Fiji · Bligh Water
Best Time to Dive in Bligh Water, Fiji
17.30°S 178.20°E
Plan for June to October, when the rain backs off — 10 wet days a month instead of 21. Too few records to show a wildlife season, so the weather picks the month. The full season runs May to November.
- Best time
- Jun–Oct
- Water
- 26–29 °C
- Visibility
- 5–20 m
- Season runs
- May–Nov
- Dived from
- liveaboard
- Tidal range
- 0.9–1.7 m
- Species logged
- 6
Where it is
111 km across · coastline from Natural Earth 10m
Diving in Bligh Water, Fiji — monthly breakdown
A year of scuba diving conditions at a glance. Hover a month to isolate it.
| January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conditions | Poor | Poor | Poor | Moderate | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Poor |
| Water temp (°C) | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 |
| Visibility (m) | 10–20 | 10–20 | 10–20 | 5–15 | 10–20 | 10–20 | 10–20 | 10–20 | 10–20 | 10–20 | 10–20 | 10–20 |
| Marine life | Steady | Busy | Steady | Busy | Busy | Steady | Steady | Busy | Steady | Busy | Busy | Busy |
| Best time | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak |
Excellent Good Moderate PoorPeak season Jun–Oct
Long-term averages, 2016–2025. Visibility is estimated from satellite chlorophyll-a. Water temperature is the surface mean; it is cooler at depth.
The Bligh Water, Fiji diving season
April · Shoulder season
1 monthJFMAMJJASOND
- Water temperature
- 29–29 °C
- Visibility
- 5–15 m
- Rain
- 18 days a month
Diving conditionsRain is frequent topside. The wind is up. The sea is calmer.
Marine lifeScalloped hammerhead (hit-or-miss) peaks at Bligh Water, Fiji in these months.
May to November · Peak season
7 monthsJFMAMJJASOND
- Water temperature
- 26–28 °C
- Visibility
- 10–20 m
- Rain
- 12 days a month
Diving conditionsThe sea is rougher. It rains less.
December to March · Off season
4 monthsJFMAMJJASOND
- Water temperature
- 29–29 °C
- Visibility
- 10–20 m
- Rain
- 24 days a month
Diving conditionsSeas are usually flat. It rains more.
Marine lifeScalloped hammerhead (hit-or-miss) peaks at Bligh Water, Fiji in these months.
- Spring tides run 1.7 m against 0.9 m on neaps, so currents build around the full and new moon.
- Water temperature is satellite sea-surface temperature, so expect it cooler below the thermocline.
- Visibility is estimated from satellite chlorophyll-a.
Fiji water temperature and weather
118 underwater observation records · 17 surveyed years of ocean data · 10 years of sea temperature
Water & weather
Bligh Water, Fiji water temperature by month
The dashed line is the monthly average. Eight days in ten fall inside the band.
10th to 90th percentile rangemonthly mean
Rarely
rough enough to cancel
Seas top 2.5 m on under 1% of days. Enough to cancel a liveaboard crossing
0
blowy days a month
Gusts over 40 km/h, about where a day boat stays in port
17
wet days a month
5 of them bring heavy rain
| Month | Swell | Gusts over 40 km/h | Wet days | Heavy rain | Air | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 1.1 m | 1% | 25 | 9 | 29 °C | 12.9 h |
| February | 1.3 m | 0% | 25 | 9 | 30 °C | 12.6 h |
| March | 0.9 m | 0% | 25 | 10 | 29 °C | 12.1 h |
| April | 0.9 m | 1% | 18 | 5 | 29 °C | 11.6 h |
| May | 1.2 m | 0% | 14 | 3 | 28 °C | 11.2 h |
| June | 1.1 m | 0% | 8 | 2 | 27 °C | 11.0 h |
| July | 1.2 m | 0% | 9 | 1 | 27 °C | 11.1 h |
| August | 1.3 m | 0% | 10 | 2 | 27 °C | 11.4 h |
| September | 1.1 m | 0% | 10 | 2 | 27 °C | 11.9 h |
| October | 1.1 m | 0% | 15 | 4 | 28 °C | 12.4 h |
| November | 1.1 m | 0% | 18 | 4 | 29 °C | 12.8 h |
| December | 1.0 m | 1% | 23 | 7 | 29 °C | 13.0 h |
Swell is the rough end of the month: nine days in ten come in under it. Sea temperature covers 10 years, waves 4.
