Below the Surface

The Namena Marine Reserve spans nearly 70 square kilometres of pristine ocean, encompassing coral walls, bommies, pinnacles, and deep channels that teem with life.

This is one of the healthiest reef systems in the South Pacific — and it shows.
Every dive here is different, every descent a new discovery.

You’ll glide over canyons covered in soft coral, watch massive schools of barracuda sweep past like silver storms, and find delicate nudibranchs hidden in the folds of the reef. With over 400 coral species and more than 1,000 marine species, it’s one of the most biodiverse areas in the Pacific.

Even the currents here are kind — rich in nutrients, yet forgiving enough to make every dive feel effortless.

Signature Dive Sites of Namena

Grand Central Station

The crown jewel of the Namena Marine Reserve.
This site offers pelagic magic: schools of big-eye trevally, swirling barracuda, grey reef sharks, and the occasional hammerhead cruising the blue. The wall drops into the deep, decorated with fans and soft coral. A world-class drift dive with breathtaking visibility.

Depth: 10–35 m
Experience: Intermediate to advanced
Highlights: Sharks, schooling fish, wall dive, strong currents

The Chimneys

Two towering coral pinnacles rise from the deep like cathedral spires, alive with anthias, damselfish, and a kaleidoscope of soft coral. Currents weave through the towers, feeding life on every side. It’s a diver’s dream of movement and colour.

Depth: 8–30 m
Experience: All levels (mild currents)
Highlights: Soft coral, macro life, vibrant towers

North Save-a-Tack Passage

A legendary drift dive. Drop in and let the current carry you along vertical walls coated in soft coral and sponges. You’ll encounter patrolling reef sharks, rays gliding in formation, and massive schools of fusiliers. It’s a constant parade of motion.

Depth: 15–40 m
Experience: Intermediate to advanced
Highlights: Drift dive, sharks, rays, pelagics

Magic Mountain

A coral pinnacle surrounded by schools of fish so dense you can barely see the reef. Turtles rest on ledges, clownfish dart in anemones, and eels peek from coral heads. At certain times, mantas sweep by gracefully.

Depth: 5–25 m
Experience: All levels
Highlights: Reef fish, turtles, macro life

The Seven Dwarfs

A series of seven coral mounds rising from the sandy bottom, each one unique in structure and marine life. This is macro heaven — pygmy seahorses, leaf scorpionfish, and technicolour nudibranchs abound.

Depth: 10–28 m
Experience: All levels
Highlights: Macro, reef fish, coral bommies

Marine Life Highlights

Namena’s underwater residents are as diverse as they are abundant. Divers frequently encounter:

Grey Reef, White-tip & Hammerhead Sharks

Manta Rays & Eagle Rays

Humphead Wrasse & Napoleon Wrasse

Turtles (Green & Hawksbill)

Schooling Trevally, Jacks, and Barracuda

Delicate Seahorses & Leaf Scorpionfish

Vibrant Soft Corals & Sponges

Occasional Pilot Whales and Dolphins in the channel

Diving Ethos – Respect the Reef

Namena is protected by the Kubulau community, whose stewardship created Fiji’s first locally managed marine area. Every diver contributes to its preservation through a dive tag system, with proceeds supporting marine protection and education.

When you dive here, you become part of that story — guardians of a living masterpiece.

Please remember:

Never touch coral or marine life

Use mooring buoys only

Keep fins up and buoyancy neutral

Take only photos, leave only bubbles

Best Time to Dive

Year-round diving with water temperatures of 26–30°C

April to November offers the calmest seas and best visibility

December to March sees plankton blooms that attract manta rays and whales

Visibility: Often 25–40 m
Water Temp: 26–30°C
Currents: Mild to strong (varies by site)
Dive Boats: Four, each accommodating small groups by skill level

Dive Operations

Namena Island Beach Resort has four custom dive boats, each designed for small, personalised groups.
Dive groups are intentionally kept small so guests can experience the reef without disturbance — it’s the opposite of mass tourism.

All dives are led by experienced local guides who know the reef like family. Safety briefings are thorough, gear is top-tier, and every dive ends with the same quiet joy — floating on your back, gazing up at a flawless Fijian sky.

To dive at Namena is to glimpse the ocean as it once was — alive, abundant, and utterly free.

Here, every descent is a meditation, every ascent a reminder that paradise still exists beneath the surface.

Namena isn’t just one of the best dive sites in the world — it’s the heart of the sea, still beating strong.