Located between Vanua Levu, the second largest island in Fiji and nearby Taveuni, is the SomoSomo Straits, probably the single biggest draw card for scuba divers heading to Fiji. This is an incredibly undeveloped area where the infrastructure and services are limited but who needs that when you have some of the best diving in the country just moments from shore.

There are sheer walls for drifting over and caves to explore; the fish life is varied and sightings of pelagic species are reasonably common. There are sheltered dives inside smaller bays while dive sites in the exhilarating Somosomo Straits are just a short sail offshore from either island.

Inside the Straits on almost every dive, there are soft corals that can best be described as trees. From close to the surface to well below diving limits, there is the most incredible mass of them in every colour imaginable. This is thanks to the consistent 30 metre plus visibility that keeps the depths well lit, along with the right temperatures for growth – the water is just a bit cooler than the tropics, which is how soft corals like it.