Fiji is a group of volcanic islands in the South Pacific. New Zealand lies 1,400 km to the south, and the Queensland coast of Australia is some 1,800 km to the southeast east, and Fiji’s nearest neighbours include Tonga, Vanuata, Wallis and Futuna, and Niue. The tropical natural beauty is the main attraction – there are plenty of undeveloped islands with picture-perfect beaches. Being an island nation, it will come as no surprise that water sports are one of the main drawcards. Diving in Fiji is among the very best in the world, and the reefs are renowned for their incredible colours and health. The Koro Sea and Bligh Water deserve special mention here, and Pacific Harbour is the launch point for one of the best shark dives in the entire world!

Surfing and river rafting are popular, as are golf, or hiking in the hills and waterfalls. And for the whole family or couples, the cruises that run through the Mamanuca and Yasawa Islands are a top choice. These islands are blessed with stunning scenery and cruises here are a great way to escape from the rigours of the real world. The local people are incredibly friendly. They are a mixture of just under 60% Melanesian descent and 37% Indian. The 2 main cities (Nadi and Suva) are both small by international standards, and the pace of life … well, let’s just say the expression “Fiji time” is very popular.

Tourism is Fiji’s biggest industry and accounts for almost 40% of GDP. One in every 7 Fijians works in a tourist-related job. The arrival of the COVID pandemic therefore devastated many Fijian lives and the economy. The first case of COVID was confirmed on 19 March 2020 and initially the government responded by banning arrivals from high risk countries but quickly updated its plans and closed the international airport in Nadi on 26 March. Domestically, a national curfew was imposed, restricting large gatherings and closing down schools and non-essential services.

The government developed a contact tracing system and established a Centre for Disease Control for COVID-19 testing and built fever clinics nationwide for temperature checks. Such measures helped eliminate local transmissions of the virus entirely from July 2020 to April 2021. This success allowed the government to relax its restrictions in an effort to boost the economy. International flights were restarted with some Pacific Island countries and also with Australia and New Zealand. To date, Fiji has reported a total of just over 50,000 cases of COVID and 650 deaths, with nearly all these cases and deaths coming in a spike from June to September 2021, but which has now ended. Fiji ranks 91 on the list of the worst hit countries in terms of deaths per capita.

In March 2021, Fiji became the first Pacific island country to receive COVID-19 vaccines. As of the end of September, 71% of Fijians are fully vaccinated. This has given the Fijian government the confidence to announce the re-opening of international flights on 1 December 2021. Initially it will allow quarantine-free entry to fully vaccinated tourists from travel partner countries – Australia, New Zealand, USA, United Kingdom, UAE, Canada, Qatar, Germany, Spain, France, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Switzerland and most Pacific Island nations. Further information can be found here: Tourism Fiji – entry requirements.

Preparations are now well underway for our Fiji dive resorts to re-open and start welcoming divers once again in December. We are ow able to offer land-based Fiji scuba diving vacations in Viti Levu, Kadavu and Taveuni. Our Fiji liveaboard safaris will also recommence 12 February 2022. So why not be one of the first to explore the vibrant reefs of Fiji in almost 2 years!