The warm, shallow waters of many of Fiji’s reef-fringed lagoons are ideal training locations, and the climate makes it a year-round dive destination.
Most Fiji resorts have their own diving operators who can provide everything from initial resort dives for beginners to open-water certification for those looking to advance their abilities.
If you’re interested in seeing sharks, manta rays, or whales, diving in Tahiti and surrounding French Polynesia is one of the top destinations in the world.
Because of the underwater geography of its passageways, French Polynesia is one of the only places in the world with dive spots where you may nearly always observe hundreds of sharks without having to bait or feed them. These natural gates in the coral barrier reefs allow water to travel between the lagoon and the nutrient-rich lagoon.

DIVING FIJI VS TAHITI – WHERE TO GO?

FIJI

THE MAMANUCA AND YASAWA ISLANDS

Sitting north-west of Viti Levu, there are around 50 islands that make up the Mamanuca and Yasawa Islands which are great for beginners. They’re close to Nadi, the capital of Fiji and where most international flights arrive, plus they’re easy to get to. Here the dive sites are generally safe for beginners and many resorts have coral gardens and easy places to explore if you’re keen to move from snorkeling to diving.

If you’re new to diving, the coral-studded underwater cliff in the Yasawa Island chain, called Lekima’s Ledge, is a good place to start. The slowly descending ridges allow you to explore deeper as your confidence grows and the site attracts plenty of fish as well as ample coral gardens.

Experienced divers should check out the Great White Wall off Tavenui – possibly the best soft-coral dive in Fiji – the Nasonisoni Passage off Vanua Levu, and E6 in the Lomaiviti Islands, which features a phenomenal seamount that brushes the ocean’s surface.

VANUA LEVU AND TAVENUI

Fiji’s second and third-biggest islands are just a short flight or boat ride north of Viti Levu and are a diver’s paradise.

Here Tavenui’s Great White Wall is a fabulous dive that is often described as the best dive in the Fiji, thanks to the amazing colors, the stunning array of hard corals and the kaleidoscope of reef fish.

In Vanua Levu head to Namena Marine Reserve, a protected 27 square mile park, a two-hour boat ride from Savusavu. Some of the best sites here include Dreadlocks, with its multicolored hard and soft-coral garden and Dreamhouse, home to schools of barracuda, jacks and tuna; and Dungeons and Dragons, a towering maze of swim throughs.

VITI LEVU

Along Fiji’s main island of Viti Levu divers can reach Bligh Water and the Vatu-i-Ra Passage, which is famous for its rich marine life. Keen divers will head to Breath Taker dive site – with the clue in its name. This dive site has coral-carpeted pillars that stand 80 feet high brimming with reef fish, plus big open water species including slick and stripy barracuda.

TAHITI

THE AQUARIUM

The Aquarium is Tahiti’s most popular dive site and has a large sandy basin inside a lagoon with turquoise water and an idyllic setting.

There is a coral reef with an abundance of small fish: lionfish, angelfish, triggerfish and many more.

There are two schooners and a Cessna plane wreck also, making it perfect for a beginner’s first wreck dive.

THE MARADO

The Marado dive site starts at the edge of a sheer wall that plunges deeply into the blue. Nudibranches are common here alongside Napoleon wrasse, blacktip reef sharks, trevallies and snappers. There are also eels roaming freely around the reef which really make this an exciting dive.

THE CARGO SHIP AND THE CATALINA

This lagoon dive site features a shipwreck and an aircraft wreck. The ship begins at around 13m and descends to 25m; you swim the whole way through looking at the jumble of wires, pipes and collapsed beams. The wooden hull cladding has mostly rotted away with the wooden ribs appearing to be a skeleton with schools of fish swimming around. You’ll also be able to see a vintage WW2 Catalina flying boat which was scuttled in 1964. The local residents of this include clownfish and anemones.

MIRI MIRI, IN RAIATEA/BORA BORA

The gently sloping reefs of this dive site are filled with black tip reef sharks, turtles and notably giant Napoleon wrasse. It is sometimes referred to as the ‘roses’ also because of the fields of montipora coral that resemble a carpet of roses.

TUPITIPITI POINT, BORA BORA

This is a spectacular dive with a huge reef filled with caves, swim throughs and overhangs. The attraction here is not marine life, but you can see whitetip reef sharks patrolling, turtles swimming around the point and the usual array of smaller fish. It is famous for its purple coral, blue and red branching corals alongside red, green and orange sponges. It is a difficult to reach but well worth it especially for photographers looking for interesting terrain.

BEST TIME FOR DIVING FIJI VS TAHITI

The dive season in Fiji is year round with visibility between 15m and 50m. However, the winter months of April to October are the most popular times to dive in Fiji when the visibility tends to peak between the months of July and early December when the water is cooler.

In Tahiti, the best time to visit for diving is also during the winter months of May to October. Generally you’ll find the weather to be drier and the water cooler, which allows for greater visibility.

The rainy season in Tahiti is from November to April, where underwater visibility isn’t as good, however the plankton draws more oceanic fish into the water, making diving just as interesting. November is also a good time to spot whales in and around Tahiti.