The Awakening Shark Expedition

Duration: Approx. 9 hours (including ferry transfers)

Departure: Port Denarau, Nadi

Location: Kuata Island & Yawake Reef, Yasawa Islands, Fiji

• All participants must complete the online dive medical and waiver prior to booking (online dive medical & waiver) .
• If medical clearance is required, please consult your doctor before booking.
• Diving is not permitted within 24 hours of flying.
• Failure to meet medical requirements on arrival will result in forfeiture of the booking.

Check in at Port Denarau between 8:15–8:30am before departing at 8:45am for the Yasawa Islands.

Arrive at Kuata Island between 10:15am and 10:30am, where you’ll be welcomed by the Barefoot Shark Encounters team and introduced to the day ahead, including an overview of the island’s marine sanctuary and shark conservation programme.

Shortly after arrival, your expedition begins with the Awakening Shark Dive, one of Fiji’s most compelling shark diving experiences.

Designed by marine biologist Dr Thomas Vignaud PhD and developed over three years of research, this dive has been carefully created to balance close encounters with bull sharks alongside strict safety protocols and ecological best practice.

Following a detailed briefing and equipment fitting, you will depart for Yawake Reef, where at approximately 12 metres depth, certified divers encounter bull sharks (Carcharhinus leucas) and other species in their natural environment.

Encounters often include multiple sharks moving confidently through the water, sometimes joined by additional species such as lemon sharks, silvertips and tawny nurse sharks.

This is a close-proximity, fully guided experience, with the Barefoot Shark Encounters team closely monitoring both diver positioning and shark behaviour at all times.

Following the dive, return to Kuata Island to freshen up and enjoy a relaxed island lunch overlooking the ocean.

After lunch, your experience continues with an engaging Shark Ecology session led by your marine biologist host.

This session explores:

• shark behaviour and body language
• predator-prey relationships
• the ecological role of sharks in reef systems
  

Guests are introduced to the SSI Shark Ecology programme, with certification issued following participation — adding a meaningful educational component to your experience.

Enjoy time to relax or explore Kuata Island, including:

• snorkelling coral gardens from the beach
• relaxing on the sand
• taking in the dramatic Yasawa landscapes

Depart Kuata Island at approximately 3:45pm, arriving back at Port Denarau around 6:00pm.

More Than a Day Cruise

This is not simply a dive trip — it is a fully immersive shark experience, combining adventure, marine science and conservation in one extraordinary day in Fiji’s Yasawa Islands.

Terms & Conditions 

• All guests partaking in any dive must complete a dive medical questionnaire, should a medical condition be identified, it will be assessed by a Dive Instructor. ONLY OPEN WATER CERTIFIED DIVERS CAN DO THE AWAKENING SHARK DIVE EXPEDITION DAY CRUISE. YOU MUST PRESENT YOUR DIVE CARD AT CHECK IN.
• Should you book knowing you have a medical condition and have not completed an assessment form you may be refused the right to dive and no refunds will be issued.  
• Refunds will not be granted for anyone late to check-in for the vessel departure. We will happily rebook your day trip but if dates don’t allow then full cancellation fees will apply.  
• Return Boat Transfers are operated by Awesome Adventures Fiji. Kuata Island Day Cruises & Barefoot Shark Encounters is not responsible for any transfer delays, cancellations or amendments to the transfer schedule that may result in missing any forward travel arrangements.  
• All payments with a credit card incur a 3.5% fee. The transaction will be narrated as Crystal Blue Reef Safari.  
• In the unlikely event Bull Sharks are unsighted a refund will be issued for 'The Awakening Shark Dive' component

IMPORTANT NOTE: For health reasons you cannot participate in this experience if you are flying within 24 hours of the dive. Dive concludes 12.35pm at the latest

Cancellation Policy  

• No fees applicable should guest have to postpone or amend booking to another travel date up to 1 hour prior to departure.  
• Cancellation 48 – 25 hours prior to travel, cancellation fee 50% of booking value applies. 
• Cancellation 24 hours or less prior to travel or no-show, cancellation fee 100% of booking value applies. 
• Marine tourism operates subject to sea and weather conditions. After departing on your day cruise in the event the Awakening Shark Dive activity is cancelled due to sea and weather conditions, refunds are limited to the retail cost of the Awakening Shark Dive activity only.