Beqa Channel Shark Dive

Beqa Adventure Divers - Pacific Harbour	Eight of the shark species found in the Beqa Lagoon, Fiji	The Great Fiji Shark Count	Nautical chart of the Beqa Lagoon to the south of Viti Levu showing the Shark Corridor in Beqa Passage
The Original Fiji Shark Dive by Beqa Adventure Divers	Fiji Shark Sanctuary - Beqa Lagoon	One of the dive boats of Beqa Adventure Divers	Dive Boat "Predator", Pacific Harbour
Beqa Adventure Divers base at the Lagoon Hotel, Pacific Harbour	Dive Boat "Hunter", Pacific Harbour	Dive briefing for the feeding session at Shark Reef	Dive map of Shark Reef showing the two feeding stations, one deep and one shallow
Fearlessly descending into the shark infested waters of Beqa Channel	The numerous guides that accompany the group carry shark prods	First shark spotted - a common whitetip reef shark	Mixed school of scissortail sergeants, yellow and blueback fusiliers and blue and gold fusilier
At the beginning of the feeding session, hundred of reef fish swarm the "arena"	There's a mix of larger fish as well including some big snapper	The dive operators pay the local villages not to fish in these protected areas	One of the dive guides among the swarm of fish
It's not a very natural experience	The first big 3m bull shark arrives in the arena during the deep feeding session	The guests are separated from the action by a low wall and are watched over by several guides with prods if any get too close	Bull shark at the feeding in the Beqa Channel
Bull sharks are one of the 4 species that rates as a man-eater together with the great white, tiger shark and oceanic whitecap	At depth, it was dark and the visibility not too good for photography with my little camera	Bull Shark, Beqa Channel, Fiji	Fish of all sizes attracted to the daily shark feeding
Fish of all sizes attracted to the daily shark feeding	The coral in this area wasn't too special	Next we ascend to the upper feeding station where the smaller sharks gather	Again, the visibility on this day wasn't too great - I was hoping for better in Fiji
Sharks gather in anticipation of the second feeding session	Sissortail sergeants on the upper reef	Diver with camera repositioning for the second feeding	Shark Alley - Beqa Lagoon
Diver swarmed by sissortail sergeants at the upper feeding station	Low pass by a blacktip reef shark	Whitetip reef shark at eye level	Grey reef shark, Beqa Channel
Whitetip reef shark passes by	Gray reef shark behind the sissortail sergeants	Gray reef shark, Beqa Channel, Fiji	There are sharks everywhere
Blacktip reef shark, Beqa Channel, Fiji	Whitetip reef shark among the sergeants	Blacktip passes overhead	Grey reef sharks with the sergeants and fusiliers
Shark Alley Dive with Beqa Adventure Divers	Silhouette of a shark passing overhead - exhilarating	Whitetip reef shark on the upper reef, Shark Alley	Some of the guides are too enthusiastic batting the reef sharks away
Grey reef shark passing less than a meter over the divers' heads	Up close with a blacktip reef shark	At least 8 sharks in one shot	Large gray reef shark passes by at eye level
Oh no, low battery!	Grey reef sharks, Beqa Channel	Up close with a blacktip reef shark	Last shot of the first dive
New batteries - second dive	The bull sharks arrive punctually for the second feeding session	The "wall" separating guests from the feeding station	No tiger sharks today - but quite a few big bull sharks
Bull shark, Beqa Channel	Bull shark cruising low over the feeding site just skimming the bottom	The shark feeding has attracted a school of surgeonfish	Shark dive, Beqa Channel
A very well fed bull shark, Beqa Channel, Fiji	Hand-feeding a bull shark, Beqa Adventure Divers - don't try this at home	A pair of big bull sharks pass overhead	Close pass by a large bull shark - probably something you don't want to see to often in the wild
Again, at the deeper feeding site, the visibility is not great	Bull shark, Beqa Channel - Fiji	Bull shark with surgeonfish and fusiliers	Most of these big bull sharks must be close to 3m long
Bull shark, Beqa Channel - Fiji	Shark Feeding, Beqa Channel - Fiji	They use large fish heads for the feeding	Remora
Again, the little fish swarm at the feeding site looking for scraps	Bull shark, Beqa Lagoon	Malabar grouper passes by minding his own business	Fish ball, Beqa Channel
Bull shark in the fish ball, Beqa Channel	Feeding session - Beqa Channel	While I prefer more natural settings, this does guarantee lots of sharks	One of the guides playing with a sea cucumber
On the second dive, there's no feeding at the shallow reef disappointing the gathering army of sergeants	Remora off looking for a host	The reef sharks that were so plentiful on the first dive are nowhere to be seen	Pacific double-saddle butterflyfish (Chaetodon ulietensis)
The reef here is pretty damaged	Paddle around the reef	Shallow dive on the reef after the feeding	Pink anemonefish (Amphiprion perideraion)
For reef diving, there are surely much better places in Fiji	This dive site is really just for the shark feeding action	Coral reef - Beqa Channel	Coral reef - Beqa Channel
A disinterested whitetip on the other side of the reef	Coral reef - Beqa Channel	Coral reef - Beqa Channel	A little bit of color - Beqa Channel
Coral reef - Beqa Channel	Coral reef - Beqa Channel	Coral reef - Beqa Channel	Coral reef - Beqa Channel
Coral reef - Beqa Channel	I was disappointed that they didn't do another shallow reef feeding on the second dive	Coral reef - Beqa Channel	Coral reef - Beqa Channel
Coral reef - Beqa Channel	Coral reef - Beqa Channel	Coral reef - Beqa Channel	Coral reef - Beqa Channel
Coral reef - Beqa Channel	Coral reef - Beqa Channel	Coral reef - Beqa Channel	Coral reef - Beqa Channel
Coral reef - Beqa Channel	Coral reef - Beqa Channel	Coral reef - Beqa Channel	Coral reef - Beqa Channel
Coral reef - Beqa Channel	Ascent up the mooring line back to the boat	Resort out near the airport, Pacific Harbour	South coast of Viti Levu near Pacific Harbour
The dive crew from Beqa Adventure Divers	Tatoo on one of the Fijian dive guides