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| Diving in Fiji |
| Dive Sites at the Mamanuca's |  |
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The Mamanuca Group (mama-nutha) dives are tailored to meet the needs of every diver, and include an adrenaline charged shark dive at the site know as the supermarket for those craving extreme excitement. Novices have calm waters and coral reefs to explore. Experienced divers can dive the ocean side of the barrier reef and the passages through it. |
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| Visibility frequently exceeds 35 meters. As well as vibrant corals and colorful small reef fish. Dolphins, sharks, manta rays, turtles and large pelagic fish are frequently encountered. | |
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Dive Sites |
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| 1. The Supermarket: The world renown 'Supermarket' is possibly the world's most famous shark encounter. Come to observe and be observed by bronze whaler sharks, white-tips and black tips and "Buju", the moray eel. A shark feed dive where you can get up close and personal to these fascinating creatures. After the feed enjoy the drift dive along the Supermarket wall. Shark encounter at 9m, the wall drops to 34m. This is one of the most exiting dives in Fiji! | 2. Barrel Heads: A large pinnacle rising up from in excess of 60 metres. Excellent hard corals and sea fans are observed here, along with resident reef sharks and turtles. This site can produce the unexpected - large sharks, schools of Yellow Fin tuna and other pelagic species. | 3. Gothom City: Three pinnacles situated in a passage in the outer Barrier Reef where fish and corals are in incredible abundance. A world class site with moari wrasse, huge rock cods, turtles, soft and hard corals. Famed for providing the unusual, Gothom City never disappoints. The soft corals are every color of the rainbow. Named after the numerous batfish seen in the vicinity and a dive where you feed the 6ft-moray eels. 20m. |
| 4. Castaway Passage: A gap in the outer Barrier Reef that allows large volumes of ocean water to enter the lagoon. Diving in this passage almost always produces fantastic visibility (30 metres plus). Like a number of other dives in the Mamanuca's, this site will frequently produce the unexpected. Manta Rays, Sharks, Marlin, and other pelagic species are frequently sited here. | 5. The Big W's: Outside the Barrier Reef on the edge of the abyss, the 'Ws' provide the big fish action. Mantas and ocean going sharks cruise the reefs and occasionally the elusive whale shark makes an appearance. Pristine coral with huge gaping cracks and swim throughs, attracting pelagic fish as well as the usual reef fish. Always excellent visibility. 14m-39m. | 6. Magic Island: The stunning Namotu coral cay stands perched on the edge of a 1000 meter plunge into the depths of the Pacific Ocean. Diving here on the outer reef slopes is spectacular. The prolific fish life, the visibility (normally 25-50 meters), reef sharks, turtles and schools of Barracuda are all in abundance. Lots of nudibranchs seen here too. Watch for the blue spotted rays. Easy dive. |
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7. Namotu Reef: This reef is situated in a passage on the Barrier Reef itself. As with all the Barrier Reef dives, you would expect great visibility - anywhere between 30 metres and 60 metres. Pristine corals, abundant tropical marine life and the possibility of Mana Rays, Hammerhead Sharks and Dolphin. |
8. B26 Bomber: This American Bomber airplane crash landed only 1 1/2 kilometres from Beachcomber Island in 26 metres of water. Although the aeroplane is well broken up and strewn across the bottom of the ocean, most parts are still all there. They are by a rope so they are easy to find. Entire wing sections, both engines, tail section, electronics, ammunition, the undercarriage, and in fact, the entire aircraft is on the seabed. Although there are no skeletons to be seen, we understand that all the crew were killed on impact. |
9. Stonehenge: This dive site is frequently used for training purposes. It's a series of pinnacles rising to within 5 metres of the surface. This dive is absolutely ideal for training divers because of its shallow depth and the inside arena that these pinnacles create. |
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10. Tui's Reef: An easy dive in 18 metres of water or less on a series of pinnacles close to Beachcomber Island. Often used for night diving where divers frequently observe Crayfish, Clams, Moray Eels and a multitude of other tropical marine life. |
