Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
OCTOBER
Fiji Day
10 Oct. Public holiday celebrating the day when Fiji was both ceded to Britain
(1874) and given independence (1970). Dance performances are sometimes held in Albert
Park, Suva.
Back to Levuka Week
10 Oct. Traditional re-enactments of cession, art displays and agri-
cultural shows.
Diwali
Late Oct to mid-Nov, depending on lunar calendar. Fireworks and lights are the star
attractions of this Hindu celebration.
Rising of the Balolo
Mid-Oct to mid-Nov, depending on moon. Naturally occurring event
at a dozen or more coral reefs around the islands - the tail of a mysterious worm rises to the
surface, is collected and eaten as a delicacy.
NOVEMBER
Savusavu Music Festival
fiji-savusavu.com
.
Local musicians and dance troupes perform
throughout this week-long event.
DECEMBER
Fara
1 Dec to mid-Jan. Door-to-door dancing and merry-making on the outer island of
ticularly Suva.
SPORTS AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
With endless beaches, teeming coral reefs and water temperatures averaging 27°C, Fiji
is renowned for its scuba diving, snorkelling, surfing and other watersports. But adven-
ture also awaits in the sultry tropical rainforests with fabulous hiking, river rafting and
ecotours on offer.
Scuba diving and snorkelling
Fiji offers superb
scuba diving
and
snorkelling
, with exceptionally colourful and easily ac-
cessible reefs as well as plenty of diverse fish species including sharks. Diving is excellent
year-round, with visibility usually at least 30m - the very best months are October and
November, after the trade winds have subsided and before the tropical wet season begins.
Almost all resorts offer scuba diving, with dive sites normally between five and forty
minutes by boat. Many resorts offer
dive training
, with PADI Open Water courses the most
popular, costing F$650-900 for a three- to four-day package. For the more tentative, intro-
ductory scuba lessons offer a few hours learning the basics in a swimming pool - these cost
