Vanua Levu & Taveuni
Fiji is known the world over as the soft coral capital of the world, and once you slip beneath its warm, clear water it is easy to see why. Beneath the calm blue surface lies some of the most colorful diving and snorkeling on earth, where reef walls and coral heads glow in shades of pink, orange and violet, and clouds of fish drift through water so clear it feels like flying.
The legendary Rainbow Reef and the Great White Wall lie in the Somosomo Strait off the island of Taveuni, a stretch of walls and bommies draped in vivid soft corals that bloom in the current. The colors are at their boldest where the tide runs strongest, and around them swirl clouds of reef fish, gliding turtles, reef sharks and rays. It is the kind of underwater spectacle that stays with divers and snorkelers alike for years.
What makes Fiji so special is how easy it is to enjoy. The water is a balmy eighty degrees and the visibility is superb, so it is as rewarding for first-time snorkelers as it is for seasoned divers. Many resorts sit right on their own house reef, which means you can be among the color within minutes of stepping off the beach, no boat required.