Pick your week
48 weeks from the daily record. Darker is better, against this site's own year. Pick a month for the detail.
| Week 1 | January week 1: Poor | February week 1: Poor | March week 1: Poor | April week 1: Moderate | May week 1: Good | June week 1: Excellent | July week 1: Excellent | August week 1: Excellent | September week 1: Excellent | October week 1: Excellent | November week 1: Good | December week 1: Poor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 2 | January week 2: Poor | February week 2: Poor | March week 2: Poor | April week 2: Moderate | May week 2: Good | June week 2: Excellent | July week 2: Excellent | August week 2: Excellent | September week 2: Excellent | October week 2: Excellent | November week 2: Good | December week 2: Poor |
| Week 3 | January week 3: Poor | February week 3: Poor | March week 3: Poor | April week 3: Moderate | May week 3: Excellent | June week 3: Excellent | July week 3: Excellent | August week 3: Excellent | September week 3: Excellent | October week 3: Good | November week 3: Good | December week 3: Poor |
| Week 4 | January week 4: Poor | February week 4: Poor | March week 4: Poor | April week 4: Moderate | May week 4: Excellent | June week 4: Excellent | July week 4: Excellent | August week 4: Excellent | September week 4: Excellent | October week 4: Excellent | November week 4: Excellent | December week 4: Poor |
Excellent Good Moderate PoorBest week to go: first of September
January, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Poor | 29 °C | 1.6 m | 17 km/h | 78% |
| Week 2 | Poor | 29 °C | 1.7 m | 16 km/h | 83% |
| Week 3 | Poor | 29 °C | 0.9 m | 14 km/h | 80% |
| Week 4 | Poor | 29 °C | 1.0 m | 14 km/h | 82% |
February, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Poor | 29 °C | 1.1 m | 15 km/h | 89% |
| Week 2 | Poor | 29 °C | 1.2 m | 17 km/h | 91% |
| Week 3 | Poor | 29 °C | 1.3 m | 17 km/h | 85% |
| Week 4 | Poor | 29 °C | 1.3 m | 17 km/h | 79% |
March, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Poor | 29 °C | 1.3 m | 17 km/h | 79% |
| Week 2 | Poor | 29 °C | 1.1 m | 17 km/h | 76% |
| Week 3 | Poor | 29 °C | 0.8 m | 15 km/h | 76% |
| Week 4 | Poor | 29 °C | 0.8 m | 15 km/h | 82% |
April, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Moderate | 29 °C | 0.9 m | 17 km/h | 71% |
| Week 2 | Moderate | 29 °C | 0.9 m | 18 km/h | 58% |
| Week 3 | Moderate | 29 °C | 0.9 m | 18 km/h | 57% |
| Week 4 | Moderate | 29 °C | 1.0 m | 17 km/h | 58% |
May, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Good | 29 °C | 1.2 m | 19 km/h | 58% |
| Week 2 | Good | 28 °C | 1.2 m | 21 km/h | 49% |
| Week 3 | Excellent | 28 °C | 1.1 m | 19 km/h | 38% |
| Week 4 | Excellent | 28 °C | 1.0 m | 17 km/h | 34% |
June, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Excellent | 27 °C | 1.2 m | 18 km/h | 33% |
| Week 2 | Excellent | 27 °C | 1.0 m | 19 km/h | 29% |
| Week 3 | Excellent | 27 °C | 1.0 m | 19 km/h | 24% |
| Week 4 | Excellent | 27 °C | 1.1 m | 20 km/h | 25% |
July, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Excellent | 26 °C | 1.2 m | 21 km/h | 23% |
| Week 2 | Excellent | 26 °C | 1.3 m | 21 km/h | 24% |
| Week 3 | Excellent | 26 °C | 1.3 m | 20 km/h | 30% |
| Week 4 | Excellent | 26 °C | 1.1 m | 20 km/h | 33% |
August, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Excellent | 26 °C | 1.1 m | 20 km/h | 30% |
| Week 2 | Excellent | 26 °C | 1.3 m | 20 km/h | 28% |
| Week 3 | Excellent | 26 °C | 1.3 m | 21 km/h | 32% |
| Week 4 | Excellent | 26 °C | 1.2 m | 21 km/h | 34% |
September, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Excellent | 26 °C | 1.2 m | 21 km/h | 31% |
| Week 2 | Excellent | 26 °C | 1.1 m | 22 km/h | 33% |
| Week 3 | Excellent | 26 °C | 1.1 m | 22 km/h | 38% |
| Week 4 | Excellent | 26 °C | 1.2 m | 21 km/h | 38% |
October, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Excellent | 27 °C | 1.2 m | 21 km/h | 44% |
| Week 2 | Excellent | 27 °C | 1.1 m | 21 km/h | 51% |
| Week 3 | Good | 27 °C | 1.1 m | 22 km/h | 51% |
| Week 4 | Excellent | 27 °C | 1.1 m | 21 km/h | 49% |
November, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Good | 27 °C | 1.0 m | 20 km/h | 59% |
| Week 2 | Good | 28 °C | 1.1 m | 18 km/h | 64% |
| Week 3 | Good | 28 °C | 1.1 m | 17 km/h | 58% |
| Week 4 | Excellent | 28 °C | 0.9 m | 17 km/h | 57% |
December, week by week
| Week | Conditions | Water | Swell | Wind | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Poor | 29 °C | 0.8 m | 17 km/h | 64% |
| Week 2 | Poor | 29 °C | 0.9 m | 17 km/h | 73% |
| Week 3 | Poor | 29 °C | 1.1 m | 19 km/h | 77% |
| Week 4 | Poor | 29 °C | 1.1 m | 19 km/h | 76% |
10 years of daily records, averaged into weeks.
