101
O
54
N
64
D
77

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

Total number of species approx.: 600

Wrasse

Wrasse

1.4k Sightings
J
113
F
78
M
163
A
160
M
156
J
88
J
204
A
97
S
103
O
75
N
62
D
70
Green Turtle

Green Turtle

866 Sightings
J
51
F
70
M
67
A
63
M
74
J
71
J
95
A
112
S
79
O
60
N
61
D
63
Hawksbill Turtle

Hawksbill Turtle

396 Sightings
J
25
F
24
M
27
A
27
M
28
J
33
J
43
A
76
S
34
O
35
N
20
D
24
Tiger Shark

Tiger Shark

300 Sightings
J
26
F
18
M
18
A
19
M
13
J
28
J
27
A
24
S
31
O
25
N
27
D
44

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

Total number of species approx.: 300

Octopus

Octopus

218 Sightings
J
8
F
5
M
9
A
20
M
10
J
25
J
33
A
29
S
29
O
18
N
18
D
14

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

Total number of species approx.: 25

Eagle Ray

Eagle Ray

177 Sightings
J
11
F
23
M
6
A
15
M
20
J
25
J
29
A
32
S
3
O
7
N
1
D
5

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

Total number of species approx.: 28

Clownfish

Clownfish

4.3k Sightings
J
279
F
418
M
479
A
462
M
478
J
355
J
532
A
303
S
356
O
227
N
179
D
244

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

Total number of species approx.: 90

Angelfish

Angelfish

3.8k Sightings
J
257
F
350
M
404
A
439
M
397
J
307
J
504
A
273
S
286
O
210
N
170
D
217

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

Total number of species approx.: 130

Butterfly Fish

Butterfly Fish

3.6k Sightings
J
232
F
314
M
408
A
413
M
382
J
310
J
446
A
258
S
293
O
204
N
169
D
187

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

Total number of species approx.: 100

Parrotfish

Parrotfish

3.4k Sightings
J
225
F
324
M
418
A
401
M
366
J
255
J
418
A
245
S
248
O
137
N
135
D
206

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

Total number of species approx.: 40

Triggerfish

Triggerfish

2.7k Sightings
J
207
F
272
M
325
A
322
M
297
J
181
J
316
A
168
S
194
O
114
N
127
D
160
Whitetip Reef Shark

Whitetip Reef Shark

2.5k Sightings
J
167
F
177
M
280
A
227
M
276
J
234
J
310
A
230
S
187
O
126
N
111
D
136

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

Total number of species approx.: 350

Damselfish

Damselfish

2.2k Sightings
J
164
F
151
M
210
A
233
M
257
J
170
J
299
A
159
S
170
O
106
N
111
D
138

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

Total number of species approx.: 8

Bannerfish

Bannerfish

2.1k Sightings
J
147
F
190
M
273
A
238
M
230
J
136
J
321
A
149
S
141
O
97
N
97
D
114

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

Total number of species approx.: 150

Sweetlips and Grunts

Sweetlips and Grunts

2.1k Sightings
J
156
F
182
M
303
A
274
M
221
J
138
J
278
A
148
S
139
O
106
N
75
D
96

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

Total number of species approx.: 85

Surgeonfish

Surgeonfish

2.1k Sightings
J
154
F
175
M
282
A
257
M
224
J
151
J
266
A
157
S
107
O
94
N
107
D
112

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

Total number of species approx.: 110

Snapper

Snapper

2k Sightings
J
125
F
159
M
243
A
242
M
233
J
178
J
238
A
140
S
129
O
117
N
91
D
94

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

Total number of species approx.: 130

Pufferfish

Pufferfish

1.9k Sightings
J
147
F
146
M
258
A
200
M
217
J
135
J
250
A
129
S
131
O
102
N
76
D
97
Blacktip Reef Shark

Blacktip Reef Shark

1.8k Sightings
J
128
F
139
M
131
A
222
M
209
J
197
J
204
A
149
S
152
O
85
N
105
D
124

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

Total number of species approx.: 2

Nurse Shark

Nurse Shark

1.7k Sightings
J
99
F
88
M
96
A
167
M
167
J
230
J
201
A
184
S
194
O
105
N
95
D
100

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

Total number of species approx.: 60

Soldierfish

Soldierfish

1.6k Sightings
J
120
F
148
M
204
A
191
M
186
J
104
J
208
A
133
S
89
O
79
N
74
D
98

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

Total number of species approx.: 90

Goatfish

Goatfish

1.6k Sightings
J
144
F
113
M
200
A
188
M
160
J
104
J
227
A
144
S
109
O
75
N
68
D
89

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

Total number of species approx.: 3000

Nudibranch

Nudibranch

1.5k Sightings
J
123
F
95
M
176
A
139
M
156
J
117
J
233
A
102
S
112
O
83
N
45
D
73

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

Total number of species approx.: 250

Grouper/Basslets

Grouper/Basslets

1.4k Sightings
J
122
F
101
M
178
A
126
M
121
J
118
J
159
A
138
S
112
O
114
N
56
D
61

