float through a galaxy of vibrant coral reefs, nocturnal creatures and planktonic stars
Scuba diving after the sunsets on the reef offers a unique and thrilling experience. Diving into the darkness from the boat can seem eerie and confronting yet as nocturnal marine creatures begin to reveal themselves and the peace and tranquility of the reef at night sets in, diving under the stars is magical. Floating in space exploring calm dark waters is very popular for divers in Fiji with a wealth of critters, nocturnal fish and corals.
What can I see on a fiji night dive?
Night on the reef is owned by critters - crabs, octopus, eels, molluscs are all on the prowl Nocturnal fish such as red soldierfish, lion fish and leaf scorpionfish
Coral reefs are absolutely mesmerising by night - the colours of corals 'pop' under your torchlight and the shift change from day to night brings out incredible creatures coming to life on the reef. Daylight inhabitants can be seen nestled into acropora corals or under ledges and weed sleeping in safety from predators active at night such as trevally and white tip reef sharks.
A diver hunts for critters on coral reefs on a Fiji night dive
Night dive training and skill required
diving in the dark can feel claustrophobic and intimidating. It is also technically challenging as it is harder to see your dive computer, keep track of depth due to the visual constraint of the darkness, and to gauge your air consumption. Navigational challenges are also present in the darkness. A specialist night diver course is recommended to learn navigation skills in the dark, communication via torches and emergency procedures.
Dive planning for a night dive in Fiji
dive on slack currents. Fiji's reefs are beautiful as the result of the ocean currents that circle around the archipelago bringing nutrients and cooler water to the corals and fish life. Time the currents so you can be sure there will not be a strong current on the reef to push divers into fragile eco systems or to wash them out to sea.
Night dives are usually shallow - with a maximum depth of 14-18 metres to avoid accidental deco time.
Spare torches should be available. Stay close to your buddy and group leader, use glow sticks or lighted markers. Gear functionality and back up plans should be carefully checked.
Where is Fiji's best night diving
We love Rainbow Reef for night diving in Fiji. If you want your dive holiday profile to include world class night dives on pristine soft coral reefs this is the spot for you.
Soft corals are sedentary filter feeders which rely on currents to deliver plankton to the extended polyps who direct the planktonic animal to the waiting mouth. Without the current the polyps contract and the coral appears flacid and unattractive. Night diving on the Rainbow reef, between taveuni and vanua levu (time your holiday to night time slack waters) and you can explore these gorgeous corals without whizzing past them in a. blink of an eye!
The Entrance swim through to Fiji's Great White Wall Dive
Spend time with your torch looking for a stunning array of fascinating nocturnal critters in the soft corals. Cleaner shrimp and crabs emerge when the sun goes down to pick parasites off sleeping fish and grab their share of the plankton feast rising up from the 100 metre depths of rainbow reef.
The entrance of the great white wall
Soft corals don't need the current at night!
The marine plankton night time migration
zooplankton, (formed from miniscule larval stage marine animals), migrates vertically in the water column after the sunsets. rising at night and descending by day.
By living in the murky dark depths the plankton is less visible to predatory fish. At night they are able to rise to the surface to eat phytoplankton (plants) which lives near the surface of the ocean as it uses sunlight to photosynthesise.
This daily migration (known as the Diel vertical migration (DVM) is the largest movement of any biomass on the planet. It is a critical carbon sink (removing carbon from the earth's atmosphere) . By feeding at the surface and excreting waste at depth the plankton transports carbon to deeper water. en masse these creatures are part of the biological pump.
millions of miniscule bioluminescent creatures are drawn to the lights on rainbow reef
Strange creatures seen in black water diving - A journey into the abyssal twilight
a surreal parade of deep sea creatures and fascinating larval forms can be seen as they accumulate in the torch light. siphonophores, salps, comb jellies, pelagic sea cucumbers, fish larva, polychaete worms, leptocephali - ribbon eel larvae, squid larvae and much more
Many of the planktonic creatures of the deep use bioluminescence as part of their defence or predation strategies.
Alison smith is a professional underwater photographer and writer. Explore galleries or contact
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