Fiji
Brilliant soft corals may be Fiji's signature dive attraction, but there's much more to the underwater story here. With more than 320 islands to choose from, divers never run out of options. The largest island of Viti Levu offers easy access to the widest range of sites (including the world-famous Beqa Lagoon and the shark encounters off Pacific Harbour) and has the most extensive diving infrastructure. Vanua Levu and Taveuni, to the north, feature otherworldly walls of snowy soft coral. And the smaller islands of the Yasawas, the Lau Group, the Mamanucas, the Lomaivitis and Kadavu each have a distinct underwater appeal. Acres of plate and staghorn corals have colonized the Yasawas and Mamanucas, considered to have some of the best vis in all Fiji. The bommies off the outer Lomaivitis are known for pelagics drawn to their shoals of baitfish, and the Great Astrolabe Reef of Kadavu is a top spot for big animal encounters.
Dive In
Weather: Temps stay in the low 80s most of the year and dip to about 75 degrees from May to October. The best conditions occur from March to December.
Average Water Temp: Anywhere from the mid-70s in cool months (May to October) to the mid-80s in January and February.
Average Visibility: Excellent--in the triple digits most of the year, although plankton blooms and rainfall can lower the vis during the rainy season.
Currency: Fijian dollar (F$).
Time: Fiji is 20 hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time.
Direct Dial Code: 011-679.
Language: Fijian, though English is widely spoken and understood.
Electricity: 240 volts, 50 cycles. Larger hotels also have 110-volt razor sockets.
Entry Documents: U.S. citizens need a passport and a return ticket.
Departure Tax: F$30.
For More Info: Fiji Visitors Bureau, www.bulafiji.com.
Brilliant soft corals may be Fiji's signature dive attraction, but there's much more to the underwater story here. With more than 320 islands to choose from, divers never run out of options. The largest island of Viti Levu offers easy access to the widest range of sites (including the world-famous Beqa Lagoon and the shark encounters off Pacific Harbour) and has the most extensive diving infrastructure. Vanua Levu and Taveuni, to the north, feature otherworldly walls of snowy soft coral. And the smaller islands of the Yasawas, the Lau Group, the Mamanucas, the Lomaivitis and Kadavu each have a distinct underwater appeal. Acres of plate and staghorn corals have colonized the Yasawas and Mamanucas, considered to have some of the best vis in all Fiji. The bommies off the outer Lomaivitis are known for pelagics drawn to their shoals of baitfish, and the Great Astrolabe Reef of Kadavu is a top spot for big animal encounters.
Dive In
Weather: Temps stay in the low 80s most of the year and dip to about 75 degrees from May to October. The best conditions occur from March to December.
Average Water Temp: Anywhere from the mid-70s in cool months (May to October) to the mid-80s in January and February.
Average Visibility: Excellent--in the triple digits most of the year, although plankton blooms and rainfall can lower the vis during the rainy season.
Currency: Fijian dollar (F$).
Time: Fiji is 20 hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time.
Direct Dial Code: 011-679.
Language: Fijian, though English is widely spoken and understood.
Electricity: 240 volts, 50 cycles. Larger hotels also have 110-volt razor sockets.
Entry Documents: U.S. citizens need a passport and a return ticket.
Departure Tax: F$30.
For More Info: Fiji Visitors Bureau, www.bulafiji.com.
