Snorkeling in Paradise

If you enjoy snorkelling and you are looking for the best soft corals in the world, then Paradise Taveuni is your destination. Not only does Paradise offer more snorkelling sites than anywhere in Fiji, but it also home to one of the top 5 soft coral dive sites in the world – the Legendary Rainbow Reef.

The Somosomo Strait (Fijian for ‘good water’) has strong tidal currents, which provide a constant flow of nutrients, idyllic for soft coral growth and diverse fish life. Taveuni is world renowned among divers and snorkellers for this reason.

Paradise Taveuni is the only resort on the island offering snorkelling on pristine Vuna Reef, the legendary Rainbow Reef and straight off shore from the private marina, directly in front of the resort.

Every day, snorkelers from all over the world, choose Paradise Taveuni, to experience the extraordinary formations of hard and soft corals and abundance of fish life including anemone fish, maori wrasse, lionfish, reef sharks, rays, turtles and much, much more. With a variety of deep wall drop off’s and shallow drift snorkelling, there is something here for everyone – from beginner to advanced.

So what type of snorkelling can you expect in Taveuni?

Well, if you love underwater fauna, Taveuni is paradise and you will experience some of the best snorkelling in the world. Where else can you experience schools of barracudas, beautiful trevallies, manta shrimps, lion fish, manta rays, turtles, blue ribbon eel, Christmas tree worms, and off course mountains of colourful soft corals.

So what types of snorkelers usually stay with us?

Well, usually snorkelers that are looking for a unique underwater opportunity allowing them to enjoy some of the top sites in the world.

Here in Paradise, we believe snorkelling is more than an activity, it is a way of life. Our dive team are fanatics … and each day they look forward to sharing their passion for their underwater world with our Guests.

From beginners to underwater photographers, each snorkelling site in Paradise Taveuni offers a complete range of marine life, depth and colours.

Quick Facts about Paradise Taveuni as a Snorkelling Destination

* Paradise Taveuni offers the largest number of snorkelling sites in Fiji.

* Rainbow Reef has been considered “the best soft coral reef in the Pacific” by one of the most experienced divers of all times – Jacques Cousteau.

* Our Dive Team only work with small groups providing dedicated and exclusive snorkelling to our Guests.

* Paradise Taveuni offers over 20 different snorkelling sites on both Vuna Reef, Rainbow Reef and directly in front of the resort. We are discovering more all the time. You won’t snorkel the same site twice – unless you want to.

* Paradise Taveuni offers spectacular shore snorkelling and you are guaranteed to see resident moray eels, blue ribbon eels, lion fish, anemone fish, soft corals and a multitude of other tropical reef fish on any shore site.

Snorkelling Sites

Paradise Reef (house reef)

This is the reef located right in front of Paradise. In one direction, it is a labyrinth of lava flow covered in stunning hard and soft corals, swarming in tropical reef species, shallow and bright – a photographers dream! In the other is a fantastic training site with a variety of terrain to make the most of your learning experience. We utilise this site for our night snorkelling as well as any time during your stay. All our local species are represented here and the colours are stunning.

Dolphin Bay (nearby Paradise)

Located just a bay north of Paradise, this drift snorkel is on the island wall. Resident Eels and Lionfish make this a popular site. Large fish like Snapper and Trevally make regular appearances adding spectacle to one of our favourite sites.

Coral Gardens (nearby Paradise)

Nicknamed Nirvana and only a few minutes by boat from the Resort, this is one of our best sites. Three fingers of lava once streamed into the ocean and are now covered with a variety of hard and soft coral species. Rays, Sharks and big schools of Barracuda are the keepers of the Coral Garden. Schools of Trevally, Snappers and Tunas abound. It’s an overdose of everything!

Steve’s Corner (nearby Paradise)

This site reveals a huge variety of soft corals feeding in the current. Turn the corner and come up shallow to enjoy a large archway swim-through guarded by the resident Anemone Fish and filled with Ghost Coral. Sharp-eyed divers will also spot the juvenile Blue Ribbon Eels here.

Tomasi’s Delight (nearby Paradise)

This site is situated close to Paradise. A steep slope of hard corals hides many small treasures – Dwarf Lionfish, Cowries and Nudibranchs have all made their homes here, as well as an array of Featherstars and Sea Cucumbers.

Orgasm (Vuna Reef)

Vuna Reef at its finest! This wall snorkel faces open ocean and it is here that we have seen some of our favourite regulars: Sharks, Rays and Napoleon Wrasse. Drift by schools of Spanish Mackerel or giant Tuna from the deep. All this in only 60f /18m, a truly awe-inspiring site that never seems to disappoint us.

Incredible Reef (Vuna Reef)

On the inner side of Vuna Reef, this site explores a large wedge-shaped area cutting into the Reef wall. Schools of pelagics glide past as smaller reef fish swarm in the shelter of the wedge. This site certainly lives up to its name!

Fish Factory (Vuna Reef)

Stunning hard plate corals, lots of ambient light, multicoloured patches of soft coral, giant clams and swarms of reef fish at a depth of less than 60f/18m make this a popular site for photographers, beginners and the experienced.

The Great White Wall – Top side only (Rainbow Reef site)

The Soft Coral capital of the world offers an astounding wall of pure white soft coral. This site is definitely the world famous Rainbow Reef’s top draw. A dazzling myriad of colour and life inhabits the reef top. If that’s not enough, you will see Manta Rays glide past with ethereal grace.

Jack’s Place (Rainbow Reef site)

Situated on the Rainbow Reef, this site offers an immense coral bommie covered with vibrant colours of soft coral and fish. The site is a haven for Spanish Dancers, Box Fish and White Tipped Reef Sharks.

Nuku Reef (Rainbow Reef)

Drift along this gently sloping reef and marvel at the small critters that reside here – Christmas tree worms, clams and sea anemones are all in abundance, along with their resident clown fish and trigger fish.

Fish Factory (Rainbow Reef)

Snorkel along this steep wall and meet many fish feeding in the current – parrot fish, Spanish mackerel and angle fish are all resident here. The sharp-eyed can also spot stone fish and leaf scorpion fish hiding in the wall crevices.

Rainbows End (Rainbow Reef)

Soft coral heaven! Beautiful purple, yellow and red soft corals make sure Rainbow’s End lives up to it’s name. Add in lionfish, Moorish Idols and hundreds of anthias and this is a true explosion of colour.

The Dive Shop displays information on tides, conditions and sites chosen for the day.

Please don’t hesitate to suggest a site to visit. The Pro Dive Taveuni Crew will be happy to oblige if conditions are right.

Talk to our friendly & experienced PRO Dive Taveuni Crew for further information on snorkelling in Paradise!