Beqa Lagoon Resort

It has been a little over a month since I returned from Beqa Lagoon Resort, and I can’t seem to forget the wonderful feeling! The excellent food, the island setting and the lush, carefully maintained grounds were all part of the experience. But what really has stuck with me was the friendliness and sincere warmth of the staff. Many of the staff live in nearby villages and “commute” on foot to the Resort. They are just wonderful and they soon learned many of our names! (I would mention a few names but I would not want to inadvertently omit anyone!) The opportunity we had to visit one of the villages and a primary & secondary school was truly a cultural treat. I don’t dive, unfortunately, but several others in the group took the onsite certification course and seemed very pleased with the program. If or, I hope, when I return to Fiji, the Beqa Lagoon Resort will be at the top of my list!

Beqa Lagoon Resort, Fiji (pronounced Benga) 5th–12th July 2025 Almost two years ago, I began planning a trip to Fiji to dive with the sharks of Beqa Lagoon, a dream for many divers. On the morning of July 5th, our group met at 3:00 am at Sydney Airport for a 6:00 am flight to Nadi, Fiji. After landing, we were met by our bus for the journey to Pacific Harbour. Unfortunately, it was a small bus... for 21 people plus luggage, lucky they had a trailer. The 165 km drive took around 3.5 hours. From Pacific Harbour, we boarded two large aluminium catamarans for the final 45-minute crossing to Beqa Island. As the sun set, we arrived on the beach to the sound of the resort staff singing a traditional Fijian welcome. After a long journey, we had finally arrived, and it was immediately worth it. Day 1 – Checkout Dives The first dive day started with a check dive at the site used for the shark feeding. Visibility was decent at 20–25 meters, but milky, less than I’d expected for Fiji. Tawny nurse sharks approached as we arrived, and a few bull sharks joined us on the bottom, though they quickly left when they realized there was no food. Our second dive was at “Seven Sisters” — a reef featuring a small swim-through and a resident ribbon eel. A scenic dive, but still an introductory warm-up. Day 2 – Drift Diving Conditions ramped up on day two, with rough seas and strong currents on the western side of the lagoon. The first dive was a drift from John’s Tunnel to The Golden Arch — spectacular visibility (~40 meters), stunning soft corals, sea fans, and schools of small reef fish. The second dive was a small wreck just offshore from the resort. Visibility dropped to around 8 meters, and while the wreck was fun to explore, I found the surrounding reef more vibrant. Day 3 – Wrecks & Reef Our morning dive was on a sunken Chinese trawler. While most of us focused on the reef (with its schools of barracuda, fans, and small swim-throughs), Paul was drawn to the wreck’s rusting charm. The second dive, “Circus-Circus,” featured a massive coral bommie teeming with life. The highlight was a mantis shrimp, though the overall density of marine life made it a diver’s playground. Graham and I managed to squeeze in a few shore dives in the afternoons. Visibility was only about 5 meters, but there were plenty of critters around to photograph. Shark Dives – The Main Event Beqa Lagoon is world-famous for its shark dives, particularly its encounters with bull and tiger sharks. We had booked one day of double shark dives, but I was keen to do more. After speaking with the dive operation, I learned that extra spots on the shark boats could be filled if available. Thanks to this, some of us managed three days of shark diving. How It Works The dive site is a submerged pinnacle on the reef edge. Boats moor, and divers descend to a rock wall at 20 meters. Behind the wall, divers kneel while the wranglers prepare the feeding station: a large aluminium box containing tuna heads. The tun

My husband and I just returned from Beqa Lagoon. We had an incredible time. The lights do flicker sometimes but it’s an island in Fiji! If you scuba dive do the shark dive you will be impressed. The people are friendly. The resort is clean and the food is plentiful. Join the activities and learn more about the local culture. Visit the local villages and school. Take a hike to see the waterfalls or paddle board out over the reef. Whatever you do, you can find something to smile about!