The native fauna is mainly limited to reptiles like iguanas, skinks, geckos and snakes and the only native mammals that can be found in Fiji are bats. There are also around 150 different bird species and of course lots of insects, so be prepared to come across many creepy crawlies when you visit Fiji.What attracts the most visitors though is the wide variety of life in the waters around Fiji where you can find dolphins, sea turtles, corals and a colourful variety of exotic fish. You can occasionally see whales and sharks passing by but sightings have unfortunately become rare due to overhunting. The species you can come across if you're lucky are bull sharks, tiger sharks and oceanic white tips as well as humpback whales.

Amongst passionate divers and marine biologists, Fiji is known to be the "soft coral capital of the world". Its great variety of coral are home to about 1200 species of reef fish and other types of marine life like anemone, sea snakes and moray eels. However, this diver's paradise is greatly endangered and its destruction happens at an alarming rate. The reasons are numerous and all caused by us humans. The overfishing of many types of fish leads to an imbalance in the marine ecosystem, which also affects to coral reefs worldwide. Pollution is another big threat to the marine life around Fiji. The water quality drops and the coral and fish are more prone to develop diseases. Some of the biggest sources for the water pollution are the use of chemical fertilizers in agriculture, deforestation and oil and chemical spills.

Luckily there are already numerous projects that actively work on the conservation of the marine life around Fiji and that are in need of volunteers to support their cause. Many of them focus on data collection though underwater research dives, a work that volunteers that are experienced divers can actively support. Most of the time they also offer scuba diving lessons so that even amateur divers can do their part of the work.

If marine wildlife and diving is not your thing and you prefer to keep both feet on the ground there are also many ways you could do something good when visiting Fiji. Local schools are often understaffed and welcome qualified help from fluent English speakers with open arms. Educating the children and the local communities about the threats for the marine wildlife and sustainable ways to minimize them can also be part of the schedule as a volunteer. No matter where you decide to offer your helping hands, it will definitely be appreciated and you will have the opportunity to make unique memories during your time in Fiji.