The Fiji 10 Day Itinerary covers reefs that are remote and vast, but a long way from shore, with most of the area still uncharted and the dive sites untouched
Central Fiji offers outstanding diving, no doubt about it. The best dive sites are the Fijian islands and barrier reefs near Vatu-i-ra in Bligh Water and Namena, Wakaya, and Gau in the Koro Sea. On ten-day charters there is more time available to dive other reefs in the Koro Sea, some of them near Namena and others near nowhere!
One of several reefs on the northern side of Bligh Water, UndeNAI’Able consists of one large and two smaller sloping pinnacles that top out just below the surface. They concentrate schools of trevally and barracuda and the hard coral supports all the usual suspects including several of Fiji’s endemics: the Fiji anemone fish, flasher wrasse and Terry’s dwarfgobie.
Cat's Meow: This dive site lies in deep water but is protected from the swell by the Vuya barrier reef. The name says it all: Rob named it for his wife, Cat Holloway, because it was the best dive site he'd ever seen. Much of the gorgeous soft coral featured in the IMAX film Coral Reef Adventure was shot here.
Vatu-i-ra: There are seven very distinct dives on the Vatu-i-ra barrier reef, several of which are among the best coral reef dives in the world. The barrier reef protrudes north from Viti Levu into the Vatu-i-ra Channel, narrowing the channel to only 4.5 miles across. This is the same body of water that supports E-6 and Mt. Mutiny.
E-6: A seamount rising sheer-sided from 3,000ft right in the center of the narrowest part of Bligh Water's Vatu-i-ra channel, E-6 intercepts the flow of nutrients funneled between the two large islands of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu. Extraordinary diving! Pelagics are normally found on the two sides of the pinnacle flushed by currents, while delicate soft corals and fans decorate the protected lee side where NAI'A moors. Dives at E-6 feature schooling barracuda, trevally, and surgeonfish, occasional hammerhead sharks and eagle rays, and a plethora of reef fish including anthias, fusiliers, and leaf scorpionfish.
Namena Marine Reserve
North Save-a-tack Passage: This dive site has it all; concentrated schools of big fish and beautiful soft coral bommies. Descend into the blue and level off at 95’ at an expansive sandy bottom alongside a sheer drop-off from which dogtooth tuna, grey reef sharks and the occasional scalloped hammerhead come in to upset things. The bottom camouflages a few large, over-fed grouper waiting to nail any fish staying low to hide from the grey reef sharks swimming among barracuda and trevally schools overhead.
Two Thumbs Up, Tetons, Mushrooms: Each of these distinct dive sites on Namena’s southerly barrier reef consists of two pinnacles of pleasure rising from 60-90’ to 15’ and covered in fans and soft corals as thick and colourful as any in Fiji – the perfect sites for wide angle photographers.
Koro Sea
Gau: Jim's Alley & Anthias Avenue
Jim's and Anthias are soft coral gardens in shallow water, home to zillions of reef fish. They are prime examples of the kind of soft coral diving for which Fiji is famous. Cluttered with multihued soft coral and nearly every kind of reef fish known, they often leave divers in awe. As an added bonus, they are a regular stop for mantas, who can frequently be found feeding in the adjacent channel during the waning tide.
Gau: Nigali Passage: This narrow channel through the surrounding barrier reef concentrates pelagics from miles around. Home to 10-25 female grey reef sharks and their offspring, the passage also concentrates a huge school of trevally, three age-segregated schools of barracuda, and several big Malabar grouper.
Wakaya: The dive sites are along the edge of the barrier reef bordering a 3,000ft deep channel that leads to the Vatu-i-ra Passage and through which pass humpback, sperm and pilot whales. During dives you can often see resident manta rays at cleaning stations and hammerhead sharks frequently come up to check you out. Grey reef and whitetip sharks are resident along the drop-off but it is the healthy coral and the critters that live in it that often excite divers the most: blue-ribbon eels, leaf scorpionfish and posing lionfish. The shelf just above the deep drop-off is home to the very rare Helfrich’s dartfish.
Many dive sites are current dependent and detailed local knowledge is critical in order to maximise the number of great dives in the best spots. For that reason the NAI’A does not offer a fixed itinerary, instead routes are tailored to suit each trip to the tides and weather that week.