Fiji, renowned for its breathtaking marine landscapes and vibrant underwater life, is a top destination for ocean enthusiasts. However, the natural beauty of its waters comes with a need for vigilance. Our page provides weekly updates on shark attacks in Fiji, ensuring travelers stay informed. Balancing the allure of its pristine seas with safety concerns is vital, especially as interactions between humans and sharks are an inevitable part of the oceanic experience. Stay tuned to keep your Fiji adventures both thrilling and safe.
Recent Shark Attacks in Fiji
| Date / Time | Country / Area | Activity | Name | Sex / Age | Injury | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02-17-2023 07h20 | FIJI ,Taveuni Island | Spearfishing | Samuela Kiniboi | M /41 | Questionable | |
| 03-02-2020 Early Morning | FIJI ,Vanua Levu | Spearfishing | Iliuta Naceva | M /26 | Lacerations to right elbow | |
| 08-16-2019 12h30 | FIJI | Spearfishing | Evan G.Leeson | M /32 | Right arm bitten | Grey reef shark 1.5m |
| 05-17-2019 | FIJI | Scuba diving | A Malaysian diver | M | Laceration to head and shark bit diver's tank | Tiger shark, 4m to 5m |
| 09-23-2018 15h00 | FIJI ,Vanua Levu | Diving | Timoci Ratusaki | M /30 | Abrasion to leg when he kicked the shark PROVOKED INCIDENT | Nurse shark |
| 03-10-2016 Afternoon | Fiji ,Vanua Levu | Diving for beche-de-mer | Maika Tabua | M /45 | FATAL | |
| 09-01-2015 | FIJI | Spearfishing | Viliame Lautiki | M | Leg bitten | Tiger shark |
| 05-16-2012 | FIJI | Spearfishing | Tevita Naborisi | M /20 | Lacerations to head | |
| 04-08-2011 Afternoon | FIJI ,Vitu Levu | Diving | Etuate Caucau | M /27 | Minor injuries to left leg and hand | |
| 03-21-2011 16h00 | FIJI | Diving / fishing | Metereti Jeke | M /30 | Left forearm severely bitten, surgically amputated | |
| 12-17-2010 AM | FIJI ,Vitu Levu | Surfing | Jordi Gracia | M | Lacerations to foot | |
| 02-15-2010 09h30 | FIJI ,Off Vanua Levu | Scuba diving | Henry Usimewa | M /19 | FATAL | |
| 05-14-2008 Night | FIJI ,Yasawa Islands | Night diving | Aisake Sadole | M /28 | FATAL | |
| 04-09-2008 | FIJI | Spearfishing | Rutu Meli | M | Left forearm bitten | |
| 03-18-2006 18h00 | FIJI ,Vitu Levu | Surfing | Paul Sue | M /21 | Lacerations to right hand | Tiger shark, 5' |
| 09-29-2003 Night | FIJI ,Taveuni | Wading to shore from his boat | Epeli Mate | M /40 | FATAL abdomen bitten | |
| 02-11-2002 20h00 | FIJI ,Cikobia Island (north of Vanua Levu) | Jokini Rasoki | M /15 | FATAL, lower thigh & knee severely lacerated | ||
| 05-01-2001 | FIJI ,Taveuni | Spearfishing, carrying his catch | male | M | FATAL | |
| 12-12-2000 14h30 | FIJI ,Taveuni | Swimming back from anchored sailboat | Michael Loxton | M /47 | FATAL, leg severed | 6 m [20'] shark |
| 06-15-1997 14h30 | FIJI ,Taveuni | Snorkeling | Liz Rogers | F /47 | Bitten on inner thigh, leg surgically amputated | Tiger shark, 2.7m [9'] |
| 01-01-1996 | FIJI ,Taveuni | male | M | FATAL | Tiger shark, 2.5 m [8.25'] | |
