BlueDevil
Contributor
Fiji has some very good reef diving. It is known for its colourful soft corals. The island of Taveuni has an excellent reputation. Naigani island also has some excellent reefs with heaps of marine life.
I have just come back from Vanuatu a couple of weeks ago, and did some excellent diving around Bokissa Island (near Santo). Not only were there some very good reefs, but of course some great wreck diving as well.
I have heard very good reports of PNG, but it is not a place I would take my young family so I will have to keep it on my wish list for the future. I have heard few good reports of the diving in Bali - generally it is not a place visited by the serious diver (although it is no doubt a lovely country to visit).
If you can extend your area a bit what about Rowley Shoals? This is very high on my wishlist! It is 280km north-west of Broome in Western Australia. Because it is so remote it can only be done by liveaboard, and it is rarely visited. My guide book mentions things such as:
- wall dives, starting at the surface and dropping near vertical to depths up to 400m
- large soft coral trees and gorgonian fans
- cruising the walls are large tuna, marlin, sharks, barracuda and trevally
- massive schools of humphead parrotfish and Maori wrasse are common
- more than 680 species of fish are found on these reefs
- visibility up to 40-60m at times
- excellent snorkelling available at most dive sites
No doubt dive trips to Rowley Shoals would be quite expensive, but I hope to get there at least once in my life!
Remember with any of these tropical regions to avoid the cyclone season - usually between December and April. I got caught out in Fiji once in March, our trip to Taveuni was spoilt by a cyclone - rather a pity to be at a place with such great diving and not able to dive!
I have just come back from Vanuatu a couple of weeks ago, and did some excellent diving around Bokissa Island (near Santo). Not only were there some very good reefs, but of course some great wreck diving as well.
I have heard very good reports of PNG, but it is not a place I would take my young family so I will have to keep it on my wish list for the future. I have heard few good reports of the diving in Bali - generally it is not a place visited by the serious diver (although it is no doubt a lovely country to visit).
If you can extend your area a bit what about Rowley Shoals? This is very high on my wishlist! It is 280km north-west of Broome in Western Australia. Because it is so remote it can only be done by liveaboard, and it is rarely visited. My guide book mentions things such as:
- wall dives, starting at the surface and dropping near vertical to depths up to 400m
- large soft coral trees and gorgonian fans
- cruising the walls are large tuna, marlin, sharks, barracuda and trevally
- massive schools of humphead parrotfish and Maori wrasse are common
- more than 680 species of fish are found on these reefs
- visibility up to 40-60m at times
- excellent snorkelling available at most dive sites
No doubt dive trips to Rowley Shoals would be quite expensive, but I hope to get there at least once in my life!
Remember with any of these tropical regions to avoid the cyclone season - usually between December and April. I got caught out in Fiji once in March, our trip to Taveuni was spoilt by a cyclone - rather a pity to be at a place with such great diving and not able to dive!