Best Snorkelling & Diving
in Fiji 2026

Yes — the Beqa shark dive requires a PADI Open Water certification or equivalent. The dive is at 30m depth. Snorkellers can observe from the surface but cannot join the shark dive itself. If you're not yet certified, Tour Fiji offers PADI Open Water courses from AUD $650 that take 3–4 days and include pool training, academic sessions, and open water dives.

Yes for the species most commonly encountered in Fijian reefs — reef sharks, white-tip sharks, and nurse sharks are generally non-aggressive and accustomed to snorkellers. Bull sharks (encountered at Beqa Lagoon) are only encountered with a certified dive operator who manages the dive safely and uses strict protocols. Injuries are extraordinarily rare when proper procedures are followed.

Yes — prescription dive masks are available at most dive shops in Fiji, or you can purchase a prescription snorkel mask before your trip. Alternatively, contact lenses are fine for snorkelling if worn with a well-fitting mask. Most operators can source prescription masks with 24–48 hours notice if you contact them in advance.

Expect to see parrotfish, triggerfish, butterflyfish, humphead wrasse, sea turtles, reef sharks, manta rays (seasonal — especially at Kadavu), hawksbill turtles, lionfish, clownfish, moray eels, and thousands of smaller reef species. In July–September, humpback whales are sometimes visible on Yasawa ferry crossings. The Beqa Lagoon adds bull sharks, lemon sharks, and up to 8 shark species to that list.

Some bleaching has occurred during El Niño events, but Fiji's reefs are generally healthier than much of the Indo-Pacific. The Yasawa Blue Lagoon, Beqa Lagoon, and Great Astrolabe Reef in Kadavu have largely avoided severe bleaching events. Fiji's deep-water upwelling provides cool refugia for corals during warming events — one reason its reefs remain so biodiverse compared to bleached reefs in Australia and Southeast Asia.