Scuba Diving Namena Reserve - Fiji
The Ultimate Fiji Dive Guide
Welcome to Namena Diving : Fiji's 'Galapagos'
A Fiji diving adventure is defined by its world - class sites. At Grand Central Station you are swept along walls teeming with life, where schools of barracuda and trevally form shimmering silver curtains, while grey reef sharks patrol the blue and white tips rest on the seabed.
Soft corals explode in a kaleidoscope of colour - fiery reds, cerise pinks and deep purples drape the dramatic bommies which fizz with small brightly coloured fish schools.
Diving Fiji's Incredible Namena Marine Reserve
Nestles in the heart of Fiji's Koro Sea, the Namena Marine Reserve stands as a crown jewel of Fiji diving. This spectacularly preserved sanctuary, encircling Namenalala Island, is a vibrant testament to marine conservation and offers an underwater spectacle that ranks among the world's finest diving.
Soft Coral and Pelagic Splendour
Discover Namena Marine Reserve
An absolutely stunning horseshoe-shaped reef of over 60 km² , Namena Reserve is Fiji's largest 'no fishing' reserve. The reef surrounds a tiny island, known as Namenalala - an important nesting bird colony for boobies, frigates and tropic birds. There is a small eco resort which is currently under reconstruction after being demolished by 170 mph winds during Cyclone Winston in 2016.
Namena Reserve boasts a spectacular compendium of coral species and an estimated 1000 + fish species. The reserve is visited by bottlenose and spinner dolphins, pilot whales and occasionally (between July to October), humpback whales migrating to give birth.
It was declared a no fishing zone by the local 'Qoliqoli' in 1997 (the Fijian village owners of the reef) and is the best place in Fiji to see large pelagics such as hammerheads, tuna, spanish mackerel, manta rays and grey reef sharks.
It is not easily accessible, due to rough seas caused by the South Easterly tradewinds that bring cooling breezes and water surface temperatures to Fiji during the winter months - May to November.
The Iconic Dive Sites of Namena Reserve
Grand Central
Prepeare for an immersion into one of the South Pacific's most legendary dive sites : Grand Central Station in the Namena Reserve. This large scaled drift dive takes place in a bustling hub of marine life. Descending into the blue, you are immediately swept up in the action, as powerful currents funnel a breathtaking concentration of fish and grey reef sharks through a dramatic underwater seascape.
Schools of barracuda and trevally form shimmering silver walls, while massive dogtooth tuna patrol the depths. The reef walls are adorned with vibrant soft corals in a spectacular array of currents, and the overhangs and swim throughs are alive with critters.
It's an adrenaline-filled drift dive that offers a sensory overload of pelagic action and pristine reef beauty, truly earning its reputation as the grand epicenter of Fijian diving.
Chimneys
Chimneys is the quintessential Fiji soft coral dive. When the current is running the series of pinnacles near the South Save a Tack passage becomes a 'blizzard of colour'.
Giant red sea fans act as filters in the current, sea whips, gorgonians, melithaedae, dendronepythya grace over hangs and crevices. Soft corals blanket the series of vertical sea mounts in dazzling shades of pink, red, orange, purple and yellow. The water is so clear the colours are surreal.
Eagle rays and hammerheads can sometimes be seen gliding past. Fussilers, unicorn fish schools, snapper and scad buzz past and macro is everywhere - leaf scorpionfish, nudibranchs and ghost pipefish.
Conservation at Namena Reserve
Fiji's Namena Marine Reserve is one of the last pristine reef systems on the planet and conserving this vast area of coral reefs, deep channels and sea mounts is critical. The variety of habitats, including the bird colonies on the island, represent a significant portion of the entire Pacific's marine life.
Not only is Namena a biodiversity capital the reef system is also a critical breeding and nursery ground. The protected lagoons inside the reef and the shallow waters around the small island act as essential nurseries for juvenile fish. The deep water channels are critical migration paths for pelagic species.
The reef is also a sanctuary for megafauna. Namena is a known migration site for manta rays, hammerhead sharks, grey reef sharks, nurse sharks, marlin, dolphins and much more.
Protecting the reef from the threats of climate change ( coral bleaching and cyclone damage), illegal poaching, crown of thorn outbreaks and human activity ( it is illegal to visit the island itself) is an ongoing challenge. Only experienced divers with perfect buoyancy should consider diving Namena Reserve.
See the Magic of Namena Diving
Your Fiji Diving Questions Answered
- Namena Reserve
What is the best time of year for diving in Namena?
Namena Reserve is located around 19 nautical miles South of Savusavu town. The trade winds in Fiji are predominantly South Easterly and can be strong between the months of May to November making Namena Reserve hard for dive boats to access. For this reason we recommend Fiji's summer months of November to May to book a scuba diving holiday in Savusavu that would include visits to Namena Reserve. The visibility is not affected by the more frequent showers in Fiji's summer months as the reefs are far from run off.
What marine life can I see at Namena Reserve?
As Namena is a reef system adjacent to a huge patch of open ocean in the Koro Sea you can expect to see literally anything!
Marlin, dolphins, manta rays, pilot whales, sunfish have all been encountered. However, there are huge schools of resident snapper, barracuda and trevally. Turtles, marble rays and trigger fish are also common.
How to do I get to Namena Reserve?
Savusavu town has a good range of self-catering accommodation for every budget. Contact us directly and we can put you in touch with our Savusavu dive and accommodation partners.
The Ultimate Fiji Diving Experience
More than just a dive site, the Namena Marine Reserve is a profound encounter with a thriving pristine ocean. It is the ultimate diving experience, a destination that captures the underwater majesty of the South Pacific and leaves every diver with a sense of awe.