Beqa Island dive sites

Up to eight species of sharks have been recorded at the site: bull sharks, tiger sharks, lemon sharks, grey reef sharks, whitetip reef sharks, blacktip reef sharks, tawny nurse sharks, and silvertip sharks. Bull sharks are the most consistently present, appearing on virtually every dive. Tiger sharks are seasonal visitors, most frequently seen between April and October. On a good day, divers may encounter five or six species in a single dive.

The shark feed is conducted by Beqa Adventure Divers following strict safety protocols refined over two decades of operations. Divers kneel behind a low coral wall while experienced feeders control the bait from behind a protective barrier. The sharks are conditioned to associate the feeding area with food, not the divers. The safety record is excellent, and the operation has been studied by marine biologists who endorse the methodology as sustainable and safe.

Research conducted by the University of the South Pacific and international marine biologists has found no significant adverse effects on the sharks. The sharks remain wild and free-ranging, traveling widely between feeds. The amount of food provided is a small fraction of their natural diet. Crucially, the Shark Reef Marine Reserve has protected 16 hectares of reef from fishing, and the shark population has increased since the reserve was established in 2004.