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. 

Places to explore

Courses and Events

Dive Activity

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.

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

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

1.2k Sightings
J
90
F
90
M
122
A
103
M
151
J
119
J
120
A
143
S
105
O
79
N
46
D
66

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

Total number of species approx.: 27

Barracuda

1.2k Sightings
J
96
F
84
M
188
A
116
M
128
J
102
J
92
A
119
S
106
O
53
N
63
D
68

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

Total number of species approx.: 600

Wrasse

1.2k Sightings
J
113
F
76
M
149
A
81
M
118
J
71
J
164
A
97
S
107
O
68
N
52
D
66

Bull Shark

1.1k Sightings
J
64
F
47
M
53
A
125
M
96
J
129
J
106
A
119
S
115
O
87
N
58
D
65

Green Turtle

751 Sightings
J
40
F
65
M
62
A
55
M
68
J
54
J
66
A
100
S
78
O
52
N
55
D
56

Hawksbill Turtle

349 Sightings
J
19
F
19
M
23
A
16
M
28
J
31
J
37
A
71
S
34
O
32
N
17
D
22

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

Total number of species approx.: 300

Octopus

202 Sightings
J
9
F
4
M
11
A
14
M
15
J
25
J
27
A
28
S
31
O
15
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.: 25

Eagle Ray

193 Sightings
J
14
F
25
M
14
A
10
M
21
J
25
J
27
A
33
S
4
O
7
N
4
D
9

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

Total number of species approx.: 28

Clownfish

3.6k Sightings
J
268
F
384
M
422
A
318
M
350
J
276
J
375
A
263
S
342
O
211
N
174
D
224

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

Total number of species approx.: 90

Angelfish

3.1k Sightings
J
247
F
323
M
361
A
295
M
296
J
224
J
314
A
236
S
274
O
194
N
159
D
198

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

3k Sightings
J
218
F
286
M
367
A
282
M
283
J
235
J
303
A
232
S
283
O
186
N
159
D
171

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

Total number of species approx.: 100

Parrotfish

2.8k Sightings
J
212
F
296
M
379
A
256
M
258
J
192
J
275
A
218
S
240
O
136
N
129
D
188

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

Total number of species approx.: 40

Triggerfish

2.2k Sightings
J
196
F
238
M
288
A
196
M
197
J
118
J
220
A
150
S
192
O
107
N
117
D
145

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

Total number of species approx.: 350

Damselfish

1.9k Sightings
J
163
F
140
M
198
A
157
M
199
J
152
J
216
A
147
S
173
O
95
N
102
D
129

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

Total number of species approx.: 85

Surgeonfish

1.8k Sightings
J
149
F
155
M
256
A
165
M
172
J
119
J
213
A
151
S
110
O
94
N
104
D
108

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

Total number of species approx.: 110

Snapper

1.8k Sightings
J
124
F
155
M
227
A
168
M
178
J
154
J
201
A
138
S
135
O
115
N
87
D
94

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

Total number of species approx.: 8

Bannerfish

1.8k Sightings
J
142
F
185
M
259
A
148
M
169
J
116
J
200
A
129
S
141
O
87
N
87
D
98

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

1.8k Sightings
J
150
F
168
M
279
A
172
M
170
J
107
J
167
A
143
S
142
O
99
N
76
D
87

Whitetip Reef Shark

1.7k Sightings
J
125
F
130
M
229
A
143
M
173
J
145
J
165
A
176
S
120
O
99
N
82
D
105

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

Total number of species approx.: 130

Pufferfish

1.6k Sightings
J
147
F
140
M
250
A
121
M
155
J
114
J
177
A
124
S
135
O
100
N
76
D
89

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

Total number of species approx.: 90

Goatfish

1.4k Sightings
J
141
F
113
M
196
A
118
M
134
J
90
J
164
A
141
S
108
O
76
N
67
D
86

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

Total number of species approx.: 60

Soldierfish

1.4k Sightings
J
116
F
123
M
193
A
102
M
130
J
75
J
164
A
121
S
93
O
80
N
74
D
86

