Taveuni, known as Fiji's Garden Island, is an elongated emerald enclave (42 kilometers long and averaging 11 kilometers wide). The third largest island in the Fiji archipelago, it is located just south of Vanua Levu (Fiji's second largest island) across from the Somosomo Strait. Verdant and rugged, it reaches a maximum height of 1241 meters at Mt. Uluigalau. The island is volcanic in origin, which is the source of its fertile soil making an ideal medium for the abundant flora.
Copious rainfall has produced some spectacular waterfalls and combined with the fecund earth has created a thick carpet of vegetation. Virgin rainforests cover the mountains, which are thick with trees festooned with orchids and ferns. High in the center of the island is Lake Tagimaucia, famous for the indigenous red and white Tagimaucia flower. In addition to the prolific flora, Taveuni is renowned by naturalists for its intact native bird population, which includes parrots, a barking pigeon (Peale's pigeon which does sound like a dog barking), and other rare species. Known in the colonial days for its coconut plantations, today Taveuni is a landmark for divers.
Beneath the surface of sea, in the coral reefs that fringe the island, is an equally rich eco-system that rivals the bio-diversity found on the surface. Fed by rich nutrients that emerge from the depths of the Tongan trench, Taveuni is famous for its multitude of tropical fish and pelagics. However, if there is one trademark or signature species in the area, it is soft coral, which billows and undulates in the currents. Soft coral comes in dramatic, sometimes electric hues of orange, red, pink and white, which are fringed by purple.
Protruding into the strait from the Vanua Levu side to about 3 kilometers from the shores of Taveuni is a magnificent reef, called the Rainbow Reef. Here one can find one of the most famous dive sites in the South Pacific, the Great White Wall. It is named because of the unusual soft coral that inhabit the area. Starting at a depth of about 15 meters and continuing to over 65 meters, this underwater escarpment is covered with an almost luminescent white coral tinged with lavender.
There are a great number of other dive sites sprinkled throughout the area and new attractions are found all the time. It is estimated that only 3% of the entire reef system in the Taveuni area has been explored by divers and it's not unusual to see pelagics such as dolphins, turtles, eagle rays and a number of species of shark.
Between the delightful indigenous population and the abundant sea life, the visitor to Taveuni will not be disappointed.
The diving is mostly at the world famous Rainbow Reef - extending approx. 20 Miles (30Km) into the Somosomo Strait between Taveuni and Vanua Levu. The emphasis here is on spectacular soft corals and teeming marine life as the tidal current provides perfect conditions for incredible multi-coloured soft coral growth and magnificent hard coral formations. The world renowned Great White Wall complements a list of equally impressive sites including Annies Bommie, The Ledge, Yellow Grotto, Jerries Jelly, Blue Ribbon Eel Reef and the Cabbage Patch. The underwater terrain varies - a wide variety of drop-offs, tunnels and rainbow coloured bommies. The dives are either from a fixed spot or drift dives depending on the conditions. Depths vary from 45 to 120 feet ( 15 to 39 meters).
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Notes:
Adventure & Diving Package
1st day: Arriving
2nd day: 2 tank dives, after lunch trip to one of the Tavoro Falls
3rd day: 2 tank dives, after lunch kayaking to Honeymoon Island
4th day: 2 tank dives, after lunch Taveuni West Coast Tour
5th day: Lavena Coastal Walk with village visit and Wainibau Waterfalls
6th day: Departure or extend one day, 2 tank dives at 5th day, Lavena 6th day
7th day: Departure or extend one day, 2 tank dives at 6th day, Lavena 7th day
8th day: Departure
5 nights/3 dive days US$890
6 nights/4 dive days US$990
7 nights/5 dive days US$1090
Rack-Rates per person in USD, based on Planters Bure, Double Occupancy, including full American Breakfast, transfers from/to Matei Airstrip, Resort-Activities & above described activities; non-divers might choice our Adventures in Style Package to accompany the diver at land based activities during the afternoons.
Rates subject to 17.5% Government taxes.
Also see tour packages in:
Scuba diving operators
Australia and Oceania
Fiji
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