Gear & storms
What to wear
Off the coldest water of each month, not the average — that is what the suit has to cope with.
| January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suit | January: skin | February: skin | March: skin | April: skin | May: skin | June: 3 mm | July: 3 mm | August: 3 mm | September: 3 mm | October: 3 mm | November: skin | December: skin |
- Nov–Mayskin or 3 mm shorty
- Jun–Oct3 mm full suit
Swell through the year
The rough end of each month — nine days in ten come in under it.
Amber is over 2.5 m.
Tides
Tropical storms
4 of the last 30 Januarys saw a tropical storm pass within 250 km. Anything has been recorded Nov–May.
Share of the last 30 years with a storm that month.
- NOAASea surface temperature, from OISST and MUR
- ERA5Wind, waves, rain and air temperature, via Open-Meteo
- OBISMarine species records within 60 km
- IBTrACSTropical cyclone tracks, 1996 to 2025
Bligh Water, Fiji marine life — what you'll see diving
Only 118 records have been logged within 60 km. A thin record is not an empty reef.
| Species | When | Observed window | Reliability | Evidence | Records |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whitetip reef shark | All year | Near-guaranteed | 27 | ||
| Hawksbill turtle | Apr–May | Likely | 16 | ||
| Blackfin barracuda | Oct–Dec | Likely | 13 | ||
| Scalloped hammerhead | Feb, Apr | Hit-or-miss | 17 | ||
| Grey reef shark | Aug, Oct | Likely | 9 | ||
| Spinner dolphin | Aug | Hit-or-miss | 9 |
Peak Present
- Observed window
- Months with records. Peak is where most of them fall.
- Reliability
- Near-guaranteed in 60% of surveyed years or more
- Likely 30% to 60%
- Hit-or-miss under 30%
- Evidence
- Years it was seen, out of the years anyone surveyed.
- Records
- OBIS sightings within 60 km.
These are sightings people logged, not a full survey of the reef. A species missing from a month may just mean nobody recorded one.
Diving Bligh Water, Fiji — common questions
- When is the best time to dive Bligh Water, Fiji?
- Plan for June to October, when the rain backs off — 10 wet days a month instead of 21. Too few records to show a wildlife season, so the weather picks the month. The full season runs May to November.
- When is the diving season in Bligh Water, Fiji?
- The diving season in Bligh Water, Fiji runs May to November, and it is at its best June to October.
- Is the diving in Bligh Water, Fiji good for beginners?
- It is better with some experience. It suits Advanced Open Water divers or equivalent, so newer divers should ask the local operator which sites fit their level.
- How warm is the water in Bligh Water, Fiji?
- Between 26 and 29 °C at the surface across the year, coldest in August and warmest in February. It runs cooler below the thermocline.
- What wetsuit do I need in Bligh Water, Fiji?
- A 3 mm full suit covers the coldest water of the year. In the warmest months a skin or 3 mm shorty is enough.
- What is the visibility like in Bligh Water, Fiji?
- Roughly 5 to 20 m depending on the month. That is estimated from satellite chlorophyll-a rather than measured in the water.
- What will I see diving Bligh Water, Fiji?
- The most consistently recorded species are Whitetip reef shark (near-guaranteed), Hawksbill turtle (likely) and Blackfin barracuda (likely), from 118 records within 60 km.
- Does Bligh Water, Fiji get tropical storms?
- Yes. Over 30 years of records a storm passed within 250 km in Nov–May, most often in January at 4 of 30 years.
- Is there current in Bligh Water, Fiji?
- The tide rises and falls 1.7 m around the full and new moon, against 0.9 m in between. How much of that becomes current depends on the shape of the channel.
- When should I avoid Bligh Water, Fiji?
- January, March are the weakest months for conditions.
- How do you dive Bligh Water, Fiji?
- Mostly from liveaboards. Trips run through the season, May–Nov.