BAWAQA - Kadavu & Great Astrolabe Reef

Bawaqa isn’t your typical deep, dark wreck. It’s a shallow, playful dive, more like an artificial reef than a solemn monument. This old roll-on, roll-off ferry was sunk deliberately, and it sits upright in around 20 metres of water. We love that you can see the entire outline from the surface on a clear day, a stark silhouette against the blue. Descending, you can swim through the vehicle decks, imagining cars and trucks once rumbling on board. Now, those spaces are home to schooling fusiliers, their silver scales flashing as they dart through the shadows. Look for the resident sweetlips tucked into the corners, and we’ve often spotted a few reef sharks patrolling the edges. For photographers, the light here is just beautiful, filtering through the superstructure, creating dramatic beams. Our favourite part has to be the bridge, completely overgrown with colourful soft corals, a vibrant contrast to the ship’s rusty skeleton. It’s a fantastic second dive of the day, or a perfect spot if you’re looking for something a bit different from the usual reefscapes of Kadavu.

Location
Kadavu & Great Astrolabe Reef, Fiji, Central & South Pacific
Coordinates
-17.154200, 176.912300
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
0m

Wreck History - BAWAQA

Vessel Type
ferry
Cause
grounding

The Bawaqa is less of a dive site and more of a permanent, rusting monument on Fiji's legendary Great Astrolabe Reef. This roll-on/roll-off vessel met its end after running aground on the pristine reef system. With a depth listed as 0 meters, its hull and superstructure remain visible above the waterline, battered by the constant motion of the waves. The wreck offers a dramatic sight for any boat passing through the Kadavu island group and presents a fantastic photo opportunity against the backdrop of the turquoise Fijian water. While not a traditional dive, snorkelers can explore the shallow, submerged sections of the hull, which are slowly being colonized by the vibrant corals that make this reef famous.

Marine Protected Area: Vanua Naviti-Gunu

Nearby Dive Sites in Kadavu & Great Astrolabe Reef

Nearest Dive Centres to BAWAQA

Marine Life in Kadavu & Great Astrolabe Reef

Home to 385 recorded species including 289 reef fish, 66 hard corals, 12 sea snails & nudibranchs, 3 clams & mussels, 3 sharks & rays, 2 other.

Notable Species