Join the Backscatter photo pros for an underwater photo adventure in the soft coral capital of the world, Fiji aboard the award-winning NAI’A.
Bula! NAI’A! Those two words most represent Fiji to those who have been there and explored the vibrant soft coral pulsating with colorful anthias and fusiliers in the Bligh Water and beyond in more remote sites in the Bora Sea. This area offers barrier reefs, sloping pinnacles, and seamounts regularly flushed by ocean currents, supporting some of the healthiest and vibrant reefs in the world.
Expect technicolor seascapes with an abundance of marine life, including sharks, rays, trevally, barracuda, turtles, seahorses, anemone fish, and more, which is excellent for both wide-angle and macro photography. Some dive live-aboards are just a boat, but the NAI’A is an experience, a true Fijian Experience.
You will also enjoy the conveniently located spacious camera room just off the dive deck for safe storage of your gear, and there are ample electrical outlets throughout the boat and in your rooms for charging. This ample room on the NAI’A for dining, sunbathing on the deck, or just lounging around in the shade with a good book.
One of the many advantages of live-aboard diving is that the itinerary is flexible and can accommodate Fiji’s dynamic conditions and dive the top spots as well as some lesser-known distant sites. Made up of over 300 islands, the NAI’A live-aboard is the best way to explore the best sites that cannot be reached from land-based operators.
If you go to naia.com.fj/fiji/dive-sites/ and click on the link, it will take you to a detailed page of every dive site.
One of the draws of Fiji on our itinerary is the big stuff, like large schools of trevally, snapper, and barracuda. There are several sites that we will have an opportunity to see and photograph feeding mantas and mantas being cleaned as they glide effortlessly in the current. And if Sharks are your thing, Fiji is fortunate to have healthy populations of white-tip, hammerhead, and grey reef sharks. If we are lucky, it is also possible to see Black-tip, tiger, bull, nurse, and silver-tip sharks. Some of the dive sites are along the edge of the barrier reef bordering a 3,000ft deep channel that leads to the Vatu-i-ra Passage and through which pass humpback, sperm, and pilot whales.
Diving conditions are suitable for all levels of diving, but advanced and experience with diving in current is recommended. The area is regularly flushed by currents, which is why the reefs are so healthy. But our NAI’s experience in the region over many years has taught them how and when to dive there so that we can tour the glorious reefs without having to fight the currents that make them so rich.
We will be diving from rigid inflatable skiffs that are deployed from the NAI’A and NAI’A’s, and the skiffs will pick you up wherever you surface. Nitrox is offered aboard the NIA’A and offers longer bottom times and an increased margin of safety on multi-day expeditions with lots of repetitive diving. Become Nitrox certified before the trip if you wish to use it or learn to use nitrox during your charter.
Water Temps in September typically range between 77 and 82. We recommend bringing at least a 3mm wetsuit with a few layers, such as a separate vest or hood, to accommodate fluctuations in temperature. We can advise you closer to the trip on what temperatures have been experienced. Or if you easily get cold, than a 5mm or higher is recommended.
The Recommended Camera Gear is ALL of it because Fiji hosts both world-class macro and wide-angle photo opportunities. Bring a wide-angle rectilinear and/or fisheye lens to capture those dramatic reef scenes, schooling fish, mantas, sharks, or other beasties we encounter. Bring a macro lens or two with any diopters, snoots, etc. that you may want to use for capturing that rare critter or fish. A good pair of strobes will also be recommended for lighting up those reef scenes. Fiji is also a videographer’s dream location, and much of the gorgeous, soft coral featured in the IMAX film “Coral Reef Adventure” was shot here.
Please note that medical evacuation insurances such as Dive Assure or Divers Alert Network (DAN) is mandatory on all trips.
Additionally, comprehensive Cancellation, Accident, Medical and Baggage insurance such as DAN, Dive Assure, or Generali Global Assistance is highly recommended.
Bula! NAI’A! Those two words most represent Fiji to those who have been there and explored the vibrant soft coral pulsating with colorful anthias and fusiliers in the Bligh Water and beyond in more remote sites in the Bora Sea. This area offers barrier reefs, sloping pinnacles, and seamounts regularly flushed by ocean currents, supporting some of the healthiest and vibrant reefs in the world.
Expect technicolor seascapes with an abundance of marine life, including sharks, rays, trevally, barracuda, turtles, seahorses, anemone fish, and more, which is excellent for both wide-angle and macro photography. Some dive live-aboards are just a boat, but the NAI’A is an experience, a true Fijian Experience.
NAI’A
With a welcoming Fijian crew of 14 that is more like a family, it is no wonder why she has such a loyal following of repeat visitors that rate the vessel and crew as tops anywhere in the world. The 120ft/36m long and 30ft/9m steel Holland-built ship is a solid vessel with the most capable sailors anywhere. The 9 over-sized air-conditioned staterooms with private ensuite heads accommodate 18 guests.
