Understand
[edit]Fiji is a Melanesian country in the South Pacific Ocean which includes 322 islands, of which 110 are inhabited, and 522 smaller islets. The capital is Suva on Viti Levu. The Fijian islands have a year-round warm tropical climate. The wet season is from December to March with the average temperature of 30°C/86°F. The colder, drier season is between April and November with the average temperature of 24°C/75°F. Winds are moderate, cyclones may occur once or twice a year. Water temperature ranges between 23-30°C/73-86°F. Visibility ranges between 25-50 m/80-165 ft, and is best from May to October. A network of coral reefs surrounds all the islands and atolls. Blue ribbon eels, trevally, cuttlefish, world's largest parrot fish, lion fish, leaf scorpions, octopus, over 8 species of sharks, huge groupers, rays and many more marine species can be spotted while diving in Fiji. Also, in the waters just off Manta Ray Island, giant manta rays can be seen between May and October.
Nadi International Airport is Fiji's main international airport, but Suva Airport also has some international flights. Fiji is a widely known holiday destination with a lot to offer: hiking, lush rainforests, cascading waterfalls, wonderful local people, fabulous beaches and great scuba diving.
Fiji is a good place to discover the scuba diving world. Fiji is known as the 'Soft Coral Capital of the World', 'Best shark dive in the world' and is home to the Great Astrolabe Reef. There are around 1000 species of fish and several hundreds types of coral and sponges at a wide variety of dive sites for divers of all levels, including wall dives, drift dives, swim-throughs, caves, canyons and picturesque reef dives. Dive destinations include Beqa Lagoon, Taveuni, Kadavu, Viti Levu where the best diving is in Rakiraki and on the Coral Coast), and Vanua Levu Islands (their magnificent barrier reef off Savusavu is now a protected marine reserve populated by both soft and hard corals).
- Beqa Lagoon has over 100 dive sites, including pinnacles, bommies and reefs within the lagoon and some walls sporting huge gorgonian fans many feet across and gigantic black coral trees on the outside.
- Taveuni is renowned for the spectacular soft corals seen at sites such as Rainbow Reef and Great White Wall.
- On Kadavu and Ono islands divers will find a wide diversity of diving opportunities with plenty of excellent sites to choose from, though currents and surge in these waters can be fairly strong. On the southern and eastern side of Kadavu there are plenty of sites scattered around the Great Astrolabe Reef, the world's fourth largest barrier reef.
- Other sites in Fiji worth visiting include Fantasea, Annie's Bommie, Naiqoro Passage, The Supermarket, and others.
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