Shark Diving in Fiji

On a recent trip, I had the chance to tick off one of the big ones on my diving list: shark diving in Fiji with Beqa Adventure Divers.

You'll find Beqa Adventure Divers on Fiji's South Coast, about an hour's drive from Suva, or four hours from where we decided to stay. It definitely sucked when I realised we'd be waking up at 3:30am to drive down the South Coast, but I'm generally up for an adventure. I'd heard from some mates that this was quite a special dive, so I decided to bring my dad along, who happened to be 74 years young and still going strong.

You'll be quite spoilt for choice on this dive. Expect to see a large variety of sharks, and if you're lucky you might even spot a tiger shark, although he usually hangs quite far out the back, so keep your eyes peeled.

Just when you think you're getting the hang of being surrounded by these beasts from the deep, they bring the bait box closer, and that's when the real fun begins. Have no fear: although you're not allowed to reach out and touch them (or extend your limbs at all), they will reach out and touch you.

It's hard to describe the feeling of having that many sharks cruising past you at arm's length. It's calm, controlled and completely wild all at once. The crew run a tight ship, the briefing is thorough, and you never feel like you're anywhere you shouldn't be. You just settle in, breathe slowly and enjoy the show.

By the time we surfaced, the 3:30am alarm was long forgotten. Sharing a dive like that with my dad is something I'll hang onto for a long time, and I reckon he will too.

If shark diving is on your list, Beqa Adventure Divers is the place to do it. The team clearly love what they do and care a lot about the sharks they dive with, and it shows in every part of the day. Their website, fijisharkdive.com, is well worth a look. It's easy to get around, full of useful info, and makes booking simple. Do yourself a favour and get it booked.