TRAVEL
A Group Dive Guide to Fiji by David Prichard & Lily Mak , Enchanted Sea Images, Inc., Dallas, TX
A DIVE TRIP LEADER walks up to the dive center counter and says to the manager, “Well, you’ve guided my group of friends on quite a few great dive trips around the world. We were recently told that a good place to go diving is the island of Fiji. Can you set up a trip to go visit this island?” The dive center manager pauses and replies, “Well, it is a little more complicated than what you are thinking as Fiji is not just one island, but a collection of 333 islands, on a smaller scale than the Philippines and Indonesia. Let’s start with the largest islands that are visited by thousands of divers every year.” The ocean explorer, Jacques Cousteau, is credited with naming Fiji as the “soft coral capital of the world.” The island group on the edge of the Coral Triangle features over 1,500 species of fish and over 400 coral varieties. There are approximately 50 dive operators located on the major islands, plus one dedicated dive liveaboard (Nai’a) that travels the
Bligh Waters between the two largest islands. Fiji is located south of the equator along the furthest
western edge of French Polynesia and east of Van- uatu and New Caledonia. The majority of the is- lands are small and spread out throughout the Koro Sea. The island group is protected by two of the largest barrier reefs in the world. The Great Sea Reef protects Fiji’s northwestern coasts and is the third-largest barrier reef stretching 120 miles (200 km). In the south, the Great Astrolabe Reef runs south of Kadavu Island and its nearby is- lands. The Main Island – Viti Levu: The first experience
divers have of Fiji is landing at the Nadi International Airport on the west coast of Viti Levu which is the largest and most populous (70% of Fijians live here) of the islands. One of the earliest developed areas for snorkelers and scuba divers on Fiji is along the southeastern coast of Viti Levu in an area dubbed “The Coral Coast.” This area is made
ABOFA – Aqaba Blue: Ocean Future in Action 2026 is a comprehensive international exhibition & experience platform dedicated to Diving, Marine Technology, Water Sports & Adventure, Tourism & Ocean Lifestyle. Taking place in the heart of the Red Sea, ABOFA aims to transform Aqaba into the region’s leading hub for diving, marine innovation, & coastal adventure industries. The event brings together global brands, innovators, researchers, divers, investors, & marine professionals to connect, collaborate, showcase technology, conduct demonstrations, & engage in Themed Activities & B2C experiences.
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