A Beginners Guide to Snorkelling Fiji’s Northern Division: Taveuni, Vanua Levu, Savu Savu

The northern division of Fiji is a great place to snorkel but it’s really hard to find anything online about where to go and what to expect. So, we wrote this Beginners Guide to Snorkelling Fiji to cover the Northern Division, in the hope it might help you with your visit.

You will no doubt hear about cyclone Winston that had a devastating effect on the reefs in 2016. Recovery has been extraordinary and not everywhere was equally affected. There are places where the coral might even be more abundant with unusual wildlife now, than before. This is no reason not to visit. As you will see, there is still plenty of reef in good condition.

Despite a reputation for being diving’s poor-cousin you will see more snorkelling than diving, and mostly in only a few tens-of-centimetres of water. We travelled with the late Neville Coleman’s book Fiji Islands: World of Water Wildlife Guide which illustrates 512 species. We saw 224, of which 207 were while snorkelling. Many are prized sightings by divers but were common on the inshore shallow reefs, especially at night.

For native Fijians the ocean is their life and almost everyone knows something about the sea. Many people you meet will have swum, snorkelled or even dived, in nearby locations. The gateway to this region is the sleepy town of Savusavu. Away from the hustle of the major cities, it is a charming mix of visitors and locals, keen to help you with your stay.

A Beginners Guide to Snorkelling in Fiji

One of the delights of snorkelling is allowing nature’s spectacles to quietly unfold and for you to become part of the ocean. It’s the unexpected feelings and encounters with unusual and surprising wildlife that makes snorkelling most rewarding of all. Most of all, just have fun!

Cheers,

Simon Mustoe