| 05-24-1995 | FIJI ,Yasawa Islands | Sleeping in anchored boat | Kinijioji Vindovi | M /69 | FATAL, hand & leg severely injured by shark that leapt into boat | 3.7 m [12'] shark |
| 11-12-1992 | FIJI ,Wakaya Island | Scuba diving | Chad Smith | M /30 | Left arm lacerated | 3 m hammerhead shark |
| 01-01-1992 | FIJI ,Tavenui | Stephen Davies | M /33 | FATAL | ||
| 03-24-1990 | FIJI ,Laucala Island | Swimming | Ola Stillman Rockefeller | M /30 | Lacerations to right leg | |
| 02-02-1988 | Fiji ,Vanua Levu | Diving | Qalo Moceyawa | M /22 | Lacerations to left arm & waist | Tiger shark, 3 m |
| 12-18-1967 09h00 | FIJI | Tera Tetapana | M /27 | Arm lacerated | ||
| 11-15-1967 Morning | FIJI | Freediving | Stephen Wiltshire | M /21 | Hand lacerated by speared shark PROVOKED INCIDENT | |
| 06-23-1964 | FIJI ,Lau Group | Spearfishing | Isireli Mara | M /23 | Buttocks bitten | |
| 05-08-1964 11h30 | FIJI ,Vita Levu | Spearfishing | Sailasa Ratubalavu | M /35 | FATAL, buttocks, lower abdomen & genitalia removed | Tiger shark |
| 02-17-1964 | FIJI | Fishing | boat, occupant: R. Southey of Lautoka | Hooked shark bit boat PROVOKED INCIDENT | Tiger shark, 3.5 m, 250-lb female | |
| 02-14-1964 10h30 | FIJI ,Vanua Levu | Spearfishing | Ivo Berabi | M /17 | FATAL, thigh and abdomen bitten | |
| 01-27-1964 | FIJI | Spearfishing | Dr. George Lapin | FATAL | ||
| 01-04-1964 15h00 | FIJI ,Lomaloma, Lau | Swimming | Tale Meve (female) | F /20 | Deep lacerations to her right thigh | |
| 11-28-1963 11h00 | FIJI ,Lau Province | Fishing | Mereseini Wati, female | F /21 | Elbow bitten | >1.2 m [4'] tiger shark |
| 11-25-1963 14h00 | FIJI ,Vita Levu | Spearing fish | Sumia Qio | M /25 | Ankle & foot bitten | |
| 02-08-1963 10h00 | FIJI ,Lomaiviti Island Group | Spearfishing | Jone Waiteatei | M /28 | Left arm bitten | White shark, 2.1 m [7'] |
| 01-30-1963 | FIJI | Freediving | Savenaca Kuruvakarua | M /41 | Hand & arm severely lacerated | |
| 05-01-1962 | FIJI ,Viti Levu | Fishing | 17' fishing boat; occupants 2 men | No injury, sharks rammed boat and bit outboard motor | ||
| 03-01-1961 11h00 | FIJI ,19S, 178?E | Floating on back | Albert Bailey | M | Right forearm bitten | |
| 04-01-1960 | FIJI ,Vanua Levu | Fishing in shoulder-deep water | Fijian woman | F | FATAL, legs bitten | |
| 10-02-1959 | FIJI ,Lomaiviti Province | Dived overboard to retrieve dinghy | male, Fijian cook of vessel Andi Tui Lomaloma | M | FATAL, body not recovered | 4.3 m [14'] shark |
| 10-01-1959 12h00 | FIJI ,Kadavu | Spearfishing | Etuate Waqa | M /36 | forearm abraded | Tiger shark, 1.8 m [6'] |
| 02-24-1957 | FIJI ,Viti Levu | Spearfishing | Sami Bale | M | Right arm & forearm injured | |
| 01-01-1957 | FIJI ,Kadavu | Fishing | Semesa Vasu | M /30 | Right foot lacerated | |
| 03-21-1938 | FIJI ,Viti Levu | Wading | male | M | unknown | |
| 09-26-1932 | FIJI ,Viti Levu Island | Catching a turtle | male | M | Left arm severely bitten | |
| 06-20-1932 | FIJI ,Yasawa Islands | Free diving with goggles | Asena (female) | F | FATAL | |
| 07-28-1931 | FIJI ,Viti Levu Island | Swimming | Narnak | M | Multiple injuries | small sharks |
