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Marine life · Pacific Harbour, Serua
Reserva Marinha do Shark Reef (Shark Reef Marine Reserve)
A marine reserve off Pacific Harbour, created with local villages, where you can dive with bull sharks and other species that commonly appear on guided dives.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Reserva Marinha do Shark Reef (Shark Reef Marine Reserve)
Shark Reef is a marine reserve in the Beqa Channel, off Pacific Harbour on the south coast of Viti Levu. It was established in 2004 by an agreement between dive operators and the villages holding traditional fishing rights in the area, and became a national marine park in 2014.
On guided dives, sharks tend to gather at a marked area on the seabed where divers kneel behind a stone barrier. The bull shark is the most common, and other species — such as the whitetip reef shark, lemon shark and tiger shark — can appear at certain times, along with schools of reef fish.
The reserve’s model pays villages a share of dive fees in exchange for a ban on fishing in the area, and funds studies of the channel’s sharks. The reserve is regarded as an example of conservation-linked tourism in the Pacific.
Dives are conducted by accredited operators, with detailed briefings and strict underwater behaviour rules, and require scuba certification.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
Half a day, with two dives.
Best time
Diving is year-round. species and numbers of sharks vary by season; sightings are not guaranteed. Confirm departure days with operators.
How to get there
By boat from Pacific Harbour with dive operators, who pick up divers at hotels in the area and, in some cases, from Suva and the Coral Coast.
Tip
Bring your dive certification and logbook. Follow the briefing and the guide’s rules underwater exactly.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Reserva Marinha do Shark Reef (Shark Reef Marine Reserve)
Do you need certification to dive at Shark Reef?
Yes, it is scuba diving and requires certification.
Which sharks are seen?
The bull shark is the most common; other species tend to appear at certain times.
Does the reserve help the villages?
Yes. Part of the dive fees goes to the villages, which in return do not fish in the area.