When you’re on the perfect island getaway you can’t let a bit of rain dampen the trip. Rainstorms in Fiji are often short, spectacular outbursts that leave as quickly as they came. But even if the clouds linger on, you can still make the most of your Fiji time. Here we share the list of our favourite things to do on a rainy day, starting with the most fantastic option – diving! Because let’s face it – you’re going to get wet anyway!
A rainy day in Fiji is perfect weather for a Mantaray dive
Did you know that diving on a rainy day in Fiji can sometimes be better? It’s one of our favourite activities and visitors love the recommendation as you often see more activity from marine life.
Let Atu take you on an underwater journey…
‘Just got back from yet another spectacular dive here at Mantaray Island. It was raining hard at dawn, the sky covered with dark clouds that stretched over the island group. There was no doubt in my mind that the diving would be the same or even better than a clear, sunny day.
You see, the islands here are mostly made up of sand and rocks, with no rivers or streams. Visibility and clarity of the water would mostly be the same as it is on days with no rain. We tend to see a lot more sea life on rainy days, actually. The trick is to know which spots to dive in.
As Occy (our dive boat) set out at 9am for the dive, I had to reassure the divers once again that the dive would be great. “Alright guys, let’s go diving!” I shouted out as we left the surface descending into the deep blue sea.
The dive spot we chose was the Caves of Babylon. As we approached the east entrance to the caves, I could see that a lot of silt was being coughed out from within. I wondered what had stirred the sand inside. As we drew closer, a small school of inquisitive mangrove jacks lurking in the shadows had come to check us out. I wondered what they would be thinking, to them we had big glass eyes, with weird-looking pectoral fins and tail, a silver shell on our back and blowing bubbles! They must have been thinking what the heck! Giggling into my mouthpiece I freaked, out of the dark shadows came a massive 5ft wide marble ray. I pinned my heels back and hovered backwards as this majestic creature swam right under me, cruising out of the cave into the blue open. It was he who must have been feeding inside causing the silt to rise and stir the visibility.
As we drew further into the caves, it started to clear up with faded beams of light shooting down from the cracks. Looking up we could see the blue silhouettes in the cracks with the black figures of jacks hovering above. Swimming out of the first cave and into the next we swam into a massive school of glassfish which occupied the whole cave. They separated themselves making way for us to pass only to cover up the unoccupied space from behind as we moved forward. There was literally thousands of them. During summer when the water is warmer, this species would appear and dwell in numbers in caves, cracks and crevices in turn attracting so much marine animals to prey on them. This school was probably the only one left since it was almost time to hibernate and was probably why there was a lot of activity in the caves.
After 20 minutes of swimming through the caves, we came out to the wall where we encountered the biggest school of jacks I have ever seen! Accompanied by a large school of red bass, bluefin trevally, golden trevally and giant trevally they must have come from all over just to feed. Imagine when you watch Nat Geo Wild and see land animals in Africa coming from all over just to drink from the pool of water in the middle of the dessert terrain…this is nature at its absolute best. As we passed through this commotion onto the reef edge, looking down into the blue abyss, I could make out what seemed to be a tail of a shark.
It was under a rock on the bottom of the second drop off before the darkness consumed the depths. Diving down to take a closer look, to my excitement there were two! Two tawny nurse sharks snuggled up next to each other. My guess was they were sleeping…Fiji time aye haha.
Forty-five minutes in and three minutes to go on our safety stop, I could see nothing but cheery eyes on my divers’ half-covered faces. Why wouldn’t they be happy? We experienced an epic dive on a rainy day, a time where their initial hope was limited.
You see, sometimes the best dives are the ones that you doubt doing. Hey – it beats hiding inside hoping for the sun to come out and this way you can’t complain about getting wet right!’
As Atu mentioned if you are going to get wet by the rain you might as well be doing something fun. With the extra fish activity under the water in Fiji why not make the most of a rainy day and go for a dive with Manta Dive.
Important note: Manta Dive doesn’t dive during thunderstorms – lightning and swimming generally don’t mix that well.
And once you’ve dived to your heart’s content, here’s what else you can do
Have a well-deserved sleep-in
Let yourself have a guilty-free break from the constant hustle and bustle of daily life. Enjoy the great pleasure of allowing your body to wake up when it’s ready. You’ll be much more likely to wake up at the end of a sleep cycle, which research has shown leads you to feel better rested and more positive as you greet the day.
Discover a great book
There’s no better way to unwind than to find a comfy spot to curl up with a good book. We have lots of great spots around the resort where you can while away a few peaceful hours. You can even choose a book about Fiji, so that you can soak in the atmosphere as you’re transported through the story.
Join a Cooking Class
Take a Fijian culinary adventure and join us for a cooking class (available on Monday and Thursday). Our Executive Chef will teach you how to make mouth-watering Fijian culinary delights. This is a great way to immerse yourself in Fijian culture and really get a taste of the islands.
Meditate
Imagine the peace of sitting in a comfortable spot, stilling your mind through meditation. Around you it is quiet, apart from the soothing sounds of the tropical rain meeting the thatch and palm leaves. Rainy days on the Fijian islands can be very soothing to the soul. They can be the perfect time to reconnect with yourself.
Get a massage
Rainy days in Fiji are perfect opportunities to take some time out and have a treatment at our day spa. A relaxing massage will get rid of all your tension and help you feel great so you can make the most of your time in the Pacific Islands.
Play card or board games
Remember how fun it was as a kid to play cards or board games on a rainy day? We don’t do that enough anymore! We feel so busy that it’s hard to switch off or allow playfulness into our lives. But in Fiji, there’s nowhere else you need to be. Nothing else demanding your attention. It’s a perfect time to reconnect with loved ones and friends. So play!
Go for a walk in the rain
Some of our happiest memories of childhood were the walks we took as a family on warm, rainy days. The plants sparkle and shine with water droplets and their vivid colours seem so much more intense. Wildlife loves the rain, so you can often hear or see them out enjoying the shower. And not to forget a good splash in a puddle for a bit of fun!
Remember, it won’t be cold when it rains in Fiji, so a rain jacket and adventurous spirit are all you need to embrace a rainy-day stroll.
Just be – it’s ok to do nothing
It may seem strange with our hectic lives, but it’s so good for you to take the time once in a while to just be completely present in the moment. This mindfulness lets you experience everything around you in its fullness. Sit quietly. What can you see? Hear? Feel? Smell? Taste? What does it feel like to be in this place, in this moment?
Fijian craft lessons
Join our activities team to have a go at weaving a hat, bag or basket from palm leaves. You can also experiment with making your own coconut jewellery. These handy craft sessions are fun and everyone is welcome. Talanoa – have a conversation
In Fiji, when we decide to have an open, inclusive conversation, we call this Talanoa. We gather together for a dialogue – we may discuss challenges that need to be resolved or even tell stories. It is a way to connect with others, express thoughts and feelings, and share our journeys in a welcoming space.
The bar is always open
After you’ve gone on some adventures, spent time relaxing and nurturing yourself and your relationships if it’s still raining remember – the bar is always open. Come in for a drink and some laughter.
So as you can see, there are so many ways to enjoy a rainy day in Fiji. You can do as much or as little as you like!