Fiji is famous for its lush rainforests, sparkling turquoise waters, and swathes of pristine white beach. But look closer and you’ll find that some of Fiji’s most spectacular scenery can be found beneath its sparkling waters. Underneath those warm waves lurks an entire world of colour and life, and to experience it is to experience the best that Fiji has to offer.

Fiji’s reefs offer an amazing diving experience. Among the best reasons to dive in Fiji is the immense amount of coral found across the archipelago’s reefs. Fiji has been called the “Soft Coral Capital of the World,” – rather appropriately, as there are 390 known types of coral here! And the coral in Fiji isn’t just diverse; it’s also incredibly colourful and abundant, supporting a huge range of marine plants, fish, and even the occasional reptile.

If it’s spectacular coral you wish to see, you can’t go past the Astrolabe Reef off Kadavu Island. The Astrolabe Reef is the fourth-largest in the world, over 65km long, and is one of the world’s premier diving locations. Kadavu Island is one of Fiji’s little-known gems. Its small but strong eco-tourist industry is run entirely by local families, and the island is completely void of both resorts and tourists.

Bligh Waters, near Rakiraki off Fiji’s largest island of Viti Levu, offers some of Fiji’s best fish- and turtle- spotting. The best sites here are only available by boat, so ask your concierge or travel agent to recommend a diving company to get you there. Subsurface Fiji is one of Fiji’s main diving companies, and offers a wide range of PADI certification options to get you diving quickly and safely. Whether you’re a complete beginner or it’s just been a few years since your last dive, Subsurface offers half- to full- day courses designed to get you out there and enjoying the very best views Fiji has to offer.