Ovalau, Levuka, scuba, diving, watersports, fiji, south pacific

*Ovalau Island Scuba Diving and Watersports Fiji*
Accommodation
Ovalau Watersports is located in the historic town of Levuka on Ovalau Island to the east of Fiji's main island of Viti Levu. Levuka was the capital of Fiji from 1874 until 1883 when the capital moved to Suva. Ovalau is a lush tropical volcanic island of about 100 square kilometres surrounded by large coral reefs. Levuka, Fiji's first Capital, was designated an historic town in 1989. Today the population is approximately 3000 and it is still the administrative, educational and agricultural centre of the Lomaiviti group.

Ovalau Watersports Fiji offers dives at walls, caves, overhangs and colourful soft and hardcoral gardens, all accompanied by schools of pelagic fish such as barracuda, trevally, grey reef sharks, different rays, tuna, turtles and clouds of bright coloured tropical reef fish. The opportunities for the underwater photograph - either macro or wide angle photography - is very rewarding. Unique are the wrecks in the area. Inside the Ovalau reefs some old shipwrecks sunken in the 1900s - remains of the early traders visiting the old Capital - are just waiting to be explored. The Dive Boat The 26 foot Fraser dive boat is custom build and equipped with a 200 HP Yamaha engine, which allows fast access to all dive sites. It is surveyed for ten divers. It carry VHF radio, oxygen and first aid on board. Dive gear All hire gear is new Sherwood and Coltri Sub. Tanks are 80 cf aluminium. Dive Trips Trips for double dives leave Levuka at about 9.00am, distance to dive sites is between 15 min to 1 hour so the return is at approximately 2.00pm. Surface intervals may be done on the boat or on islands, all depending on the dive locations visited. Light lunch and soft drinks are included. PADI Certifications A full range of PADI courses from Discover Scuba Diving up to Assistant Instructor and many Speciality Courses are available. These courses can be taught in English or German in a professional but familiar atmosphere.


Dive Sites
The Lomaiviti area is visited only by few divers. In fact, most dive sites are so far out that they can only be visited from live aboard dive vessels. Ovalau regulary dive a radius of 20 miles which includes the sites at Wakaya and Makogai, Vatu I Cake, Moturiki Passage and Ovalau Reefs . Some of the most exciting places in Fiji.Fiji's reefs and waters are amongst the richest on the planet considering the dense population of underwater flora and fauna. The Lomaiviti area has an incredible number of dive sites - some are still waiting to be explored. Dive trips are to the reefs surrounding Ovalau, to the Makogai - Wakaya Reef and Lagoon (east of Ovalau), and the Moturiki Channel (south of Ovalau). An attraction of the Ovalau Reef are the 3 historic shipwrecks sunk around the 1870s, the subject of recent research by the Australian National Maritime Museum. However, it is presumed that there are about fifty more wrecks from this era wich have not yet been discovered. Therefore Ovalau Watersports always keep an eye open.

The Makogai - Wakaya Reef comprises a figure eight shaped lagoon about 25 miles across. Makogai has a research station which breeds turtle, trochus and giant claims. Both reef and lagoon are a reserve, and fishing is prohibited ... so all the fish come close to the diver. Wakaya wall and lagoon - caters for spectacular wall diving on the outer reef and drifts in the reef passages, frequented by large sea life like dogtooth, grey reef shark, hammerheads and mantas. The inside of the lagoon is abundant with colourful coral gardens inhabited by lionfish, moray eels and blue ribbon eels. Dive with the incoming tide at Shark Reef close by to Moturiki Channel and you will be able to lie down and just watch the schools of barracudas circle around you, or the grey sharks, Spanish mackerels and trevallies passing by. When you have had enough, take the drift and admire the soft coral covered pinnacles before heading back to the main reef, there to have a last look at this colourful underwater spectacle before entering the dive boat. Daveta Ni Kavu - a very thrilling site, which consists of a passage through the reef and a shelf in about 25m that drops into an abyss. The cleaning stations here are often visited by Giant Mantas, whilst hammerheads often frequent the drop off. The more current the more fish action. Going to the north of the reef surrounding Ovalau you will reach Na loma loma lighthouse, home to a broad spectrum of marine life. You will find a varied terrain of wonderful hard coral gardens, bommies, and passages, and will meet white-tip reef sharks, Spanish mackerel, Napoleon wrasse, giant groupers, batfish and ornamental reef fish. Snake Island, right next to Shark Reef is a drop off covered with sea fans and soft corals, which is home to the black banded sea-snake, schools of fussiliers, sweet lips, parrotfish and a wide variety of nudibranches. For the more experienced diver there is a small cave to be explored. Rat Passage -is a current dive for the advanced diver ... large schools of trevally and barracuda can be expected and, at times, many grey sharks. Those dive sites are only a few examples. And you can expect many more all meeting your satisfaction.