Question Fiji: Your top dives (besides the Rainbow Reef dives)

[cetacean]

I don't think Rainbow Reef has the best diving in Fiji. It's very nice but the most impressive pinnacles are at Namena Reserve - which you dive from Savusavu and in Bligh Water - dived from Volivoli Beach Resort.

Try this link to view a discussion on the Best diving in Fiji WHERE IS FIJI'S BEST SCUBA DIVING?

Namena offers the best diving in Fiji... however the easiest way to dive it is from the Namena Island Resort (which is being rebuilt after a severe storm several years ago).

~10 min to even the farthest away sites is unbeatable - just waiting for the (new) resort to open.

 

[TostitoBandito]

Are they rebuilding/reopening Wananavu resort in Volivoli? I dove there many years ago and had some great day trips up into the Bligh pinnacle sites there, though they were long boat rides.

Namena is at the far northeast side of the Bligh waters, and I think many of the sites we were diving were about halfway between them, so long rides from either location.

 

[cetacean]

Wannavu is being rebuit, although there is no opening date.

The Bligh water has good diving, but not as good as the sites around Namena. There is a dive resort being rebuilt on Namena Island, providing very close access to all the world famous dive site around Namea. We stayed there a number of years ago, looking forward to returning when the resort reopens (and have been back on a liveaboard).

The only diving available in Fiji of a similar quality is down in the Lau group, which is both relatively hard to get to and quite expensive ($5k+/night USD).s

 

[Alison in Fiji]

Namena offers the best diving in Fiji... however the easiest way to dive it is from the Namena Island Resort (which is being rebuilt after a severe storm several years ago).

~10 min to even the farthest away sites is unbeatable - just waiting for the (new) resort to open.

Have you dived sites like Instant Replay and Mellow Yellow in Bligh? The soft corals are fantastic but there are larger creatures in Namena. Yeah !! I live on the yacht in Fiji and spend lots of time at Namena - I've had a few mask screamers there!! Hammerheads, giant tuna, a tiger shark !

 

[Alison in Fiji]

Are they rebuilding/reopening Wananavu resort in Volivoli? I dove there many years ago and had some great day trips up into the Bligh pinnacle sites there, though they were long boat rides.

Namena is at the far northeast side of the Bligh waters, and I think many of the sites we were diving were about halfway between them, so long rides from either location.

Yes - they are rebuilding it. Although I'm not sure how dive focused it will be - it has an Indian owner. There are already some villas open. Another operator on Bligh Water is needed.

 

[cetacean]

@Alison in Fiji

I have dived the Bligh many times (both from liveaboard and land-based...). It's very good. My first time diving the area was right after they named E-6. The area is good, but Namena (and actually part of the Lau group) are better.

We saw numerous hammerheads and the occasional tiger shown in the Lau group.

 

[Alison in Fiji]

@Alison in Fiji

I have dived the Bligh many times (both from liveaboard and land-based...). It's very good. My first time diving the area was right after they named E-6. The area is good, but Namena (and actually part of the Lau group) are better.

We saw numerous hammerheads and the occasional tiger shown in the Lau group.

which part of the Lau Group? I'm yet to dive there - and would love to try it. I live on a yacht in Fiji and have a dive compressor !! Lucky me!

 

[JennyFurious]

Hey
I am looking to dive with a shop and to not stay at a resort. Price reasons and I want something a bit more low-key. Do you have any recommendations?

 

[mightymouse1504]

Namena is a must. Can also do from JMC resort, but it's expensive

Beqa Lagoon a must

Bull shark dive at Pacific Harbour is cool

 

[cetacean]

Hey
I am looking to dive with a shop and to not stay at a resort. Price reasons and I want something a bit more low-key. Do you have any recommendations?

@JennyFurious

Most of the good diving in Fiji (outer islands) are tied to resorts with their own dive operations. In the few areas where there are multiple dive operators, you can usually schedule dives with any of them, but they will have to come pick you up (often from a different island).

There are a number backpacker style resorts with dive operations both in the Mamanucas and the Yasawas, that might be your best bet unless you're planning on staying only on Viti Levu (where Nadi is) - which, other than the shark dive in Pacific Harbour (and some of the north coast) would mean you would miss much of the best diving in FIji.

If your goal is to visit Fiji and do a little diving this will work, however if your goal is to dive some of Fiji's best sites, etc. you are much better off picking a dive resort in the region you want to dive.