Beginner Diving in Fiji

With picture-perfect white-sand beaches, swaying coconut palms and calm tropical seas, Fiji is the poster child for paradisical holidays. Even better, below the waves lie a stunning selection of epic dive sites. Unofficially crowned the ‘soft coral capital of the world,’ Fiji is home to over 230 species of hard and soft coral, and its dive sites are an explosion of colour. From coral-covered vertical walls and some of the world’s prettiest coral gardens, to manta rays and bull sharks in the deep blue, Fiji has something to astound every diver. Although some dive sites are prone to strong currents (and best left to the experts), beginner diving in Fiji is no less impressive than the fast drifts. Prepare to expand your diving horizons with our pick of the best diving for beginners in Fiji...

Vanua Levu

Fiji's second-largest island, Vanua Levu, is a great place to start your Fijian adventure. The island boasts an impressive selection of hotels - including romantic options and family-oriented resorts - while the Namena Marine Reserve, located a 40-minute speedboat ride away, houses spectacular dive sites. With sites suited to all skill levels, beginners can stick to the reserve's shallow coral gardens for kaleidoscopic colours and abundant marine life. Don't fancy venturing far? There's a sublime selection of local dive sites to explore, too, with healthy coral and diverse creatures at every turn. Vanua Levu is a great place to explore beginner diving in Fiji.

Beqa Lagoon

One of the most famous dives in Fiji - and one of our firm favourites - is Beqa Lagoon. There are few places in the world that offer the experience of diving alongside eight different species of sharks, and Beqa (pronounced Benga) is one of them. Bull sharks, tiger sharks, sicklefin lemon sharks, tawny nurse sharks, silvertip sharks, grey reef sharks, white-tipped reef sharks and black-tipped reef sharks all regularly show up for Beqa's signature dive. Although the dive can get the heart racing, it's not technically difficult, so it's suitable for beginners (don't worry, less-experienced divers will spend their time sticking close to their guides). In short, a dive trip to Fiji without experiencing the Beqa shark show would be criminal.

Taveuni

Taveuni sits on the opposite side of the Somosomo Strait from Vanua Levu and offers the chance to dive some of the world's most colourful reefs and walls. The Rainbow Reef is comprised of a number of legendary dives, including the famed Great White Wall, Yellow Wall and Purple Wall. Reef sharks, mantas and hammerheads can all be seen in the area, and many describe it as the pinnacle of Fijian diving. While experienced divers can enjoy some epic drifts, there are plenty of accessible sites for beginners to get stuck into, too. Diving in Fiji is about big fish and colourful soft corals, and Taveuni has them both in spades.