Sharks + Soft Corals - Fiji's Best Scuba Diving !

Where else can you lock eyes with a bull shark in the morning and drift through a rainbow medley of pulsating soft corals by lunch ?

For the twin thrills of shark diving and the kaleidoscopic explosion of soft corals then Fiji is the best scuba dive destination on planet Earth.

If you have been dreaming of a dive trip that combines two different types of magic, stop scrolling. Fiji doesn't just do 'great diving' - it owns two of the most sought - after experiences on the planet : world class encounters with sharks - the apex predators of the oceans & the most ethereal soft coral gardens.

And the best part? You can tick both of these boxes without even changing islands!!

Lets Dive In!

Part 1 : Shark Dive Central - Beqa Lagoon

Forget everything you thought you knew about sharks. These incredible apex predators are spectacular creatures which will leave you in awe rather than fear. Critical to a healthy ocean and the equilibrium of the food web of our seas, these sharks are revered and held in respect - the 'rockstars' of the Fijian reef, not the villians.

Beqa Lagoon is positioned due South of Fiji's main island, Viti Levu, and the Shark Marine Reserve is a protected community run dive area where up to eight species of shark can often be seen. We're talking

• Bull sharks - the main event - big, bold and beautiful - living in and around the river mouths of Viti Levu these resident bull sharks move in deep ocean channels and will give birth in the river mouths in November.

• Tiger sharks - bucket list material - regulars at Beqa Lagoon Resort's proprietorial dive site, the Cathedral, an individual or two can also sometimes be spotted at other shark feeds accessed from

• Pacific Harbour dive operators.

• Lemon, silver tips, nurse sharks, grey reef, white and black tips are also regular visitors seeking a feed

The dive is a controlled, baited feed - tightly managed and has turned a former overfished reef into a thriving marine protected area. Local villagers went from shark fishing to shark protection.

What to expect - divers knewwl on the coral free sea bed at around 20 - 25 metres behind a low rock wall. Then the show begins. Bull sharks glide past so close you can count their gill slits. The current hums, your heart hammers. The dive guides keep everything safe, calm and respectful.

Pro tip : May to October for better viz ... bull shark numbers are lower in November and December during birthing season

5 burly bull sharks form a line!

Part 2 : Soft Coral Heaven - Bligh Water and Beyond!

After your adrenaline fix, it's time to get colour-blind. Fij's soft corals aren't just pretty - they're explosively stunning. Pinks, purples, oranges and reds that look like they're glowing.

The undisputed champ for us is the Vatu - I - Ra marine park in Bligh Water. Bligh Water diving also is done from the northern tip of Fiji's main island, Viti Levu - a 2.5 hour drive from Nadi Airport. It has 80 world class dive sites, is only dived by a few divers and enjoys the most densely packed soft corals, vast numbers of fish and soft corals in every colour and species imaginable. Elsewhere Rainbow Reef and Namena Marine Reserve also offer spectacular soft coral diving.

Mellow Yellow is an offshore sea mount draped in tangerine Dendronepthya

Must Dive Fiji Wide : Soft Coral Sites

Bligh Water

• Mellow Yellow : offshore dual bommies draped in yellows and sea fans, larger neighbouring bommie covered in purple soft corals and red sea fans, anemomes and clownfish parternships at 5 metres make for a glorious safety stop

• Pot Luck : series of swimthroughs in pinks and yellow soft corals, sea fans, large 'bushes' of sun corals. Barracuda schools

• Mount Mutiny: sea mount in open ocean dropping away sharply to the depths and encircled by huge fussilier schools. Sea whips, fans, soft corals cover the formation which teems with vibrant fish. Spot turtles, Maori Wrasse, barracuda and trevally

• E6 : stunning bommie characterised by overhangs and ledges covered in vibrant cerise and orange dangling soft corals with a hard coral top

Namena Marina Reserve

• North Save a Tack : an elongated ledge dived on an incoming current with several large soft coral covered in soft corals and fish. Large schools of trevally and barracuda can be seen and grey reef sharks patrol the area. Spot malabar groupers, spanish mackerel, tuna and occasionally a hammerhead school

• Kansas: a photographer's dream site. Small bommie at 8 - 12 metres with a top covered in Sinularia soft corals dotted with clownfish and anemone combos, fizzes in fish in the current, pink and purple soft corals cover the walls of the bommie and a soft coral filled window provides photographic opportunies and macro spotting

Rainbow Reef

• The Great White Wall : The crown jewel of the Rainbow Reef is the legendary Great White Wall - a sheer wall descending to 100 metres covered in vertical swathes of lavender glowing soft corals. Purple and red sea fans and whips cohabit the coral wall. An absolutely ethereal experience for experienced divers.

North Save a Tack Passage - Namena Marine Reserve

Pro Diver Tips for Fiji

As the secret to soft coral health is current - you can expect it in Fiji ! All of Fiji's top dive sites bave nutrient rich current pushed through twice a day. That means drift diving (or hanging out on the leeward side of the reef). Relax, the reef races past and the polyps wave hello.

• Bring a reef hook and a surface marker buoy (SMB)

• Exposure: water is around 25 - 29°C in winter and 28-33°C in summer. Bring a 3 mm or 5 mm wetsuit and a wind cheater for the dive boat.

• Cameras - most Fiji dive resorts have camera facilities and a bucket of fresh water on the dive boat. Bring the widest wide angle lens you can find - Fiji's reefs are grand canvases waiting for you.

• Shark dives are extremely well run - Listen to the briefings. Don't touch and keep your arms in.

Final Verdict : Shark and Soft Coral Diving

The very best of Fiji's sharks and vibrant soft coral sea mounts are dived in a simple convenient two destination trip on the main Viti Levu island - with scenic road travel rather than resorting to internal flights. This means 5 or 6 day trips still mean you can see the very best of Fiji without losing dive days or adding extra expense.

Pack your dive gear, book your flights or perhaps join our Waterlust Fiji Dive Trip 'Sharks and Soft Corals 2027'.

Sharks and Soft Corals Itinerary August 2027