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Fiji Diving at Matangi Island Resort

Matangi Island Resort - Fiji Diving:

Many dive experts consider the northern area of Fiji to be some of the best diving in the world. Matangi Island Resort is located right in the middle of it!

Diving at Matangi Island Resort is effortless. Most of Matangi's dive sites are within 20 minutes of the island by boat. The currents that predominate in this region are what supply the nutrients to the exquisite soft corals for which the north of Fiji is famous.

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.

Preview a few of Matangi's dive sites or view the resort's Dive Sites Map.

For detailed information on our diving operation, please keep reading. If you have any questions, please contact us.

The day dive concession at Matangi Island Resort is owned and operated by Tropical Dive (Fiji Scuba).

Please take care of the marine environment and help us to preserve it for the enjoyment of future divers.

Before You Leave Home:

Do not forget to pack your diver certification card if you are a certified diver. For guests doing a Dive course or referral, please bring ALL documentation necessary.

It is not necessary to bring towels as they are supplied for you.

We HIGHLY recommend that you pack the following items in your dive bag: Aquaear, Neosporin powder, bonine, an anti-fungal ear drop.

Matangi does not allow diving alone.

Dive Certification Cards:

A valid C-Card from one of the major dive certification agencies is required before you can enjoy the diving at Matangi. Remember to bring one along. YMCA, PADI, SSI, NAUI, CMAS and others are accepted.

SCUBA Instruction:

Matangi Island Resort offers PADI and S.S.I. courses, from a Discover Scuba (resort course), to Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Referrals and Refresher courses. Some prerequisites may be required.

Going On Your Dive:

The dive boat departs from the resort Activities Center at around 8:30 am each day. If they do not have sufficient divers for the big boat a smaller boat will be used and will then do a single tank morning dive and a single tank afternoon dive. Guests are requested to check the blackboard for the departure times, or ask one of the dive staff.

The only thing you will need to carry with you is your wet suit/dive skin. All of your gear will be waiting for you on the dive boat, and Matangi's dive staff will change your tank and set up your gear for each dive. The resort has 3lb weights. They ask that you keep your gear together in your catch bag after the day's last dive. Wet dive suits can be hung to dry on hangers numbered with your Bure.

Dive Boats:

Matangi's dive boat will depart each morning around 8:30am. We generally do 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.

Once at the dive site, they ask that you 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.

All Day Dive Trips

All Day Dive Trips offer divers at Matangi an additional realm to diving. With the Day Trips program, we are able to offer divers 2 tank dive. The resort provides a picnic lunch, allowing a third dive after lunch.

These Day Trips open up wonderful areas including the SomoSomo Straits, Qamea, Motui, Nanuku, Ringgolds, and Miller Reefs. The destination for the Day Trip is decided based on tidal and weather factors. Please note that we require a minimum of six divers for the Day Trips.

Dive Guides:

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 have any questions please ask the Dive guide to go through the briefing again. 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. At the end of your dive, please give either the Captain or dive guide your dive profile for the dive log. Also check in with the Captain.

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.

New Genesis BCD's, Regulators with octopus, and high quality fins and masks are available. We are only able to offer 3mm shortie wetsuits within the 'normal' size range.

Fiji Dive Sites /Fiji Visibility / Fiji Water Temperature:

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 Fij's winter (June-Sept) to 80°F+ in our 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. The boat will pick you up.

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

Shore Diving:

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. Pre-paid diving cannot be substituted for additional afternoon diving. 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.

Night Diving:

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. Pre-paid diving cannot be substituted for night diving. Generally diving boats will leave for a night dive at around 6.30pm and return for the resort for dinner after the dive. We are not able to pre-book night dives, and should Matangi only have a few divers a smaller boat may be used.

Refunds/Payments:

We do not refund unused dives. Refunds will apply only where dives have been cancelled due to extremely poor weather conditions or unforeseen circumstances. Our charges are based on a 2 tank morning dive.

Dive Computers / Dive Tables:

We allow computer diving, but ask that you watch your dive tables and dive computers closely and follow your dive guide. No decompression diving is allowed.