Diving in Taveuni & Somosomo Strait
Why dive here
Taveuni & Somosomo Strait offers 89 dive sites in Fiji.
Taveuni and the Somosomo Strait, that channel between Taveuni and Vanua Levu, is where Fiji truly shows off its soft corals. We’re talking about the Rainbow Reef and the Great White Wall, places that live up to their names. Think fluorescent purples, blazing oranges, and electric pinks, all swaying in the current. You’ll find yourself just drifting along, mesmerized by the colours, sometimes with schools of fusiliers so thick they block the light, then a lone trevally will dart through. The currents here can be robust, especially around the full and new moons, which is precisely what feeds those glorious corals. We always suggest trying to hit the slack tide for easier photo opportunities, but embrace the drift. It's often when you cover the most ground, and those soft corals are at their happiest. Keep an eye out for brownbanded bamboo sharks tucked under ledges; they're always a treat. While the soft corals are the undisputed stars, we’ve also spotted yellow spotted trevally zipping by and even the odd blacktip tripodfish on the deeper sections. It’s a riot of colour and movement, and our favourite spots are often those corners where the current really pushes through, turning the reef into a waving garden.
Taveuni & Somosomo Strait Dive Site Map
Dive sites and dive centres in Taveuni & Somosomo Strait
Taveuni & Somosomo Strait Dive Sites
89 dive sites in Taveuni & Somosomo Strait
3 Sisters
The 3 Sisters site in the Somosomo Strait is a solid pick for a relaxed afternoon dive, especially if you’re keen on macro life without sacrificing pretty corals. It's essentially three distinct pinnacles, stacked in a row, with their tops starting around 5 metres. We love the swim-through on one of the middle sisters; it’s not a huge cavern, more of a cozy tunnel, but it adds a nice touch of exploration to the dive. You’ll find plenty of soft corals swaying gently here, and the hard corals are in decent shape too. We often spot big sea fans, their fronds catching the light as you drift by. Keep your eyes peeled for nudibranchs – this spot is reliable for them, especially if you take your time to scour the smaller coral heads. We’ve had good luck with bluestripe pipefish tucked into the nooks and crannies, and the sparse eviota are always worth a close look. The pinnacles connect via a ridge around 18 metres, eventually sloping to a sandy bottom at 23 metres. Visibility usually sits around 15 metres, which is perfectly adequate for enjoying the details here. We'd suggest this site for anyone who appreciates the smaller wonders, but still wants a backdrop of healthy reef.
Adolphus Reef
Adolphus Reef sits in the Somosomo Strait, feeling the push and pull of the currents that funnel nutrients through this channel. You’ll find walls draped in soft corals, particularly the famous Taveuni dendronephthya, often called "Fijian white." It's a drift dive, best for divers comfortable with current, offering a relaxed glide past schools of fusiliers and occasional reef sharks. Visibility here can vary, but when it’s good, the colors are spectacular.
Alacrity Bank
Alacrity Bank sits in the Somosomo Strait, a channel known for its strong currents. We typically find a good mix of pelagics here, though it's the sheer density of soft corals that truly catches the eye, painting the reef in purples and pinks. This site is best for experienced divers comfortable with drift diving, especially when the current picks up. Come for the soft corals and the chance to see bigger fish passing through.
Always Cool
Always Cool is exactly that, reliably unruffled by conditions elsewhere in the Somosomo. We’ve found it’s a brilliant alternative when the current is ripping through the bigger passages. It’s a site built around ten distinct coral heads, a jumble of hard and soft corals. We’re talking big brain corals, some elegant staghorn, and those delicate fluorescence grass corals that really pop under a dive light. Maxing out around 19m, we think the sweet spot is really above 18m. That’s where the light still penetrates well, showing off the vibrant blues of Ternate chromis and the subtle hues of honeycombs. The sea fans here are enormous, and a few small swim-throughs make for fun exploration. At night, it transforms. We’ve seen a lot of activity after dark, nudibranchs out in force, anemones alive with crustaceans, and if you sweep your light into the blue, sometimes a reef shark cruising by. It’s a great choice for divers looking for a more relaxed pace, an excellent night dive, or simply a calm, colorful reef with plenty to find in the cracks and crevices. Expect to see lots of pipefish, some scissortail sergeants, and maybe a small giant clam if you look closely.