| 01-05-1929 | FIJI ,Viti Levu Island | Diving for coins thrown from ship S.S. Moeraki | male | M | FATAL, hand severed, both legs & arms bitten & nearly severed | |
| 10-01-1927 | FIJI | Standing, collecting bananas | Josiah | M | Leg bitten. He survived | |
| 01-01-1925 | FIJI ,Viti Levu Island | Diving for coins tossed from passenger ship | Fijian boy | M | Both arms bitten, surgically amputated | |
| 11-15-1921 | FIJI ,Viti Levu Island | Swimming | FATAL | |||
| 01-13-1912 | FIJI ,Viti Levu group | Washed overboard | M /7 | FATAL | ||
| 04-13-1898 | FIJI ,Muala | The cutter Francis Adams foundered | male | M | Lacerations to thigh | |
| 09-06-1894 | FIJI ,Vita Levu | Dangling feet in the water | Fijian girl | F | Foot severed | |
| 05-23-1893 | FIJI | Canoe swamped | a girl | F | FATAL | |
| 08-30-1879 | FIJI ,Lau Group | male + 20 | M | Severely bitten on heel, 20 others taken by sharks | ||
| 12-15-1877 | FIJI | a male & a female | FATAL | |||
| 03-11-1877 | FIJI ,Viti Levu Island | boy | M /15 | Thigh severely bitten, femur exposed | ||
| 01-28-1872 dusk | Fiji ,Lomaiviti Provine | boat capsized | Mr. Manning | M | Probable drowning | Shark involvement prior to death unconfirmed |
| 11-25-1856 | FIJI | Swimming | a seaman | M | FATAL | |
| 09-18-1840 | FIJI ,Viti Levu Island | male | M | Arms & legs severed | ||
| FIJI | Fijian | M | Survived | |||
| FIJI ,Kadavu Island Group | Swimming with fish attached to belt | Fijian girl | F | Severely injured when fish were seized by shark | ||
| FIJI ,Moala Island | Wreck of large double sailing canoe | 20 Fijians | FATAL, 18 people were killed by sharks, 2 survived | |||
| FIJI | Spearfishing | Dalton Baldwin | M /27 | No injury, bumped by shark which took speared fish | 1.8 m [6'] shark | |
| FIJI ,Viti Levu Island | Joeli Bulu, missionary | M /29 | Survived | |||
| FIJI ,Northwest of Viti Levu | Spearfishing | Lindsay Phillips | M | Right arm abraded, circular piece of tissue removed from left calf | ||
| FIJI ,Vita Levu | No details |
Are there lots of sharks in Fiji?
Yes, Fiji is home to a diverse range of shark species due to its rich marine environment. However, while there are many sharks in the waters around Fiji, most are harmless to humans and contribute to the vibrant underwater ecosystem that attracts divers from around the world.
Is it safe to swim in Fiji sharks?
In general, it’s safe to swim in Fiji’s waters as shark attacks are relatively rare. However, like any destination with marine life, it’s essential to exercise caution and be aware of your surroundings. Fiji offers many supervised swimming and diving experiences to ensure the safety of visitors interacting with sharks and other marine creatures.
Which shark species are most commonly involved in attacks in Fiji?
Several shark species can be found in Fiji’s waters. While the majority are harmless, it’s the larger species like bull sharks and tiger sharks that have been occasionally linked to encounters with humans. Always prioritize safety and be informed about the marine life in your chosen location.
