Fiji, “the Soft Coral Capital of the World,” is
rated as one of the top ten dive destinations in the world.
It is well deserved.
Fiji’s vast, varied and colorful underwater playgrounds
boast something spectacular for tropical island divers at every
skill level…breathtaking hard and soft corals, wall dives,
caves, grottos and shipwrecks. Fiji is truly a diver’s
paradise where the daily menu is so diversified that it is sometimes
difficult to believe you are in the same country.
Choosing the right dive operator for your needs is crucial
to having a successful diving experience. There are a wide
variety of diving opportunities on offer in Fiji, for all
levels of experience, as well as for those wishing to learn
scuba diving, in each region and budget range.
Many operators employ multilingual dive masters and instructors
to cater to Japanese, Korean, and European divers for those
wishing to learn about diving in their native tongue.
Open water SCUBA courses cost between $300 and $720 and specialty
certifications start at $200. All of the major scuba diving
training agencies such as PADI, NAUI, and SSI are represented
in Fiji.
You must present valid scuba certification record and your
dive logbook as proof of experience and training.
Most diving services include the tank and weights and many
also have full snorkeling and scuba equipment for rent.
Most divers visiting Fiji wear a 3mm wetsuit, some need only
a Lycra skin in summer, and others wear 5mm suits in winter
if doing repetitive diving.
Single Tank Dive: F$50.00 - F$110.00
Two Tank Dive: F$85.00 - F$185.00
Night Dive: F$50.00 - F$100.00
Open Water Cert: F$300.00 - F$720.00
Specialty Course: F$200.00 - F$400.00
Equipment Rental: F$$10.00 - F$80.00 per day
The Fiji Islands sit far enough from the equator to have
relatively mild summer heat but close enough to have warm
balmy winters too! The ‘dry’ season in Fiji is
May to October and the ‘wet’ season is November
to April. But Fiji’s weather varies greatly geographically.
The leeward (west) sides of the major high islands including
Viti, Levu, and Vanua Levu are protected from the prevailing
south east trade winds and receive less rainfall than the
windward sides of the islands.
Winter. May – October. Trade winds constant and ocean
visibility best.
Water temperature 25 – 27C (77-80F).
Average air temps 20 – 26C (68-79F)
Summer. November to April. Hotter and more humid.
Water temperature 27 – 29C (80-84F).
Average air temps 23 – 30C (73-89F).
Live-aboard Scuba Diving
Nai'a offers the ‘Best of World-Class Diving’
at an unrivalled variety of sites. This "Nai'a Triangle"
of Lomaiviti, Bligh Water and Namena is the focus of their
regular itineraries, covering about 500 nautical miles. Nai'a
has journeyed throughout Fiji, in all directions and to every
corner of the country's boundaries -- and beyond. They've
found beautiful sites and dramatic attractions in every region
and are still exploring new places. But the central region
has proved the most consistent in the quality and health of
terrain’s, animals and conditions. Lomaiviti's coral
reefs and islands are Fiji's most dynamic and varied: voracious
sharks to vibrant soft corals. Live-aboard charter fees include
all diving (often unlimited) meals, accommodations and transfers
for the duration of the voyage.
Since this is your "once in a lifetime" scuba diving
vacation, plan your Fiji vacation with your "Fiji expert".
Margi Arnold is a Fiji Matai Specialist
and certified travel consultant (CTC)
specializing in scuba vacations to the islands of Fiji. Submit
your vacation questionnaire or contact
Margi at 303-694-8786 or 888-568-4432
to plan your Fiji scuba diving vacation.