Amazing Maze
The Amazing Maze lives up to its name, a truly playful dive. We’re talking a network of coral heads, some starting as shallow as five metres, others tumbling down to a sandy bottom at 19m. The real draw here, and what keeps us coming back, are those swim-throughs. They’re absolutely covered in soft corals and sea fans, creating these tunnels of colour you just drift through. Visibility hovers around 15m, which is plenty to appreciate the details, like the tiny blennies peeking out of every nook and cranny, or the occasional whitetip reef shark cruising by. We’d always suggest timing this one for an incoming tide; that’s when the soft corals really pop, and the fish, especially the fusiliers and anthias, seem to be at their most active. It’s a site that suits most experience levels; the current isn’t usually too strong, and the shallower sections are perfect for just hovering and watching the resident anemones and their clownfish. Definitely keep an eye out for the small giant clams tucked into the reef, and the surprisingly camouflaged spine corals. It’s less about big pelagics and more about the intricate beauty of the reef itself.
Annie’s Bommie
Annie’s Bommie is a site we return to again and again in the Somosomo Strait, even if it doesn’t always get the same fanfare as the ‘big’ drift dives. You've got two decent pinnacles here, packed with coral, and they join up with the main reef via a ridge. It’s not a deep dive, peaking at about 20m, with the sweet spot for us being around 15m. That’s where the light plays best through the schools of anthias, and where you’ll really appreciate the density of life. Visibility can be a bit variable here, sometimes hovering around 9m, but that’s part of its charm. It makes you slow down and look closer. We’ve had some cracking encounters with blackblotch squirrelfish and those tiny wasp pygmy gobies, which are a real treat if you take your time. Look for the fluted clams tucked into the reef; their electric blue lips are always a favourite. You'll often find big-spot anglerfish here too, masters of camouflage, so keep your eyes peeled. This isn’t a high-octane drift; it’s a dive for those who love to explore cracks and crevices, and for photographers who appreciate a rich, colourful foreground.
ANZAC
ANZAC is a standout for us in the Somosomo Strait, even among all the soft coral. It's not the deepest dive, topping out around 22 meters, but it’s packed. We love dropping onto that single coral head, it really is a kaleidoscope of colour. The swim-through at its heart is fantastic, covered in soft corals that just explode with vibrancy when the current picks up. This site truly sings when there's a good push of water. That's when you see the anthias and fusiliers schooling so thick they almost obscure the reef, a living curtain of fish. Keep an eye out for the smaller stuff too, we've spotted some beautiful Hoeven's wrasse and those tiny, intricate dotted wrasse tucked into the coral. It’s a site that rewards a slow drift and a keen eye. While it’s fine at any time, we'd suggest hitting it with some current for the full show. Divers will experience a concentrated burst of reef life here, especially with the flow, making it perfect for those who appreciate both wide-angle reefscapes and macro details. Even experienced snorkelers can get a taste of the action closer to the surface.
Arch
Arch is one of those sites that just feels good to dive. We love the way it opens up at five meters, then spills down to twenty, making for a relaxed multi-level profile. The name comes from the limestone arches and swim-throughs crisscrossing the reef, perfect for ducking through and checking out the crevices for a tucked-away lobster or a shy blenny. Incoming tide is our pick here; it cleans up the vis and brings in a gentle flow of plankton for the resident anthias and fusiliers, which can be thick enough to make you feel like you're swimming through a confetti storm. Keep an eye out for the Jebb's siphonfish, they’re often hanging out near the sandy patches. While the hard corals, especially the big table and staghorns, are impressive, it's the smaller stuff that truly shines here. We’ve spotted some incredible nudibranchs and gobies on almost every dive. It's a great site for divers who appreciate slowing down and really exploring the details of a reef.
Arlington Reef
Located in Taveuni & Somosomo Strait, Fiji, Arlington Reef is a reef dive site.
Backyard Beach
Backyard Beach offers a mellow wall dive, perfect for an easy afternoon. The reef top sits just a few metres down, dropping to 10m in places, with a maximum recorded depth of 13m. You'll navigate a couple of small swim-throughs along the wall, which are fun to duck into. We've seen plenty of Threespot Righteye Flounders here, often tucked into the soft corals, alongside the more common Blue and Gold Fusiliers schooling overhead. Visibility averages about 13m, so it’s a good spot for newer divers or those who prefer to take things slow. Look for the pavona corals and sea whips as you drift along.
