Matangi Island Resort Diving

Matangi's experienced dive staff picks the day's dive sites based on the tidal flow.

Diving a site at the wrong side of the tidal change will mean that the soft corals will not be open to their full beauty.

Diving a site at just the right (tidal) time will provide you with an experience you won't forget! Matangi Island Resort's dive staff has been diving these waters for many years, and know the best dive sites to visit based on the tides and weather.

PADI and S.S.I. Certification courses are offered at the resort.

Discover Scuba, Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Open Water Referral and refresher courses can also be arranged.

If you are considering taking a scuba course, please check with us in advance of your trip, to allow the resort proper time to prepare for your arrival.

In addition, Matangi offers shore dives and snorkeling off the resort's front beach (with a minimum of a 3 day dive package purchase, unlimited complimentary shore diving is available.

Matangi has a small reef where you can find clown fish in their host anemones, lion fish and many other types of tropicals. The diving in front of the dive shop at Matangi is truly an underated "muck dive".

Just a few yards from the dive shop you can find giant clams, numerous live shells, nudibranchs, several varieties of shrimps and small crabs, garden eels, and if your really paying attention, a Cockatoo wasp fish, frogfish and an occasional rare seahorse.

Matangi's dive boat will depart each morning around 8:30am. Matangi generally does 2-tank dives in the morning, and return to the resort for lunch at approximately 12:30pm.

The resort provides coffee, hot tea, water, snacks and fresh towels aboard the boat.

Matangi's dive boats are covered, but you should always wear sunblock, especially if you are sensitive to the sun.

Please make sure to keep hydrated and drink a lot of water.

Dive Guides

Once at the dive site set up your gear up on the boat, and then do a giant stride into the sea from the platform located on the stern.

If you have a problem entering the water with your gear, they will assist you and carry your tank to the platform, or hold it in the water for you.

When you are ready to come out of the water, your divemaster will assist in getting your gear in the boat, you are not required to climb a ladder wearing a tank.

There will be a guide in the water at all times during your dive.

Matangi Island Resort's guides give thorough dive briefings.

If you are traveling alone, the guides will buddy you with another diver.

diving guides are there to assist you, and to ensure you have a safe and enjoyable dive. Every six divers will have a Dive guide.

Dive Gear:

After you arrive you will find on your resort bure's verandah a mesh bag which is marked with your bure number.

Once filled with your dive gear, the bag will be collected from your bure by Matangi's dive staff.

Your gear will be washed daily and stored neatly in the Activities Center for the duration of your stay.

If you did not bring your own gear, the resort can supply the gear you require, at an additional charge.

Dive sites:

All of Fiji's dive sites are selected according to the daily tides and the weather. Matangi does not dive deeper than 130 ft. Visibility varies with the time of the year and the dive sites, but usually averages between 50-100 plus feet. Water temperatures vary from 78°F in Fiji's winter (June-Sept) to 80°F+ in Fiji's summer (Oct-May).

The dive boats do NOT anchor on any of Fiji's dive sites.

The boat will drop the divers and guide and then follow the divers. When you are ready to surface let the guide know and he will point you in the direction (away from the reef) where to surface where the boat will pick you up.

Matangi Island Resort highly recommends that ALL divers carry safety sausages.

Unlimited complimentary shore diving is available with a minimum 3 day dive package purchase. The dive staff ask that that you always dive with a buddy, and that you check in with the dive staff at the Activities Center prior to entering the water.

If you don't have a buddy, check with the Dive Staff to see if they are able to dive with you.

Additional Afternoon Dive:
A minimum of 2 divers are required for an afternoon boat dive, at an additional charge.

Matangi may use a smaller boat if there are only a few divers. The afternoon dive (a single tank) is only done in conjunction with a 2 tank morning dive. A 2/tank afternoon dive may also be arranged.

Dive Sites:

Some of the  best dive sites in the area that Matangi dives regularly are:

• Great Yellow Wall
• Edge
• Golden Dream
• Noel's Wall
• Frank's Place
• Motui I
• Motui II
• Cross Channel
• Ringgolds
• Raranitiga I
• Rananitiga II
• Still Waters
• Elbow Reef
• Purple Wall
• White Wall

Complimentary night diving can be done from the resort's shore.

There are plenty of night creatures to entertain underwater photographers.

Night diving from one of Matangi Island Resort's dive boats is available (weather permitting) with a minimum of 2 divers, at an additional charge. Dive lights are available for hire.

Generally diving boats will leave for a night dive at around 6.30pm and return for the resort for dinner after the dive.