Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
SCUBA DIVING IN THE MAMANUCAS
With fast boat transfers and a wide choice of dive operators,
divers
can easily sample all
dive sites in the Mamanucas while staying at a single resort. The islands are a great spot to
learn to dive
with sheltered lagoons, water temperatures seldom dropping below 24°C and
excellent visibility, usually at least 30m.
The dozen or so shallow patch coral dive sites in the northern
coral islands
are ideal for
beginners. More advanced divers come here for the two popular
wrecks
- a partially in-
tact World War II B26 bomber at 26m; and the 40m-long cruise ship,
Salamander
, lying
at 12-28m and covered in soft corals and anemones. In the southwest of the Mamanucas,
the 30km-long
Malolo Barrier Reef
has several deep drop-offs suitable for experienced
divers - turtles, lion fish, rays and large sharks are common. The reef is a fifteen-minute
boat ride from Malolo Lailai.
The reefs surrounding
Mana
have some exceptional sites for beginner to intermediate
divers. The most raved about site is “Supermarket”, offering regular
shark encounters
from white tips to greys, as well as a drift dive along a wall with an abundance of lionfish
and moray eels. Other sites include “Gotham City”, named for its abundance of batfish, and
“Barrel Head”, a wide bommie where you can drift along a wall with massive sea fans and
plenty of turtles. Heading west to the Mamanuca-i-Cake Group,
Tokoriki
has several in-
teresting sites with gorgonian
sea fans
featuring prominently at “Sherwood Forest”, along
with a fine selection of soft corals, nudibranchs and anemones.
DIVE OPERATORS
AquaTrek Mana
666 9309,
aquatrekdiving.com
.
Highly organized outfit based at
Mana Island Resort
. Four-day PADI Open Water Course F$930, two-tank dive F$250.
Ratu Kini's
666 9309.
Budget operator for the backpackers on Mana Island. Four-day
PADI Open Water Course F$750, two-tank dive F$230.
Reef Safari
675 0950,
reefsafari.com.fj
.
International operator with bases at South
Sea Island and Barefoot Island. Four-day PADI Open Water Course F$700.
Subsurface Fiji
666 6738,
subsurfacefiji.com
.
Dominant dive operator with bases
at Malolo, Malolo Lailai, Musket Cove, Likuliku, Plantation Island, Lomani, Tavarua,
Namotu and Tropica. One-tank dive for day-trippers F$145, two-tank dive for resort guests
F$270, three-day PADI Open Water Course F$974.
Viti Watersports
Port Denarau Marina 670 2413,
vitiwatersports.com
.
Based at
Matamanoa, but also operates fast covered boats for day-trippers from Denarau Island to
the Malolo Barrier Reef. From Denarau single-tank dive F$160, PADI Discover course
F$240; from Matamanoa two-tank dive F$386, PADI Open Water course F$1049.
