Astrolabe vs. Rainbow Reef areas

[yellowfish]

Any experience comparing the two main diving areas in Fiji (Astrolabe or Rainbow Reef)? Is one better for bigger marine life or more of it? *Is one area less likely to have strong currents most of the time? What about ease of getting to the dive sites and wall vs. reef? Astrolabe is down by Kadavu and Rainbow Reef up by Taveuni. Any reason to choose one area over the other? What about the outlying island groups? Do they have anything that compares with these two areas?

 

[1davey]

I dove up at Bequa Lagoon the first week I was there. Then at Matava the second week. Matava was a great location to get to the Astrolabe Reef. None of the dive sites were more than 15 to 20 Min's. away. The reefs were pristine. I did not see any areas of coral bleaching. Lots of hard corals and a substantial amount of softy's. They had big critters galore, Mantas, humpback whales that were calving. I was there in the first week of Aug. last year. Saw Sea crates, Leaf scorpion fish. Dove the outside edge of the reef. Also dove the gap in the reef on the incoming tide, fun. Pretty good current about like Cozumel. I have not dove Taviuni yet. The north side of Kandavu there is a spot to see Hammerheads.

 

[yellowfish]

1dwyatt...may I ask who you dove with (what dive shop?) thanks

 

[ColoDale]

I have not dived Astrolabe but I did dive quite a bit around Taveuni (SomoSomo straights, Rainbow and White Wall).
When we were there during the month of April there was quite a bit a current and surge in the straights. Some of the diving was there was a bit of work. Still good though but shorter dives. This could have been just seasonal or tide related those days. There is a pretty good tide. Some in ther group described it as adventure diving. Generally the descriptions of the area say there is less current but I can't attest to that.

We dove alot around Qamea and Matangi where the current and surge was not nearly as strong. Yellow wall and Noels wall had less current and virtually no surge and I preferred them. These had more fish, healthier coral, and better walls IMO. I understand that a cyclone had passed recently and there were shallower places in the Somosomo straights that were stripped bare or damaged though that made it easier to spot blue ribbon eels. This was about 5 years ago.
We did not see alot of bigger marine life though we did see an occasional shark or Ocotpus (day). Mostly the Taveuni area had lot's of soft coral and smaller fish (schools). The most fish we saw was at Yellow and Noel's walls.
I do have some Fiji photos in my SB gallery though not many of Somosomo straights except for one of soft coral and a blue ribbon eel taken in the rainbow reef area. All the others are Yellow/Noels wall and Qamea.

 

[1davey]

I dove with Madfish they were the house dive shop at Matava. Here is the link for Matava Eco resort: News | Matava - Fijis Premier Eco Adventure Resort They were a great Operation. Looking to going back there.

 

[Travelnsj]

I dove the Astrolabe reef last year (have a TR posted)...I would not waste my time going back. We cut two Buoys from long liners. Coral and marine life is overrated. I did get up to Wananavu and dove the Bligh waters...that was exceptional but getting there from a land based operation is a bit iffy due to weather and/or if you are not with a group you need 6 or more divers.