The Beach

Contrary to some beliefs, this beach can offer just as many rewards as joining the boat for the more isolated dive sites.  Although this may not offer the thrill of a huge drop off the amount of life it houses is more than enough to make up for it. 

Individual small bommies are a favourite housing ground for some inhabitants because of their variety of life and sunlight.  Titan Triggerfish patrol the beach shallows, long and slender Flutemouths, Trumpetfish, and Crocodile Needlefish patrol the bottom, middle and top of the ocean.  Anemones and its clownfish frequent the beach, with mainly black clownfish dominating their home, and patrolling its territory above.  A family of Turkey Lionfish live out here also with the juveniles tending to hide out in coves whilst the elder of the species can often be found in the deeper depths (9-15m), hovering over the coral. 

The beach is home to many eels, some giant morays, some grey, some undulated morays -  mainly seen in the coral, and rocky reefs where you either see their body winding through the coral with its visible print, or the head poking out making rasping noises at you.  Sea Kraits weave in and out regularly hunting for fish.  Blue spotted stingrays are a common sighting, and occasionally we get a glimpse of the majestic spotted eagle ray.  White and Black tip reef sharks also patrol the beach, and during the day they can frequently be found resting on the seabed.  Usually they are positioned facing optimal current, or the changing tides to feel the greater rush of water over their gills where the oxygen is then extracted. 

If you are more interested in the fish life the beach is probably the best for variety, with all major schools inhabiting here.  The fish are abundant in the middle where the current picks up above the hard red coral, with sergeant majors dominating.  Schools of yellow snapper hang around at the end of this chain, and bannerfish hover silently and effortlessly under pillars of coral.  Look closely into the necks of some of the corals, and you may find some anemone shrimp creeping along the folds of an adhesive anemone.  Always looking closely at the coral will benefit you, especially if the 'coral' then changes colour and shape and is revealed to be an octopus.  It's all out there!  What are you waiting for?

Tavuniko Point

Site Description:

Ask the locals what the word 'iko' represents in Fijian.  The response you'll get will be 'Sharks'.  'Tavu' means 'roasting', so together we have 'roasting sharks.'  You won’t be seeing any sharks on a spit but they have been known to frequent here more often than any other of regular sites (almost as much as 'Brown Trousers').  Giant Lobsters are also a regular home owner, making themselves cosy in the swim throughs, or taking shelter under the ledges of the plate corals.  Turtles have also been known to 'pop in' and the site is also a playground for dog-faced puffers and porcupine fish.  Whether you're on the outside of the wall looking up, the inside of a swim through looking out, or above the reef looking down, this reef offers plenty of corridors to explore!

Night Dive:

Site Description:

Feather stars open up and glow at night, and sea urchins come out on the prowl.  Worms extend and come out of hiding, and some unseen sea stars make an appearance.  Bioluminescence - tiny glowing particles - will dance in front of your eyes when the light goes out.  The fish are all trying to sleep, or making quick dashes between their homes but you will catch them trying to dart out of the way of your torch beam, or with their heads stuck in the corals.  Parrotfish are particularly funny when it comes to their choice of sleeping position, upside down, or face in with the idea 'If I can't see you, you can't see me!'.  Parrotfish also form a mucus bubble around themselves to protect them at night. You will also see some more nocturnal fish such as Cardinals.  They use their big eyes to take in more of the light so they are better to hunt at night for their dinner, with victims such as small crabs and shrimps. 

If you're looking for the bigger things, this is the time you're most likely to see them.  The predators: Octopus, Stingrays, Sharks, Lionfish, Squid, Moray eels, crabs and lobsters all make their way through the reef to hunt for their prey.

Barracuda are attracted to the light, and watch as the octopus run for their hiding places inside the reef, or simply try and blend into the background by changing colour and freezing.    You each get your own torch (no, not a candle!), and the chance to enter this sacred nocturnal time frame and mingle with the mafia of the underwater world.

 

The Blue Room

Site Description:

The 'Blue Room' was so called because of its depth, with a bluish tinge streaking the bottom.  The volcanic wall is guaranteed good visibility, being a bit further from the shoreline.  You're more likely to see some pelalgic activity at this site, and hopefully our herd of bumpheaded parrotfish - 24 in total - will make an appearance for you.  If you like your dinnerfish wahu, spanish mackeral, and yellow fin tuna are frequent visitors, attracting in turn the pelalgics.  There is a maori wrasse that also lives amongst the depths, so keep your eyes peeled.

'Fan'tastic

Site Description:

'Fantastic' is quite simply 'Fan-tastic' as it's main attractive feature is its beautiful Gorgonian Sea fans.  These sea fans cluster along the length of the wall, all protecting their prime spot for optimum current hit.  These fans rely on the current for a continuous supply of minute food organisms . They range in size reflecting the path of the strongest currents, with the biggest fans in areas of periodically stronger current and some may even measure up to 3m in width, with feather stars frequently taking residence on its edges to again take the most from the current.  Schools of fusiliers dash up and down along with the long and slender Trumpet Fish, sometimes decked out in yellow.  'Fantastic' is also a prime spot for spotting your smaller reef wonders, such as Christmas Tree Worms, Shrimps, and Nudibranchs.
 