You will also enjoy the conveniently located spacious camera room just off the dive deck for safe storage of your gear, and there are ample electrical outlets throughout the boat and in your rooms for charging. This ample room on the NAI’A for dining, sunbathing on the deck, or just lounging around in the shade with a good book.
Trip Itinerary
The best dive sites are the Fijian islands and barrier reefs near Vatu-i-ra in Bligh Water and Namena, Wakaya, and Gau in the Koro Sea. On our ten-night charters, we have more time available to dive other reefs in the Koro Sea, some of them near Namena and others near nowhere!
One of the many advantages of live-aboard diving is that the itinerary is flexible and can accommodate Fiji’s dynamic conditions and dive the top spots as well as some lesser-known distant sites. Made up of over 300 islands, the NAI’A live-aboard is the best way to explore the best sites that cannot be reached from land-based operators.
If you go to naia.com.fj/fiji/dive-sites/ and click on the link, it will take you to a detailed page of every dive site.
Fiji: What to expect with the diving and photography
Fiji is located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and anchors one corner of the Coral Triangle. It is a truly magical place with phenomenal coral reefs, sloping pinnacles, and sea mounts teaming with colorful soft coral, hard corals, and marine life. It hosts diverse and rare reef fish, bizarre critters, and several of Fiji’s endemics: the Fiji anemone fish, flasher wrasse, and Terry’s dwarf gobie. You can also expect to see blue-ribbon eels, ghost pipefish, crinoid shrimp, jawfish, shrimp gobies, fire dartfish, leaf scorpionfish, pygmy seahorses, anemonefish, and a wide variety of nudibranchs. Fiji’s three hundred islands and innumerable reefs harbor a diversity of species unrivalled outside the tropical Western Pacific.One of the draws of Fiji on our itinerary is the big stuff, like large schools of trevally, snapper, and barracuda. There are several sites that we will have an opportunity to see and photograph feeding mantas and mantas being cleaned as they glide effortlessly in the current. And if Sharks are your thing, Fiji is fortunate to have healthy populations of white-tip, hammerhead, and grey reef sharks. If we are lucky, it is also possible to see Black-tip, tiger, bull, nurse, and silver-tip sharks. Some of the dive sites are along the edge of the barrier reef bordering a 3,000ft deep channel that leads to the Vatu-i-ra Passage and through which pass humpback, sperm, and pilot whales.
Diving conditions are suitable for all levels of diving, but advanced and experience with diving in current is recommended. The area is regularly flushed by currents, which is why the reefs are so healthy. But our NAI’s experience in the region over many years has taught them how and when to dive there so that we can tour the glorious reefs without having to fight the currents that make them so rich.
We will be diving from rigid inflatable skiffs that are deployed from the NAI’A and NAI’A’s, and the skiffs will pick you up wherever you surface. Nitrox is offered aboard the NIA’A and offers longer bottom times and an increased margin of safety on multi-day expeditions with lots of repetitive diving. Become Nitrox certified before the trip if you wish to use it or learn to use nitrox during your charter.
Water Temps in September typically range between 77 and 82. We recommend bringing at least a 3mm wetsuit with a few layers, such as a separate vest or hood, to accommodate fluctuations in temperature. We can advise you closer to the trip on what temperatures have been experienced. Or if you easily get cold, than a 5mm or higher is recommended.
The Recommended Camera Gear is ALL of it because Fiji hosts both world-class macro and wide-angle photo opportunities. Bring a wide-angle rectilinear and/or fisheye lens to capture those dramatic reef scenes, schooling fish, mantas, sharks, or other beasties we encounter. Bring a macro lens or two with any diopters, snoots, etc. that you may want to use for capturing that rare critter or fish. A good pair of strobes will also be recommended for lighting up those reef scenes. Fiji is also a videographer’s dream location, and much of the gorgeous, soft coral featured in the IMAX film “Coral Reef Adventure” was shot here.
Getting there
The airport code for Nadi is NAN. Fiji Airways offers non-stop flights from LAX and SFO that arrive early morning. It’s possible to arrive the day the trip starts and transfer directly from the airport to NAI’A. However, feel free to come early or stay longer. We’re happy to help you choose the best flight options and arrange any additional activities in Fiji.Standard Package Includes:
- 10 nights aboard the Nai’a, double occupancy
- All meals
- Diving
- Airport transfers
- Taxes
Pricing:
- $7,299 per person
Additional costs:
- International airfare to Nadi, Fiji (NAN)
- Alcohol and soft drinks
- Nitrox
- Trip Insurance
- Crew tip
Travel info:
- September 4: Arrive in Nadi (NAN) and board NAI’A at 13:00
- September 14: Disembark NAI’A at 08:00 and return to Nadi.
Please note that medical evacuation insurances such as Dive Assure or Divers Alert Network (DAN) is mandatory on all trips.
Additionally, comprehensive Cancellation, Accident, Medical and Baggage insurance such as DAN, Dive Assure, or Generali Global Assistance is highly recommended.