Explore Yasawa Islands

The Yasawa Islands, a stunning chain of volcanic islands in Fiji, offer a unique diving experience that appeals to all levels of divers. Located north of Viti Levu, these islands boast dramatic underwater landscapes, featuring fringing reefs, majestic walls, and captivating swim-throughs. Whether you're a novice or a seasoned diver, the Yasawas provide an array of sites, from vibrant shallow reefs to deep-water adventures teeming with large pelagics.

Diving in the Yasawa Islands is synonymous with encounters with extraordinary marine life. Divers can expect to meet graceful manta rays, various shark species, and a dazzling array of tropical fish, all set against a backdrop of colorful hard and soft corals. The tranquility of these dive sites, combined with options like shore dives and liveaboard trips, allows for an idyllic exploration of this aquatic wonderland. For those visiting between May and October, the chance of spotting manta rays is heightened, while the dry season from July to December ensures cooler waters and exceptional visibility. The Yasawa Islands, with their serene beauty and adventurous spirit, promise an unforgettable diving experience.

Places to explore

Barefoot Manta Island

5 Divesites 1 Center

Barefoot Manta Island, also known as Drawaqa Island, is named after the numerous manta rays that congregate here to feed in the channel off Manta-Ray Beach.

Barefoot Kuata Island

4 Divesites 1 Center

One of the most picturesque of the Yasawa Islands is Barefoot Kuata island.

Dive Sites Show on map

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The Awakening Bull Shark Dive (★4.9)

10 minutes boat ride from Barefoot Kuata, this reef starts shallow at only 3m and slowly descends to 22m with shark feeding stations at both 12m & 22m. The Only dive site in the world where beginners can dive with bull sharks!

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Pandora Reef (★4.8)

A fun explorative Dive Site just around the corner from Barefoot Kuata Front Beach reachable by a 3 minute boat ride. Depending on the direction of the current either way along the winding wall is mesmerizing. Swim throughs and caves are a possibility to explore. Reaching from 3 meters to 15 meters maximum depth.

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Pinnacle (★4.4)

Just a 5 minute boat ride from Barefoot Manta Resort, three large coral bommies sit along side a slopping reef wall. Sandy bottoms surround the edge of each bommie, the deepest sitting at around 18 meters. Over hangs allow for different marine life to grow, such as hanging clams.

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Kuata Back Reef (★4.7)

The Back Wall of Barefoot Kuata Resort is reached by a 4 minute Boat ride. Drifting along the Wall at any depth preferred all the way to a maximum of 18m. Depending on where the current is going you will drift along either side of the wall, from the mooring line until the pick up point where your dive finishes.

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Kuata Front Reef (★4.6)

The shallow Coral Wonderland just off the shore of Barefoot Kuata Resort is the best spot to start your diving adventures or for a Refresher Course. Not deeper than 10 meters, plenty of coral bommies stretch along the whole shore, part of this a coral nursery and coral restoration sites.

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Sea Fan City (★4.6)

About a 10 minute boat ride from Barefoot Kuata Resort you can discover the impressive wall covered in as many Sea Fans as you have never seen before. Drifting along a wall reaching from 3m beneath the water surface all the way down to 28 meters will be an adventure you don´t want to miss out on.

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Tavaniko Point (★4.7)

Tavuniko Point is a dive site boasting multiple large cleaning stations along a ledge and wall to increase the opportunity to see Reef sharks having their mouth and gills cleaned. The wall has many fan corals and a maximum depth of around 40m at the bottom and 12m at the top.

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Picasso (★4.5)

Picasso has a large reef top, with many swim throughs, along with cracks and crevices that break up the reef structure. The dive site slopes down to a sandy bottom, with the reef wall becoming steeper at portions of the site.

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Fantastic Wall (★4.6)

Perfectly named, this wall dive is teeming with lots of soft coral. This site has the highest chance of spotting turtles in our area. It is very diverse with many bends and highs and lows. The highlight is the wall itself.

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Glory Wreck (★4.6)

Glory Wreck is a 43 meter, Chinese long liner, sunk on purpose, that sits above the sandy bottom slowly becoming an artificial reef. Multiple rooms can be entered, including the captain’s wheel house. Other rooms can be observed through torch light, looking at the old boat system.

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Caves of Babylon (★4.7)

A system of large swim throughs, all linking into one central ’cave’. The walls extend up around 20 meters, to reef wall cracks allowing the sunlight to peep inside. Smaller swim throughs branch away from the large path, allowing a variety of options to explore the surrounding reef.

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Garden of Eden (★4.6)

Garden of Eden has a large reef top, with different crevices and cracks that extend to either the sloping or steep drop off, with multiple little swim throughs along the way. The reef wall has a slight current that runs along it, but pockets to tuck into as the wall bends, extending down to a sandy bottom.

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Golden Gate (★4.7)

Golden Gate is a solo coral bommie, sitting alone surrounded by a sandy bottom. The highlight of the bommie is the large swim through at the bottom, with three entry/exit points. The bommie has little over-hangs, where the marine life hide from the current that circles the site.

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Backyard Beach (★4.7)

Backyard Beach reef wall extends 200m along the edge of Drawaqa Island. The top reef sits only 2-4 meters below the waters surface, with the wall extending down to 10m at the sea floor, with several swim throughs scattered along the wall. From the reef wall small coral boomies cover the sea floor down to 18m.

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Pinnacles (★4.6)

Just a 5 minute boat ride from Barefoot Manta Resort, three large coral bommies sit along side a sloping reef wall. Sandy bottoms surround the edge of each bommie, the deepest sitting at around 18 meters. Overhangs allow for different marine life to grow, such as hanging clams.

Diving in Yasawa Islands

The Yasawa Islands in Fiji offer exceptional diving experiences, showcasing a mix of vibrant coral reefs and fascinating marine life. Among the top sites, "The Black Rock" stands out for its stunning underwater rock formations and thriving marine ecosystem. "The Manta Ray Passage" is particularly notable for seasonal encounters with manta rays, offering a breathtaking experience for divers.

While the Yasawa Islands feature a balance of shore and liveaboard diving options, shore dives like "Barefoot Manta" provide easy access to rich coral gardens and diverse marine wildlife. For those interested in wreck diving, the "S.S. President Coolidge" near Santo offers an unforgettable exploration of a submerged World War II liner. Night dives in this region reveal unique behaviors, such as bioluminescent plankton displays, adding an element of magic to the underwater adventure.

The best Months to dive in Yasawa Islands

The Yasawa Islands offer excellent diving conditions year-round, with water temperatures ranging from 25°C–30°C/77°F–86°F. Visibility is typically outstanding, often exceeding 30 meters/98 feet, especially during the drier months. These conditions make the Yasawa Islands a prime destination for divers at any time of the year.

While diving is possible throughout the year, weather factors such as wind and currents can vary. The period from May to October is the most favorable, as it is the dry season with milder winds and more stable conditions. Conversely, the wet season from November to April may bring stronger winds and currents, making some dive sites less accessible. However, the rich marine life remains a constant allure, ensuring rewarding dives even during these months.