Instant Replay, Vatu-i-ra, Fiji

Site Overview
Dive Centres
Site Type: Reef Wall and slope
Depth: Top: 5M Bottom: 22M
Location: Vatu-i-ra northern Viti Levu Fiji

Instant Replay dive site in Vatu-i-ra has an amazing variety of corals hard and soft, and a great diversity of colourful marine life. As you progress along the reef towards the point, the current slowly picks up; but if you can get into the shadow of the reef, there’s a sheltered shortcut which brings you back out onto the reef further upstream of the current and you can ‘replay’ the last part of the dive again, and again, and again…

Reef scene in blue with orange anthias diving Instant Replay at Volivoli Fiji Islands by Diveplanit

Instant replay is an internally curved arc of reef from 5 to 11m, with a shallow sloping escarpment of coral fragments from 11m down to 25m.

Divers leaving the reef diving Instant Replay at Volivoli Fiji Islands by Diveplanit

On this slope there are numerous picturesque coral stacks.

Variety of coral from staghorns to helmet with Christmas Tree worms diving Instant Replay at Volivoli Fiji Islands by Diveplanit

You’ll find amazing areas of soft coral as well as the hard stuff!

Coral in full bloom diving Instant Replay at Volivoli Fiji Islands by Diveplanit

On the bottom, you’ll find grey reefies having a snooze.

Resting grey reef shark diving Instant Replay at Volivoli Fiji Islands by Diveplanit

And also a Giant Moray or two.

Giant Moray diving Instant Replay at Volivoli Fiji Islands by Diveplanit

The interesting part of the dive is at the end where the curved reef wall gets steeper and comes to a point – pointing directly downstream.

Reef scene with lotsa fish diving Instant Replay at Volivoli Fiji Islands by Diveplanit

The current accelerates as you work towards this point and by the last 20m of reef you’re literally bowling along.

Colourful coral grouper diving Instant Replay at Volivoli Fiji Islands by Diveplanit

The reef is actually prettiest at this point – too bad you’re zooming passed.

Reef scene with damsel and anthias diving Instant Replay at Volivoli Fiji Islands by Diveplanit

The knack is to dip into the shadow of the point, where you find a slot pointing directly back. In here you’ll find a calm like the eye of the storm with a sweetlips gazing peacefully at you or having a clean wondering what all the fuss is about.

Many spotted sweetlips gets a clean diving Instant Replay at Volivoli Fiji Islands by Diveplanit

Head up this slot passed him, stay low to the rock floor, and then you’ll find a chute which leads down to the left.

Variety of hard and soft corals diving Instant Replay at Volivoli Fiji Islands by Diveplanit

Scoot down the chute and you’ll end up back where you were 5 minutes ago bowling along the reef. Instant replay!!!

Orange anthias against a background of hard green branching coral diving Instant Replay at Volivoli Fiji Islands by Diveplanit