Vatulele Island
Vatulele · Vatulele anchorage
18°31.20'S 177°37.98'E
Depth
5–15m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
80m
Holding
Good
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
80m
80m for good holding on sand in 5–15m among coral bommies. Snorkel to find sand before anchoring. Wide radius given bommie risk. Approach in good light from the north — low-lying island is hard to see from distance.
About This Anchorage
Vatulele is a flat limestone island 40nm south of Port Denarau — a remote, rarely-visited destination in Fiji's sailing circuit. The island is noted for the famous red prawns in the inland lake (a unique natural phenomenon — freshwater prawns that turn red for unknown reasons), the ancient tapa-cloth rock paintings, and the ultra-exclusive Vatulele Island Resort (one of the world's most private resorts, 18 bures, famous for hosting celebrities). The anchorage on the north coast has a sandy lagoon with good protection from the SE trades. The island has traditional villages — sevusevu protocol mandatory. The remoteness and low visitor numbers mean the reef is in excellent condition. The passage from Port Denarau (40nm) or from the Beqa Lagoon area is offshore and requires careful weather planning. Vatulele is for the adventurous cruiser seeking genuine remoteness.
Protected From
E · SE · NE · N
Exposed To
W · SW · NW
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Free anchoring — sevusevu expected
- Permit required
- No
Restrictions: Sevusevu mandatory. Vatulele Island Resort has exclusive areas — respect resort boundaries. No removal of marine life. Red prawn lake — do not disturb the prawns. No anchoring on coral.
Hazards
- !Remote and low-lying — difficult to see from sea; approach with care in poor light
- !Offshore passage 40nm from Port Denarau — plan weather window carefully
- !Extensive coral bommies in the lagoon — approach in good light and snorkel before anchoring
- !No facilities or communications — completely self-sufficient required
Skipper's Tips
- →The red prawn lake on Vatulele is one of Fiji's natural mysteries — ask village permission to visit
- →The ancient rock paintings (tapa-cloth designs on limestone) are found on the southwest coast — ask for village guide
- →Depart Port Denarau before 04:00 for the 40nm passage to arrive in good afternoon light
- →Vatulele Island Resort has hosted some of the world's most famous people — the privacy is extraordinary and the reef is pristine as a result
- →The reef snorkelling at Vatulele is among the least disturbed in all of Fiji
Facilities
No facilities for visiting yachts. Vatulele Island Resort is exclusively private. Nearest provisions Port Denarau (40nm N).
Nearest provisions: Port Denarau Marina (40nm N) (40nm)
Best Months & Season
Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
June–September only. Remote passage — requires settled weather window and full self-sufficiency.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
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