Diving the Great White Wall

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We hired Dive Academy to take us out to dive the Great White Wall which is part of the Rainbow Reef.  Ian, our guide took Chris (our friend on SeaGlub), Matt and I on this adventure. 

We specifically scheduled the Great White Wall dive during the neap tide.  We waited a month for this perfect time.

The peak, cathedral-like appearance, or vibrant “bloom” of the white wall occurs during neap tide (twice a month).  This is when the soft, white coral is feeding.

What is Neap Tide?

A neap tide is when the gravitational forces of the sun and moon are perpendicular to each other relative to the earth.  This provides a tide with a minimal tidal range.

Neap tide happens during the first and third quarter phases of the Moon. Neap Tide occurs every 2 weeks +/-.  Visit Taveuni Dive Resort, scroll down their website for the neap tides through 2027.

I should note that you can dive the Great White Wall at any time and it will be be beautiful.  However, it flourishes during the neap tide.

Dive Academy picks us up from the boat and we load our gear.  Matt and I took all of our gear except our tanks (we used theirs).  We assemble our gear and prepare for the dive into the deep.

Here is a map of Jerry’s Jelly dive provided by Taveuni Dive Resort.  We actually dove with Dive Academy and we slowly made our way down and across the white wall.  

Swimming through Tunnels / Shoots

We hop in a fairly shallow area to adjust our gear and ensure everything is functioning properly.

We then begin our dissent and prepare to enter the first shoot (tunnel).  You can swim over the top of the ridge and descend down the wall.  However, we opted to go through nature’s tunnel.

The first tunnel puts you at the “entrance” of the Great White Wall (about 70′). You enter the tunnel and go down to the lower opening.  

The second tunnel let’s you out closer to 35′.

There are loads of fish and soft coral fans inside the tunnel.

The Great White Wall simply takes my breath away.  It is like snow fell under water coating the soft, delicate coral.  The fish provide a vibrant pop of color along with the random green, black, and red coral.

I am using a DJI OSMO Action 5 without a light.  I know the photos could be so much better if I had a light.  However, I am barely able to focus on my diving and camera and could not possibly deal with a light too.

The Great White Wall seems to go on forever.  It is so deep that you can’t see the bottom.  The depth begins is around 75 meters and it is 60 meters wide.

Life Along the White Wall

So much beauty!  The water temp at 101′ was 81F. Can you believe that? 

I love this iridescent bubble.

So many fish, critters, plants, fans, and corals.  I wish we could stay down longer than 30 minutes!

I am a nervous diver, especially on the initial descent.  Ian, our guide was so attentive and calming.  He and Matt kept a very watchful eye on me.  

You’d think this would be one of my first dives.  Nope, I have well over 75 dives under my belt and still get nervous.

Ian checking on me with the “ok” sign a number of times.  At the end he was trying to make me laugh by making rings in the bubbles.

Matt on the top and bottom photo and me in the middle.

Cabbage Patch

We did not have an opportunity to dive the Cabbage Patch off of the Rainbow Reef.  However, our friends did and they shared their photos.  The Cabbage Patch is rumored to be over 4,000 years old and is very extensive.

This is a shallow dive and is most often used for beginner divers. You can see the incredible size in comparison to the diver.

Free Diving

Chris’s girlfriend, Sarah is a free diver.  She dove the White Wall with another boat but we saw her as we were surfacing  

Free diving is relies on breath holding until resurfacing.  They don’t use any breathing apparatus’.  Sarah can free dive down to 20+meters (60′) in good conditions.

It is just her, a bathing suit, weight belt, and a camera.  Absolutely, terrifying, but yet a thing of beauty.  I captured Chris (diving) taking video of Sarah at about 35′.  We were all surfacing.

Our blog posts run 6-8 weeks behind actual events.  

We dove the Great White Wall on 5 July 2025.

Learn all about Fiji Sea Salt in our last blog post.

Find the Great White Wall on No Foreign Land 

Fiji Sea Salt

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 Fiji Sea Salt was started by Jone at Viani Bay Resort and Dive Academy a few years ago.  He started in a small shack spending a few years perfecting the process.