Blacktip Reef Shark

1.2k Sightings
J
85
F
94
M
79
A
150
M
138
J
137
J
127
A
113
S
97
O
71
N
70
D
86

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

1.2k Sightings
J
116
F
93
M
155
A
93
M
93
J
107
J
109
A
119
S
113
O
96
N
49
D
55

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

Total number of species approx.: 3000

Nudibranch

1.2k Sightings
J
122
F
90
M
166
A
92
M
108
J
90
J
100
A
87
S
106
O
80
N
46
D
68

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

Total number of species approx.: 12

Lionfish

1.1k Sightings
J
109
F
99
M
111
A
84
M
110
J
94
J
124
A
115
S
100
O
41
N
59
D
57

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

Total number of species approx.: 40

Jackfish

1.1k Sightings
J
95
F
87
M
152
A
73
M
121
J
69
J
116
A
100
S
83
O
73
N
48
D
71

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

Total number of species approx.: 60

Squirrelfish

1.1k Sightings
J
104
F
110
M
161
A
73
M
95
J
59
J
123
A
88
S
91
O
49
N
54
D
48

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

942 Sightings
J
53
F
38
M
53
A
99
M
94
J
131
J
97
A
105
S
109
O
64
N
53
D
46

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

Total number of species approx.: 3

Trumpetfish

890 Sightings
J
77
F
41
M
125
A
52
M
124
J
75
J
88
A
89
S
66
O
48
N
52
D
53

Grey Reef Shark

874 Sightings
J
74
F
41
M
42
A
102
M
110
J
120
J
93
A
55
S
68
O
67
N
46
D
56

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

Total number of species approx.: 25

Boxfish

847 Sightings
J
77
F
64
M
137
A
66
M
100
J
66
J
97
A
87
S
33
O
42
N
47
D
31

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

Total number of species approx.: 80

Emperor

817 Sightings
J
71
F
74
M
127
A
67
M
84
J
53
J
104
A
60
S
34
O
54
N
50
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

745 Sightings
J
61
F
57
M
89
A
55
M
88
J
86
J
84
A
88
S
45
O
33
N
24
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

620 Sightings
J
61
F
35
M
58
A
58
M
88
J
56
J
60
A
66
S
56
O
27
N
28
D
27

Garibaldi Damselfish

447 Sightings
J
68
F
30
M
90
A
15
M
31
J
10
J
60
A
23
S
35
O
38
N
26
D
21

Moon Jellyfish

436 Sightings
J
34
F
36
M
125
A
37
M
61
J
38
J
58
A
24
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

415 Sightings
J
42
F
16
M
16
A
36
M
89
J
49
J
44
A
54
S
32
O
15
N
6
D
16

Lemon Shark

413 Sightings
J
20
F
15
M
27
A
57
M
37
J
42
J
32
A
57
S
32
O
34
N
19
D
41

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

Total number of species approx.: 80

Stingrays

357 Sightings
J
28
F
37
M
29
A
24
M
28
J
44
J
31
A
37
S
31
O
18
N
18
D
32

Silvertip Shark

351 Sightings
J
22
F
9
M
20
A
47
M
41
J
40
J
23
A
66
S
6
O
15
N
29
D
33

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

Total number of species approx.: 15

Garfish

336 Sightings
J
47
F
13
M
61
A
8
M
39
J
35
J
25
A
54
S
5
O
24
N
11
D
14

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

Total number of species approx.: 20

Porcupinefish

325 Sightings
J
45
F
14
M
65
A
8
M
35
J
45
J
26
A
54
S
6
O
3
N
14
D
10

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

325 Sightings
J
38
F
20
M
9
A
12
M
61
J
37
J
46
A
32
S
37
O
10
N
6
D
17

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

Total number of species approx.: 130

Pipefish

253 Sightings
J
20
F
26
M
30
A
25
M
18
J
19
J
36
A
28
S
9
O
10
N
4
D
28

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

Total number of species approx.: 15

Tuna

207 Sightings
J
27
F
19
M
46
A
10
M
17
J
10
J
10
A
24
S
7
O
8
N
16
D
13

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

Total number of species approx.: 55

Lobster

203 Sightings
J
5
F
8
M
7
A
19
M
53
J
38
J
19
A
21
S
12
O
11
N
5
D
5

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

Total number of species approx.: 2

Tarpon

203 Sightings
J
11
F
18
M
47
A
25
M
18
J
12
J
27
A
10
S
14
O
8
N
7
D
6

Common Seahorse

195 Sightings
J
22
F
32
M
20
A
19
M
14
J
10
J
16
A
11
S
10
O
11
N
6
D
24

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.

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