Caves of Babylon

Site Description:

For those who want a bit more of a ethereal (mystic) experience, the caves may be a new encounter for you.  This dive starts around 15-18m with a variety of caves depending on the direction of the current, and the ability level of the group.  Once you've entered the caves the sunlight will stream from the other end, illuminating tiny fish snuggling together in a tight school in the protection of the caves.  A very 'Aladdin' feel, unfortunately no hidden treasure in terms of trunks of gold, but nudibranchs often take shelter in the caves and the pleasures of the coral garden that awaits you is reward enough.  Back in the shallower sunlit coral garden your eyes will adjust to take in the light, to behold the fish life that graze here. Anemones, butterflyfish and the odd turtle are some of the sights we have gazed upon here in our slow ascent to the surface.  Sightings of reef sharks and turtles are common.
 

Erebus

Site Description:

The fringing reef that surrounds the islands of Naukacuvu and Narara is cut here by a channel, where a steady current sweeps through.  The wall itself is lined with beautiful gorgonian fan corals, and visibility is generally very good.  This visibility does become obscured when you reach Erebus, or 'Gateway to Hell'.  Here a stream of colder, cloudy water fits in well with the idea you are entering the 'Gateway to Hell', as entering or exiting this cavern-like swim-through is a great way to either start or end your dive.  The hell like feeling will really heighten the difference between the change in temperature, visibility, and marine life, really making you believe you have just been in heaven and hell!    

The Garden of Eden

Site Description:

This coral garden is a great must see for those who like the rest and relaxation of the garden reef.  Turtles are a common sight, along with the odd reef shark.  Clownfish gaze up from their anemones, and remorahs wonder around occasionally attaching themselves to divers legs giving a tickling sensation.  Puffers are frequently spotted trying to hide their massive bulk underneath some table coral.  Plate corals and clams are plentiful amongst this stretch, wave your hand above the clam and watch them close up in defense.  Remorahs on the look out for sharks will settle for selecting a diver to 'attach' onto in the meantime.  They follow you, and generally settle onto your tank, or swim around sucking at your legs.  Stingrays also parade this playground!

Coral Awegasm

Site Description:

Coral Awegasm quite simply has some 'awegasmic' coral.  From vertical drops to coral gardens this site mixes up a variety of shapes, sizes and colours in its landscape so if there's a certain type of coral you've never seen before, you'll probably see it here.  Turtles often choose these multitude of shapes to take cover and rest, chomping down on the green turtle grass that lies between them.  A couple of optional swim-throughs can be accessed from the lagoon, giving you a surreal perspective of this underwater world.

Balolo

Site Description:

For those of you who are into diving for the fish - this is the perfect dive site for you.  Another site where the likelihood of seeing some cruising turtles is high, this site is not designed for those who want the darker depths.  This site is best around 12-15m where you can zigzag from the outer wall to the topside reef examining different aspects of the reef.  As different marine life inhabit different depths, and topography this reef provides it with the best of both worlds.

Fun Fact:  'Balolo' was named for the traditional annual rising of the 'balolo' - tiny green and brown sea worms which appear one week after the full moon, for 2-8 dawn appearances.  These worms were generally caught and cooked overnight in a lovo (ground oven), and served as a delicacy.

Vuago

Site Description:

Vuago is a particular type of fish in Fiji, which is why this site has taken its name.  Not only does it house these type of fish but many, many more being a good choice if fish are your 'piece de resistance'.  Weave yourself over, and in and out of this maze like reef.  Explore under the ledges for the rays, in and under the coral for the small fish, up and down the walls for the schools of fish, and everywhere else for every other fish you could possibly think of.  Welcome to the fish haven of the underwater world.

Talanga Point

Site Description:

This site has some of the beautiful soft corals that Fiji is famous for.  Talanga is also subject to regular visits by some of natures more shy creatures: turtles, some sea kraits and reef sharks.  A couple of swim throughs situated throughout the dive give you an alternative aspect to the reef life and mineral homes of our coral reefs.  The site is also home to five resident coral trout over 1m each in length.

Brown Trousers

Site Description:

So called the 'Brown Trousers' because the Instructor who discovered it got a bit of a shock as a shark cruised through his legs.  So, this is a dive site where seeing reef sharks - whitetip, blacktip and grey, is common.  On average two sharks are seen in a dive, some days up to a dozen, so if you're afraid of sharks you may want to reconsider this one.  Even if you don't see any of this type of Elasmobranchs this bommy (bommy comes from the aboriginal word bombora, which means underwater mountain) provides plenty to look at with arches of coral, schools of fusiliers (yellowtail and twin stripe), mackeral and a few oriental sweetlips.  Gorgonian sea fans also   are fairly abundant making the most of this optimal current.  We circle the outside of the bommy which follows a gently slope around 12-15m, and then let the current take us through the center.