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

Total number of species approx.: 12

Lionfish

Lionfish

1.3k Sightings
J
111
F
112
M
118
A
125
M
133
J
103
J
179
A
136
S
102
O
42
N
63
D
69

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

Total number of species approx.: 40

Jackfish

Jackfish

1.3k Sightings
J
97
F
107
M
162
A
133
M
171
J
88
J
150
A
104
S
80
O
71
N
47
D
73

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

Total number of species approx.: 60

Squirrelfish

Squirrelfish

1.2k Sightings
J
104
F
118
M
168
A
145
M
122
J
66
J
181
A
88
S
85
O
49
N
54
D
51
Grey Reef Shark

Grey Reef Shark

1.2k Sightings
J
81
F
64
M
65
A
142
M
143
J
148
J
139
A
82
S
90
O
74
N
59
D
79
Lemon Shark

Lemon Shark

1.2k Sightings
J
72
F
64
M
79
A
119
M
122
J
126
J
122
A
128
S
130
O
60
N
51
D
91

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

Total number of species approx.: 3

Trumpetfish

Trumpetfish

997 Sightings
J
84
F
47
M
124
A
86
M
167
J
93
J
85
A
96
S
59
O
46
N
50
D
60

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

Total number of species approx.: 25

Boxfish

Boxfish

979 Sightings
J
77
F
71
M
142
A
127
M
129
J
65
J
124
A
89
S
30
O
42
N
48
D
35

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

Total number of species approx.: 80

Emperor

Emperor

928 Sightings
J
70
F
78
M
131
A
121
M
124
J
57
J
117
A
61
S
31
O
51
N
48
D
39

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

Total number of species approx.: 250

Scorpionfish

Scorpionfish

807 Sightings
J
60
F
53
M
88
A
71
M
112
J
88
J
120
A
85
S
43
O
30
N
22
D
35

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

Total number of species approx.: 3400

Shrimp

Shrimp

629 Sightings
J
64
F
33
M
56
A
71
M
86
J
55
J
70
A
62
S
51
O
23
N
27
D
31
Silvertip Shark

Silvertip Shark

588 Sightings
J
31
F
23
M
39
A
77
M
64
J
70
J
70
A
77
S
28
O
24
N
35
D
50
Garibaldi Damselfish

Garibaldi Damselfish

473 Sightings
J
63
F
31
M
92
A
44
M
39
J
14
J
61
A
17
S
28
O
38
N
24
D
22
Moon Jellyfish

Moon Jellyfish

441 Sightings
J
31
F
36
M
124
A
54
M
64
J
27
J
60
A
22
S
19
O
0
N
2
D
2

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

Total number of species approx.: 7000

Crab

Crab

359 Sightings
J
39
F
14
M
14
A
38
M
73
J
37
J
34
A
49
S
25
O
14
N
6
D
16

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

Total number of species approx.: 15

Garfish

Garfish

321 Sightings
J
43
F
14
M
56
A
29
M
42
J
24
J
21
A
47
S
2
O
22
N
9
D
12

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

Total number of species approx.: 80

Stingrays

Stingrays

318 Sightings
J
27
F
33
M
25
A
27
M
26
J
39
J
35
A
22
S
28
O
14
N
12
D
30

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

Total number of species approx.: 20

Porcupinefish

Porcupinefish

296 Sightings
J
40
F
12
M
53
A
18
M
52
J
30
J
11
A
50
S
5
O
2
N
10
D
13

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

Total number of species approx.: 60

Spiny Lobster

Spiny Lobster

283 Sightings
J
34
F
20
M
8
A
11
M
50
J
27
J
38
A
33
S
28
O
11
N
5
D
18

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

Total number of species approx.: 130

Pipefish

Pipefish

233 Sightings
J
16
F
26
M
25
A
32
M
18
J
14
J
34
A
20
S
8
O
10
N
5
D
25
Common Seahorse

Common Seahorse

214 Sightings
J
22
F
32
M
19
A
26
M
15
J
13
J
29
A
8
S
10
O
11
N
6
D
23

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

Total number of species approx.: 15

Tuna

Tuna

200 Sightings
J
28
F
16
M
40
A
32
M
16
J
7
J
7
A
20
S
2
O
7
N
13
D
12

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

Total number of species approx.: 2

Tarpon

Tarpon

179 Sightings
J
8
F
18
M
42
A
35
M
18
J
12
J
12
A
9
S
8
O
8
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 approx.: 120

Flounder

Flounder

148 Sightings
J
24
F
10
M
29
A
31
M
8
J
5
J
8
A
6
S
7
O
5
N
5
D
10

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

Total number of species approx.: 55

Lobster

Lobster

136 Sightings
J
1
F
4
M
5
A
13
M
41
J
22
J
13
A
16
S
5
O
10
N
3
D
3

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

Total number of species approx.: 3500

Soft Corals

Soft Corals

116 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
6
M
3
J
2
J
100
A
5
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 approx.: 1500

Hard Corals

Hard Corals

114 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
6
M
1
J
2
J
99
A
6
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

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