Beqa (pronouned Beng-gah) Lagoon has become known worldwide for its superb Scuba diving.
There are hundreds of dive sites in Beqa Lagoon. Daily divetrips are conducted to the Lagoon by Beqa Divers, whose attentive staff have been diving this area for nearly 30 years.
Divetrips are 2 tank dives, with the surface interval usually spent at Yanuca Shallows. All sites are suitable for underwater photography and are suitable for novice or experienced divers. New divers are put at ease by our amiable, good-natured but watchful staff. Night dives can be arranged.
Suva Reefs |
Upon anchoring at the first dive site, a briefing is given on the features of that site, along with any comments regarding weather conditions, tides and currents. Dives rarely exceed 20-25 meters.
"It was one of my greatest experiences to see
the underwater world with you!" ... Hans Burri, Switzerland
The diveboat then moves to Yanuca Shallows for the appropriate, unhurried surface interval, during which a picnic lunch is served, along with cold drinks, tea and coffee. Enjoy some great snorkelling or a leisurely walk on the sandy beach. Then it's time to reboard the diveboat for a short trip to the second dive site with a further briefing by the experienced, friendly staff.
Below are descriptions of just some of the many dive sites to be enjoyed.
Click here to see map of Beqa Lagoon.
'Side Streets'
This legendary dive site is difficult to describe - difficult to take in! More than a dozen superb coralheads with more to see than the diver can absorb. Lush canyons of gorgonias in vivid reds and yellows, tunnel walls festooned with multi-coloured soft corals and ancient black coral trees. Imperial angel fish patrol through the stands of sea whips, while white tip reef sharks and coral trout lazily circle the coral heads. Days could be spent at this one great dive spot, which an experienced diver recently described as 'the closest thing to paradise that I have ever seen'. Even the living clam shells are lavishly decorated with brilliant soft corals?!
Ten spectacular coral heads honeycombed with tunnels and caves. The walls and roofs of every cave and tunnel are covered with soft corals in every colour of the rainbow; shades of red and yellow, purple and maroon. Huge gorgonias ('sea fans') and black coral trees hang from every coral head and ensure excellent photographs. This is surely an underwater photographers' paradise - schools of batfish, amberjack and shimmering schools of silver pelagic fish merge with turtles and rays. One of the world's ultimate dive spots, a constant delight to divers, conservationists and ecologists.
This spot, in the north-western area of Beqa Lagoon, is one of the top spots in Fiji for soft coral in a kaleidoscope of brilliant colours; orange-and purple-and white-and red dazzle the mind. Multi-hued crinoids add to the explosion of colours while Spanish Dancers perform their acts in time to some invisible orchestra. Reef Cod and Coral Trout roam the canyon-like gutters in these heads while pelagic fish hunt the reef fish on the periphery of the divers' vision. A lucky diver may be fortunate enough to see the Garden Eels swaying like living metronomes. And divers who hasten slowly through this underwater wonderland will take the time to notice the many varieties of nudibranchs in their diversity of shapes, sizes and colours.
Beqa Lagoon's best display of hard corals and tropical fish. Fiji is on the eastern extremity of the largest area of hard corals in the world - and in these 'gardens' one can see most of them represented. Corals, of course, attract the tropical fish that hide in their spiny protection. The twinkling colours of clowns, damsels, butterflies, regal angels, fire fish and Moorish idols shimmer among the stands of fire coral, staghorn, elkhorn and mushroom coral formations. Schools of batfish disport on the deeper edges of the heads while the packs of Pacific barracuda are always in the background, hunting a juicy lunch of tropical fish. This area is also prolific in fluted and giant clams and other members of the clam family. There are squirrel fish, triggerfish, trumpet fish - the many varieties of the surgeon fish - they're all here. In fact you would be hard pressed to name a Pacific Tropical that you did not see at the Coral Gardens!
In September, 1994, a 200-ton Taiwanese fishing vessel was intentionally sunk at 75 feet on a flat, white sand bottom, just adjacent to the very pretty dive site called 'Yanuca Shallows'. The site is well protected from current and wind chop, and the crystal-clear water means that the divers can usually see the full length of the vessel from the bow! As the years go by, the wreck gathers more fish (both tropical and pelagic) soft and hard corals, sea fans and other tropical underwater scenery. The vessel sits upright on the sand bottom and it's a great photo opportunity for still or video.
A low of 75 degrees Farenheit (24 degrees C) in our winter months of June, July and August, and high of 83 degrees Farenheit (30 degrees C) in our summer months of December, January and February. Normal water temperature range is 78 degrees (winter) and 82 degrees (summer).
Bring your own mask, snorkel, fins, regulator, light-weight wetsuit (preferably a full length 'steamer' for protection against coral), buoyancy compensator, knife, gauges, underwater camera gear and other personal equipment.
Ever arrived at a dive location, even if you have booked ahead, and found that the boat was not available? Beqa Divers operates 7 days a week. This is your guarantee of the best diving service in the tropical South Pacific. Due to the possibility of finding a group of divers having prior claim to the boats, however, advance bookings and deposits are recommended.
"Great diving, superior crew, never a dull moment!" ... Jim Nelson, Oregon, USA
Beqa Divers Fiji has two boats - the 'Fiji Diver' and the 'Beqa Diver'. Both are registered with the Fiji Marine Board, are substantial vessels, have two engines, toilet facilities and full cover from the elements. Remember that engine failure with a single engine installation means that you do not get home!
Beqa Divers' founders were the original divers in Beqa Lagoon. We named many of the dive sites. Beqa Divers' famous Divemaster, Jay, has been with us for 15 years and has over 9,000 dives in Beqa Lagoon. Jay, polite and courteous, knows the fish by name - and this is your guarantee that visitors will get the diving experience they have paid for.
GPO Box 777, Suva, Fiji Islands.
Phone (679) 336 l088. Fax (679) 336 l047.
Dave Evans 9969-246
Lorraine Evans 9927-770
e-mail: divefiji@connect.com.fj
FIRST IN FIJI DIVING - ESTABLISHED 1970