Fiji’s nickname is “Soft Coral Capital of the World”, which is an understatement. This area contains more than 390 coral species and more than 1,200 fish species, distributed amongst more than 300 islands and one of the world’s biggest barrier reef systems. It is a guarantee compared to any marine life in Fiji: shallow reefs and an abundance of color for the effort expended is a trip unlike anything else.
“Before they’re gone” is more than just a good title. Fiji’s reefs have suffered quite severe blows – including cyclones, warming waters, and the same global bleaching pressure that has hit reefs in general, and whilst recovery has been both real and strong in parts of the country, it is not automatic, and it is not permanent. This guide is designed to take you to the places where you can see Fiji’s coral reefs, to understand the issues facing them and to visit coral reefs without causing too much damage.
This is the reason Fiji’s Reefs are different
When most people have snorkeled in the Caribbean or Red Sea, they immediately notice the difference: soft coral. Fiji reefs are rich in colonies of soft coral in purple, orange, and pink, not standing up straight, but swaying in the current like hard coral. Its combination with visibility of 25–35 meters is a different reef experience, less in terms of architecture, more in terms of swimming through a garden.
Fiji is also on the fringe of the influence of the Coral Triangle, thus the high species count. However, this is not all marine life in Fiji: some channels and passages offer an overpowering amount of what makes reefs worth visiting.
The locations in Fiji where you can find the coral reefs
Rainbow Reef, Taveuni. This very narrow channel between Taveuni and Vanua Levu is consistently ranked one of the best dive and snorkel sites in the world, descending to more than 60 metres and with sharks, rays, turtles and, at certain times in the year, humpback whales. The signature dive here is the Great White Wall – a near-vertical drop lined with white soft coral – which is more suitable for the more experienced diver. Less demanding sites are available nearby, such as Cabbage for snorkelers and newer divers.
Beqa Lagoon, close to Viti Levu. Beqa is famous for its shark diving opportunities and has large coral gardens, and is one of the more accessible reef systems from the mainland (a boat trip from the Coral Coast, not a flight). Even without the shark dive, reef sharks, manta rays and lots of coral will make this a worthwhile visit.
Bligh Water and Vatu-i-Ra Passage. This area of unobstructed channel off the north coast of Viti Levu is one of the most popular diving areas due to its superb visibility and prolific pelagic life, where you can see what passes through as much as what lives on the reef.
The Mamanuca and Yasawa Islands. These island chains are near Nadi and accessible to non-certified divers and provide the easiest reef experience in the country. Many resorts are located right off the coast of coral gardens, shallow enough for snorkelers, and dive operators will be found if you prefer to dive deeper. The Yasawas are particularly renowned for reef sharks and manta rays, respectively, with Kuata and Drawaqa.
Great Astrolabe Reef and Kadavu. Fiji’s fourth-largest barrier reef is one of the healthiest in the country because it is not as easy to get to, and thus draws fewer visitors than Taveuni or the Mamanucas.
What is really threatening the Reefs
The truth is, it’s not just one bad guy; it’s all of them. As sea temperatures increase, the coral bleaches; it is a stress response that involves the loss of the algae that resides within the coral tissue, and consequently the loss of the coral’s primary food source. Coral can be killed by long-term or frequent bleaching. In Fiji, there have been several bleaching events linked to global warming trends, and the scientists watching the region have painted a gloomy picture of the future of the world’s reefs.
The second type of damage is caused by cyclones, which cause a more abrupt form of damage. The wave energy that Tropical Cyclone Winston produced in 2016 exceeded that of normal storms and had a visual impact on coral cover on several reef systems. The good news is that recovery has happened: post-Winston, some of Fiji’s reefs recovered with impressive strength, especially where reef management is ongoing at the local level, a marker of the strength of reefs that are healthy and well managed.
This is the lesson to be learned: Fiji’s reefs are not all the same, nor are they all good. Local protection, water quality, and the amount of extra stress (such as warming, pollution, or overuse of the reef by visitors) are vital to recovery, as well as a storm or bleaching event.
Venturing Without Endangering the Environment
There are a couple of simple tips that can make a difference and don’t require much expenditure:
- Never walk on or stand on coral. Even if it is a light touch, it can harm the living tissue, and standing on coral to take a picture can kill decades of growth in no time.
- Use reef-safe sunscreen. Bleaching stress is caused by standard sunscreen chemicals which are washed off in the water. Mineral-based sun creams do not do this.
- Select operators engaged in reef monitoring and/or restoration. Many resorts are now partnering with their in-house marine biologists to operate coral planting and species-monitoring initiatives, and visitors who book with these operators are helping to make tourism a force for coral conservation.
- Do not lay your fins on the bottom. Fin movements that stir up sediments or brush off the reef bottom are slow and cumulative damage that is easily avoided by playing with a little more vertical movement in the water.
- Avoid taking souvenirs of coral and shells. Taking anything from the reef is one less piece of habitat structure for fish and invertebrates.
FAQs
In which part of Fiji can you find the best of the Fiji’s Coral Reefs?
The most accessible reefs are Rainbow Reef, Taveuni, and the reefs around the Mamanuca and Yasawa Islands, and are suitable for both experienced divers as well as snorkelers.
Would it be better to dive to see good coral in Fiji, or do the same with snorkeling?
At many places, snorkeling will suffice. The shallow coral gardens around the Mamanucas and Yasawas are shallow and do not need certification, but if the diver ventures deeper, into the channels such as Rainbow Reef, he or she will need certification.
Is there any evidence that Fiji’s coral reefs are dying?
Many have responded well to the local management and are recovering well, although some are in great stress due to bleaching and storm damage. It is not a national problem; it differs from place to place.
When is the best time of the year to see marine life in Fiji?
The best period for diving in Fiji is April to October, when visibility is high and rainfall is moderate. However, the reefs are diveable throughout the year as Fiji’s water remains warm all year round.
Is it possible for tourists to be useful in the fight to save Fiji’s coral?
Yes, reef-safe sunscreen, no contact with corals, and operators that have conservation or monitoring programs are all ways to minimize the reef impact from tourism.
Is it safe to swim near sharks on Fiji’s Coral Reefs?
Reef shark encounters at places such as Beqa Lagoon and Kuata are generally safe and are operated by experienced dive guides, although some conservation organisations have voiced concerns about feeding dives specifically, so it is best to research them prior to booking.