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How to Stay Safe & Have Fun in the Water on Your Trip to Fiji

The South Pacific waters that surround Fiji are incredibly beautiful. The water here is crystal clear and the coral reefs vibrant and healthy. The opportunity to explore these stunning marine habitats off the coast of Taveuni entice thousands of visitors each year, with avid divers planning a trip to Fiji just to see the Somosomo Strait and other reefs.

But not every visitor to Fiji is a highly experienced diver. Each year many of our guests at Raiwasa are first-time scuba divers or novice snorkelers. We love that these visitors pick Fiji for their initial underwater adventure, and want everyone to explore Fiji’s oceans safely. We’ve compiled a list of ways to say safe and have fun while snorkeling, diving, kayaking, and paddleboarding in Fiji.

Check Your Equipment

Before you dip a fin into the water, you should check and recheck all the dive and snorkel equipment for your trip. Of course, these checks are far more substantial for a scuba diver, who needs to make sure the BCD is properly inflating, oxygen tanks are full, and the air is properly flowing from both regulators.

Yet snorkelers also need to inspect the quality of their equipment. Does your mask fit properly? Are your fins the right size? Is your snorkel leaking or uncomfortable in your mouth? Before you set out from the boat or leave shore, you want to be certain these accessories are in working order.

At Raiwasa, we work with the best tour operators on Taveuni. These tour companies are careful to inspect their equipment and follow all safety regulations, but even when working with the best companies, you want to perform your perform your own checks.

Snorkel and Scuba with a Buddy

One of the first things you learn in an open water diving course is the importance of diving with another person. In scuba, your dive partner is called a buddy, and on most dives, the scuba instructor or dive master will pair the individual divers. Throughout the dive, you are responsible for keeping an eye on your buddy and confirming the person’s safety. This buddy system is in effect from the time you put on gear until both buddies are back on the boat.

Buddies are just as helpful during a snorkel trip. While there are fewer risks when swimming on the surface, but there are still several risks. It’s easy to become fatigued, cramped, or lost while snorkeling, but with a buddy, you can make it safely back to shore or the boat.

Stay Aware of Your Surroundings

Underwater visibility in Fiji is some of the best in the world, and conditions for scuba diving and snorkeling are typically serene and consistent. Yet, these top-notch conditions aren’t an excuse to let your guard down. The South Pacific Ocean is vast, and even here a sudden current or close encounter with a marine animal is possible. Anytime you are out on the water in Fiji, you need to be aware of what’s around you.

Look But Don’t Touch While Underwater

What you see and experience underwater in Fiji Is unlike anything you can find on land, and for many people, it’s an irresistible place to adventure. However, your exploration of the South Pacific, or any other ocean, you should be limited to what you see. Touching coral, nudibranch, sea urchins, marine life, and other things you find in the ocean is not only dangerous for the plants and animals, but also for you.

A vast array of marine life and underwater plants are poisonous or venomous, including many of those you’ll encounter on a trip to Fiji. Contact with a lionfish, some sea urchins, starfish, stonefish, sea snakes, and most hydrozoans would not only hurt but could lead to a hospital visit.

Touching other sea life isn’t going to ruin your vacation, but it could injury or kill the marine plant or animal. For example, humans standing on coral are major causes of coral bleaching. If we want to preserve stunning marine habitats, like the Rainbow Reef, for future generations, then all people need to follow a strict no-touch policy.

Underwater Adventures at Raiwasa

There are endless opportunities to explore the ocean near Taveuni during your stay at Raiwasa Private Resort. From our private beach, you can set out on a kayak trip or snorkel adventure. Our incredible partners lead the best boat tours and dive trips in Fiji. Want to experience this beautiful, underwater world for yourself? Book a trip to Fiji!