Scuba Diving
Among Fiji's most renowned experiences is shark-diving in Beqa Lagoon, a roughly 40-mile-wide extinct volcanic crater home to one of the world's largest barrier reefs. Silvertips, gray reef, whitetip reef, blacktip reef, sicklefin lemons, and tawny nurse sharks as well as large bull and occasional tiger sharks come to feed on the fish bait provided at a depth of 82–98 feet (25–30 meters) on the reef ledge while divers observe. Because of the depth, all divers must be certified.
There's also excellent wreck-diving at four purpose-sunk Taiwanese trawlers, each roughly 110 feet (33 meters) long. The first was sunk in the late-1990s. The wrecks are home to schools of barracuda, pipefish, a giant camouflaging frogfish, stonefish, lionfish, leaf scorpion fish, and moray eels.
Soft coral dives take place at more than 20 sites around Pacific Harbour. Highlights here include large pinnacle clusters, which give divers the impression of walking between buildings, and the rare blue ribbon eel.
Aquatrek Beqa. Aquatrek Beqa is one of Fiji's major operators. Aquatrek's shark dive positions divers around the perimeter of the dive site before a bin of fish is brought down for the sharks to feed on. Shark dives operate on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday and cost US$160 for a double dive. Beqa Lagoon soft coral dives are offered Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday and cost US$130 per double dive. Club Oceanus Resort, Queens Rd. , Viti Levu. 345--0324; 800/541--4334; www.aquatrek.com.
Beqa Adventure Divers. "BAD" has a two-part shark dive that includes 17 minutes observing the shark-feeding at a depth of 98 feet (30 meters), where the bull sharks are most common, before heading up among the smaller species. A double tank shark dive costs F$325 and is offered Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday–Saturday. Wreck and soft coral reef two-tank dives are F$300 and are available on Wednesday and Sunday. Lagoon Resort, Queens Rd., , Km 144, Viti Levu. 345–0911; www.fiji-sharks.com.
Nai'a. Nai'a offers chartered live-aboard scuba diving around Lomaiviti, Bligh Water and Namena for up to 18 guests in nine staterooms aboard its 120-foot motorsailer yacht. The 10-crew yacht was last refitted in 2000 and includes a dedicated dry camera and video room. Nitrox diving is available. Prices start at US$3,800 for seven days (plus a fuel surcharge); it includes all meals, tanks, weights, unlimited air refills and round-trip transfer from the Nadi area. Viti Levu. 345–0382; www.naia.com.fj.