We had the honor of attending this monumental event.  The minister was coming to Viani Bay – the first time in the history of the bay.  They are here to celebrate the opening of the new Fiji Sea Salt facility.

Several dignitaries, the media for Fiji Times, family, friends, and staff gather around for the presentation and ceremony.

Viani Bay Resort hosted a special lovo and feast after the ceremony. They served close to 75 people.  Everyone enjoyed, pork, chicken, beef stir fry, fish, taro, salad and more during the feast.

They had a beautiful display of all the Fiji Sea Salt Flavors and a few of their coconut oils.

They sell over 16 different varieties of sea salt.  Each infused with fresh herbs and spices.  They also sell Extra Virgin Coconut Oil in 5 different varieties and 2 more to come.

Viani Bay Resort applied for and received a special cooperative grant from the government.  The government contributes 2/3 ($80,000 Fijian) of the cost and the applicant contributes 1/3 ($40,000 Fijian). 

The government started the co-op to help the local economy, created 7 new jobs, and enrich the Fijian culture.

The Making of Fiji Sea Salt

During Covid, Jone decided to revive and modernize the ancient Fijian tradition of harvesting sea salt. 

He spent a year perfecting his craft and is now the only manufacturer of Fleur de Sel (the highest grade of sea salt) in Fiji.

The quality of the salt is define by the processing of the water. 

Jone harvests the salt from the deep turquoise waters of Taveuni.

Workers then pour the sea water into large vats and boiled to evaporate the water. Once the water has evaporated the salt crystals float up to the surface creating Fleur de Sel. 

The water never touches the ground during the entire process which is entirely manual.

Jone takes the salt crystals and filters them, then sun-dries them, and then infuses them with natural herbs and spices.

They have their herbs, nuts, seaweed drying in a special enclosed area for optimal flavor.

 

A close up of the wide variety of sea salt flavors.

Our blog posts run 6-8 weeks behind actual live events.

We celebrated the grand opening of Fiji Sea Salt on 2 July 2025 in Viani Bay.

Be sure to check out the beauty of Viani Bay in our last blog post.

Fiji Sea Salt on No Foreign Land.

The Beauty of Viani Bay

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Viani Bay is a large bay located close to Fiji’s renowned Rainbow Reef.  There are two dive resorts here: Viani Bay Resort and Dive Academy and Dolphin Bay Retreat. 

Several other dive resorts take tourists to Rainbow Reef including Paradise Dive Resort, Taveuni Dive Resort, and Rainbow Reef Diving.

We met Marina and Jone a few years ago.  They own and operate Viani Bay Resort and Dive Academy.  They are super cruiser friendly, offer delicious meals, have lovely grounds, and wonderful dive tours.

Hikes and Walks in Viani Bay

We decided to walk from Viani Bay, over the hill, and through the mangroves to The Remote Resort.  We did this walk coming the other way so we had somewhat of a track.

It is 2hours and 3.7 miles there, including a few wrong turns.  But we all made it!

We enjoyed a delicious lunch and headed back.  Long day, but totally worth the effort!

It started out just being Chris, Sarah (SeaGlub) and Sugar Shack.  But then others heard about our lofty goals and wanted to join the adventure.  We ended up with Kevin and Stacy (Free Spirit), Pierre and Marie (Viva), and Craig and Ray (Russala).

We came across a property called Na Vale Walu on a different walk  This unique home sits on 36 acres of free hold land.  There is main house and guest house and both come fully furnished.  Could be yours for $600,000 USD.

Matt attempted to climb a palm tree but only made it half way up (or is it across).

There is lots of exploring to do around this pretty bay.  We walk along the water’s edge and see a variety of Fijian houses.  Some are nicer than others, but they all have the same gorgeous view.

There is a small church and a primary school.

Our blog posts run 6-8 weeks behind actual live events. 

We were here during the first part of July 2025.

We learn all about Fiji Salt which was created by Jwww.noforeignland.com/place/5250864870588416ohne at Viani Bay Resort.  Don’t miss this next blog post.

In our last blog post we share the pristine shores of Rabi Island.

Find Viani Bay on No Foreign Land