Balolo Reef
Balolo Reef is a short boat ride from Taveuni, and for us, it's one of those sites that just feels <i>right</i>. It’s a submerged wall, topping out around 12 meters and dropping to a sandy bottom at 17 meters, which makes it incredibly relaxing. You get that wall dive feel without the pressure of deep deco. The corals here are fantastic, a real mix of hard varieties that make for intricate swim-throughs and overhangs. We love drifting along the wall, eyes peeled for the smaller stuff. This is where you’ll spot those brilliant Blackbar Filefish, their bodies almost blending with the gorgonians, and if you’re lucky, an Eroded Cowry clinging to a cranny. Keep an eye out for the Eye-lash Harptail-Blenny peeking from its hidey-hole – they’re so much fun to watch. We’ve seen the usual suspects, of course – big schools of fusiliers shimmering in the blue, parrotfish crunching away, and the occasional turtle gliding past. But for us, Balolo’s charm is in its calm, accessible nature. It’s perfect for a relaxed second dive of the day, or for anyone who just wants to soak in the beauty without battling a current. The visibility can vary, averaging around 14 meters, but even on a slightly murkier day, the reef’s structure and macro life still shine through. It’s a site that rewards a slow, observant pace.
Barracuda Drift
Barracuda Drift, a quick boat ride from most Taveuni dive shops, is exactly what it promises: a fantastic drift. We often find ourselves just letting the current do the work here, gliding effortlessly over a sprawling coral-covered reef. It’s a site that suits pretty much everyone, from newer divers comfortable with a bit of movement to seasoned pros who appreciate an easy, scenic ride. The highlight, beyond the smooth drift itself, is the sheer density of fish. Triggerfish are everywhere, darting between the coral heads. We always spot big schools of surgeonfish and butterflyfish, too, just hanging in the current. And, as the name suggests, barracuda are a regular sight here, often schooling in the bluer water just off the reef edge – a genuinely impressive sight when they materialise out of the blue. Keep an eye out for the smaller stuff, too. The nudibranch population is always diverse, a bright splash of colour against the coral. It’s a great site for just chilling out, taking it all in, and letting the Strait’s currents show you around. We love diving it in the late morning, when the sun angles just right through the water, making the corals glow.
Taveuni & Somosomo Strait Dive Centres
2 dive shops and operators in Taveuni & Somosomo Strait
Taveuni & Somosomo Strait Daylight & Sunrise/Sunset
Sunrise and sunset times for Taveuni & Somosomo Strait, calculated from coordinates
Today - Monday 24 August
Sunrise
06:20
Sunset
18:00
Daylight
11h 39m
Golden Hour
17:30
First light (dawn) at 05:58 · Last light (dusk) at 18:22
Monthly Averages
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 05:45 | 18:47 | 13h 2m |
| Feb | 06:02 | 18:41 | 12h 39m |
| Mar | 06:10 | 18:23 | 12h 12m |
| Apr | 06:16 | 17:59 | 11h 43m |
| May | 06:24 | 17:44 | 11h 20m |
| JunShortest | 06:34 | 17:41 | 11h 7m |
| Jul | 06:37 | 17:49 | 11h 12m |
| AugNow | 06:26 | 17:58 | 11h 32m |
| Sep | 06:03 | 18:02 | 11h 59m |
| Oct | 05:39 | 18:07 | 12h 28m |
| Nov | 05:25 | 18:19 | 12h 54m |
| DecLongest | 05:28 | 18:36 | 13h 8m |
Times are approximate local times based on longitude. Actual times may vary slightly depending on the exact timezone observed in Taveuni & Somosomo Strait.
Where to Stay near Taveuni & Somosomo Strait
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Marine Protected Areas near Taveuni & Somosomo Strait
121 protected areas near Taveuni & Somosomo Strait - please respect local regulations when diving
Yadua Taba
Vanua Votua
Qoliqoli Cokovata
Vanua of Macuata/ Dreketi/ Sasa/ Mali and Nabekavu
Vanua Malolo/Vanua Malolo-Yaro
Vanua Rakiraki, Ra
Vanua Navolau
Vanua Verata
Vanua Tavua
Vanua Cokovata Nakorotubu
Koula mai Wai
Vanua Ono
Showing 12 largest of 121
Getting to Taveuni & Somosomo Strait
Normanton
Mount Isa
Groote Eylandt
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