Building Reef Highways and Exploring Soft Coral Reefs and Walls in Fiji
Emily C, Eleanor and Jacqui are here to help give you the inside track.
See why Fiji is the soft coral capital of the world on this 14-day itinerary, which will have you staying on two different islands during your stay. Aside from being awe-struck by the pillowy plumage of coral covering the reefs and walls, you'll also have the chance to do some conservation work with a team of marine biologists. Spending a day underwater building reef foundations that will one day thrive is a fulfilling and fun way to give back to this stunning section of the globe.
Itinerary at a Glance:
- Dive the world-famous Great White Wall and Rainbow Reef dive sites
- Explore the strong currents of the Somosomo Strait alongside manta rays, hammerheads, reef sharks, turtles and all manner of fish
- Discover the abundant macro life hiding among the soft and hard corals
- Assist a marine biologist team in creating coral highways, resulting in a thriving reef that will offer shelter to an entire ecosystem.
Why Book with Original Diving?
When To Travel
All of the holidays we create are completely tailor-made to you
Day 1-2: Off to Fiji
Your two-week Fiji adventure begins today! Your journey will transport you to the other side of the globe, taking approximately 26 hours to complete. A stopover in Los Angeles will help break up the trip, before the final leg of the journey takes you to your palm-tree paradise.
Day 3: Welcome to Paradise
After an early morning arrival in Nadi, you'll take a short domestic flight to Taveuni, where our driver will be waiting to transfer you to your tropical resort. Settle in to your ocean view bure (hut) and later on, head to the dive centre to chat over your next few days of diving.
Days 4-7: Soft Corals Galore
Spend the next four days discovering why Fiji is known as the soft coral capital of the world. Aside from the unlimited access to shore diving (between 7am-5pm), you'll be able to explore the myriad dive sites around this charming island. Taveuni's close proximity to the Somosomo Strait makes it the ideal launching point for Fiji's best diving. The ripping currents through this area create the perfect environment for soft corals to thrive. The world-famous Great White Wall is not to be missed. A steep sloping wall covered in white coral trees descends into the abyss, giving off the illusion of an underwater winter wonderland. The Rainbow Reef dive site shows off its abundance of vibrant soft corals, while coral and critter junkies alike will be satiated with the manta rays, hammerheads, reef sharks and abundance of macro life that reside on other nearby sites. Plan your trip between July and September and you may even spot the occasional humpback whale as well!
Day 8: Onward to Yasawa
Today you'll bid farewell to Taveuni, but have no fear, your holiday isn't done yet! Your next stop is the Yasawa Islands. You'll be collected from your hotel and transferred back to the Taveuni Airport where you'll board a flight back to Nadi. After landing in Nadi, you'll be transferred to the port where you'll take a speedboat ride to your beachfront resort on the Yasawa Islands.
Day 9: Build a Reef Highway
Today you'll take part in a novel project side-by-side with the local marine biology team at your resort as they continue to construct underwater highways between the coral pinnacles on their house reef. Alongside the dive team, you'll help to create a sort of coral finger foundation out of rubble pieces and dead coral skeletons, which will gradually support baby corals that latch onto its stable structure, eventually thriving into one large reef system. To date, this project has constructed several hundred meters of reef highways networking their house reef, which can be seen from above. On your dive you'll be able to see a bustling fish population cruising these highways and making use of the cracks and crevices for protection.
Days 10-12: Days at Leisure
Spend your next few days at leisure; go for a few more dives, exploring the stunning reefs, walls and wrecks that surround the area, or stay surface side by snorkelling or paddling the tranquil water, catching glimpses of the plethora of reef fish and stunning coral cover beneath you. Don't forget to take a little time to luxuriate on a sun lounger on the silky beach, soaking in every last bit of holiday warmth.
Days 13-14: Goodbye (for now)
All-too-quickly your time in Fiji has come to an end. After a leisurely morning, you'll take the speedboat transfer back to Nadi where you'll board your evening flight home via LA, arriving the next day.
All of the holidays we create are completely tailor-made to you
A Rough Idea of Price
This Itinerary
If you would like to book the exact itinerary mentioned above, with economy flights, during mid-season and staying in our preferred room category at our preferred hotels.
From
£5,154pp
Bare Necessities
If you would like to pare back the above itinerary by travelling at non-peak times, staying in a standard room and removing some or all of the guided activities.
From
£4,482pp
Bells & Whistles
If you are looking for something extra special and would like to add business or first class flights, stay in top room categories at some of the most luxurious hotels we work with, and add more activities and guiding.
From
£6,443pp
Emily C, Eleanor and Jacqui are our experts for this itinerary and as seasoned travellers they have the inside track on the most memorable adventures.