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Taveuni Island

Your Guide to Diving in Taveuni

Dive Rainbow Reef and the Somosomo Strait

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...Highlights: great macro life/marine diversity, schooling fish/big pelagics...
...Diving environment: healthy reefs, walls, drift dives, beginner & advanced divers...

The Somosomo Strait which runs between Vanua Levu and Taveuni Island is one of Fiji's best known dive destinations and it is served by dive resorts. The strait almost single-handedly earns Fiji its title as the "Soft Coral Capital of the World".

Diving in Taveuni with bommies covered in red soft corals - photo courtesy of Garden Island Resort

Many divers come to Taveuni just to witness the excellent soft coral blooms that occur when the current is running just right. Normally the currents are little more than a gentle helping hand along the way, guiding you past some of the most wonderful proliferations of soft corals on the planet.

Large bushes of pink, brown and orange span out to capture the passing nutrients and create the remarkable spectacles of colour that enchant scuba divers and characterize Taveuni's rainbow reefs. When the current is present to any reasonable extent the grateful corals expand to their finest and most enchanting, whereas without the current they would retract into barely visible balls - and who wants that?

It is not all sessile stuff when diving at Taveuni however, as the nutrient rich waters also promise plenty of pelagic fish species. You can expect to see barracudas, reef sharks and manta rays, particularly at a site aptly named 'the Zoo'. Nearby, the world famous Rainbow Reef and Great White Wall have been noted in the 'Top 10 Dive Locations in the World' by U.S. Divers magazine.

There are also some interesting sites off the little islands in the north east of Fiji's 'Garden Island' which you will surely visit if staying for several days. Here there is less current but still plenty to see and these sites make a change from the Somosomo Strait where diving can, in every sense, be truly breath-taking.


Dive Site Descriptions

Annie's Bommies

Sadly this is not a site named after a local Fijian woman with an hourglass figure. Rather the term refers to the several large conical protrusions from the sea bed that characterise this Taveuni Island site. In many ways Annie's Bommies is typical of the diving to be found in the Somosomo Strait and is essentially a continuation of the wonderland known as the Rainbow Reef.

When you're scuba diving in Taveuni, this is one site you will notice a marked difference in, depending on whether there is a strong current or not. Without current it is pretty enough and there may be a fair amount to catch your eye. When the current runs however, it is an almost violent affront to the senses, bursting with floral beauty. The marvellous colour of the scene simply cannot be over-stated and is enough to make even the most world-weary diver dewy-eyed.
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How to Dive Taveuni



For more information on your diving options, and all the other travel information you might need to visit Taveuni Island and Fiji, view our Taveuni dive resort section.

The best way to dive here is by staying in one of the resorts on the island. This allows you quick and easy access to the Somosomo Strait and the other Taveuni diving sites, and can also make it easier for you to explore some of Taveuni's topside attractions.

Currently there are no liveaboard boats operating in the area.



The Taveuni Island Diving Season

Although you can visit Taveuni all the year round, the main diving season is April to October. This coincides roughly with the period which sees the best visibility: Fiji's winter months of July to September. At this time the wind can kick up a little in the Somosomo Strait making the surface a little choppy and potentially as cool as 22°C.

November to January tend to see the most rainfall with the rainy season officially extending into March. During these summer months water temperature can reach a pleasant bathtub 30°C.

Some creatures' presence in the Taveuni and the Rainbow Reef area is seasonal: Mantas from November to May, turtles from October to April, and (although unlikely) humpback whales from July to September.

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Where is Taveuni and How Do I Get There?

Review our map below of the Fiji Islands, showing the location of Taveuni Island. Here, you will find information on how to get to Taveuni.

Map of Fiji (click to enlarge in a new window)

Reef Summary

Depth: 10 - >40m
Visibility: 15 - 40m
Currents: Gentle to very strong
Surface conditions: Mainly calm but can be choppy further from shore
Water temperature: normally 28 - 30°C
Experience level: Beginner - advanced
Number of dive sites: 20
Recommended length of stay: 7 - 10 days


Useful References


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