11. Jackies Reef: For 35 years resorts have been fish feeding here from coral viewing boats and this has bought about a fish population of great diversity and abundance. Both large and small reef fish, both solo and in huge schools, allow a rare opportunity to see all these fish at one shallow, easy and close dive site. |
12. Salamanda Shipwreck: The Salamanda is a decommissioned, 40 meter cruise ship that was sank in 30 meters of water. Diving on a shipwreck is always an exciting dive. Sitting upright in 26m, totally intact, although stripped for the safety of divers. Easy penetration throughout the ex-Suva ferry boat. Watch for large pufferfish and coral trouts, and for lionfish inside the wreck. Top deck at 18m, bottom at 26m-28m. |
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13. Ronnies Reef: Ronnies Reef (named after a famous New Zealand diver) never fails to please even the most discerning of scuba divers. Dramatic canyons and gullies along with great fish life, unusual and spectacular coral formations will be found here. |
14. Vomo Caves: Vomo Caves, consists of caverns and swim-throughs with shafting light breaking through crevices in the reef above makes this dive a very memorable experience. |
15. Kingfisher Reef: Ideal second dive with fabulous swim throughs and small caves located only 10-12 meters deep. |
| 16 Lighthouse |
17. The Pinnacles: A spectacular wall dive with some of the most beautiful coral formations and underwater landscape. This dive is a delight for everyone and also is a great location for night dives. |
18. Coral Heads: A large sandy area with numerous coral outcrops that houses soft corals, fish schools, Gorgonian fans, stingrays and beautiful hard coral formations. The south part of the dive site is perfect for introductory divers. The north side is spectacular for its soft corals. The depth ranges from 25ft to 50ft with a drop-off to 80ft on the east side. |
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19. Namotu Passage: Some amazing coral formations of many different types, and even more amazing fish frequent this dive site located just off Magic Island on the outer reef of the main island of Viti Levu. This unique location is also the home of several reef sharks. |
20. Fish Market: This spot is known for its wide variety of fish life, from the little coral dwelling fishes to sharks, barracuda, and the occasional Bat Ray. Depth ranges from 25ft to 70ft on the deepest part of the dive. |
21. Seven Sisters: An assortment of coral pinnacles to meander between. Excellent reef fish and hard coral site and lots of clown fish in the area. Watch for the pelagics coming in to feed. 12m on the reef wall area dropping to 25m on the outside of the pinnacles. |
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22. Distant Cousins: An easy reef wall to follow around to ‘Seven Sisters’. Lots of hard coral together with plenty of reef fish on the lip of the reef wall. Watch for giant pufferfish. Approx. 14-17m. |
23. Ika Bazaar: A deeper submerged wall and an excellent place to find juvenile white-tip reef sharks. Huge variety of fan and brain coral. Schooling fusiliers, barracuda and other pelagics in the area. Watch for turtles. Wall drops to between 16m and 28m. |
24. Endless Dream: A great coral garden with huge outcrops of ‘fisted’ and Cabbage coral. Watch the sharks lay on the bottom, and the rock cods in and amongst the reef wall. Ideal site for using the underwater scooters. Top of wall at 6m, drops away to 26m. |
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25. Bird Rock:A deep dive down to 32m. Small cave with lots of crayfish inside. Cavern right next door with a beautiful swim through. Lots of red bass, sea perch and coral trouts. Wall has lots of soft coral. Nudibranchs found easily in the shallows. |
26. Big Blue: Through the passageway, on the outside of the barrier. Undulating masses of pristine coral. Turtles and Manta’s sometimes seen. Drift dive along between 14m-39m. |
27. Sand Patch: A huge colourful bommies dotted around a sandy area. Plentiful supply of blue spotted rays. Drift along to "Endless Dream" or stay put and explore the area. Easy Dive. 10m-18m |
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28. Mana Passage:Yet another site on the outside of the reef. More rolling hills of coral here and huge cracks in the reef system allowing sharks and large rays to hide. 10m-39m. |
29. Navi’s Point: Navi's Point is located on the south side of Mana Island and is a gentle reef wall to cruise along. Crayfish, coral trout and tons of nudibranchs can be found along this stretch. 8m-18m |
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