Staying Aware...
The owner of Sau Bay Resort & Spa has a background in marine resource management. Our commitment and true undersanding of the marine environment and its connection to the coastal zone makes Sau Bay Resort & Spa a catalyst in our region, bringing together like-minded individuals and organizations in fostering conservation measures aimed at protecting habitat and restoring damaged coral reefs.
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PADI Eco-Center
On August 18, 2023, Sau Bay Resort & Spa officially became the first resort/dive center in all of the South Pacific to earn the distinguished status of Eco-Center from PADI.​
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PADI Eco Center status is granted to PADI Dive Centers and Resorts that demonstrate a dedication to conservation and dive industry sustainability.
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Through Adopt the Blue, each PADI Eco Center is actively promoting marine biodiversity and community resilience by addressing our ocean’s global challenges. PADI Eco Centers create opportunities for all to engage in direct conservation action including citizen science, policy advocacy, and education.
Green Fins Program Participation
Sau Bay Resort is a participant in the global Green Fins program, which is dedicated to sustainable tourism. We follow specific guidelines for reef protection that have been widely adopted on a global basis and strive for continuous improvements in our dive and snorkeling operations. Through a rigorous program aimed at continuing improvements to our sustainability program, we ensure that we maintain our Eco-Center status.
Dive Against Debris
Sau Bay Divers particiaptes in the Dive Against Debris program by making every dive a dive where observations are made and any visible trash is recovered. Even when driving out to a dive site, we will go out of our way to pick up floating trash when observed. By reporting trash removed, we become one of the resorts in Fiji where debris removal is counted and reported on a global scale. While we are fortunate to have relatively little trash around our dive sites, we still see a fair amount of tangled fishing line and occasional trash such as drink containers and other debris. By making every dive a Dive Against Debris dive, we will keep our dive sites as pristine as possible.
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Coral Reef Conservation
Guests interested in learning more about coral reef protection and their susceptibility to climate change are encouraged to take a specialty certification that promotes awareness and provides the student with a first hand look at conservation activities in our area. Specialty courses taken count towards Master Diver certification as well. In addition, we recently joined the Coral Watch program. This citizen science program provides an easy way for our guests to make meaningful observations on the health of the corals on the various dive sites of the Rainbow Reef. Please check with our divemasters upon arrival at the resort!
Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (COTS) Population Control Program
At Sau Bay, we actively protect the health of the Rainbow Reef through targeted Crown of Thorns starfish (COT) control. These coral-eating starfish can rapidly damage reef ecosystems when populations spike, as we are currently seeing throughout Fiji. Our team conducts regular monitoring dives and uses safe, proven methods—such as precise vinegar injection and manual removal—to reduce outbreaks while minimizing impact to surrounding marine life.
Guests are welcome to learn about the process or even participate in supervised conservation dives, contributing directly to the protection of one of the world’s most vibrant reef systems. In 2025, we were awarded a USD $4,000 Community Conservation Grant through the Oceanic Society's Expedition Impact Program (EIP) to conduct active COTS removal on the Rainbow Reef.
Adopt the Blue
We are also the first dive resort in the
area to participate in PADI's
Adopt the Blue - a global
initiative aimed at protecting our reefs
and collecting important information
on the impacts of climate change and
tourism on reef ecosystems.
As part of the initiative, dive centers globally are encouraged to "adopt" a dive site. Sau Bay Resort & Spa adopted the first dive on the Rainbow Reef - and we elected to to adopt the Great White Wall due to its popularity and regional importance to the dive community. Because of its popularity, this dive site is also particularly vulnerable to impacts from divers. However, by participating in the program, Sau Bay Resort & Spa also has pledged to participate in important climate resilience research by reporting citizen-based scientific observations to document changes in the reef ecosystem of our adopted dive site. We encourage our guests to participate in this program. Its a simple and fun activity to participate in while doing your safety stop! Just ask your dive guides upon arrival at the resort.
Community Beach Cleanups
At Sau Bay, we partner with nearby villages to keep our coastline and reefs pristine through regular beach cleanups. These hands-on efforts remove marine debris before it reaches the reef, protect wildlife, and strengthen our connection with the local community. We work closely with local schools, using these cleanups as opportunities to educate and inspire the next generation about ocean conservation and responsible stewardship.
Guests are invited to join—turning a simple shoreline walk into a meaningful way to give back to the environment and people who call this place home.
Check out a couple of our typical Aware Week Activities
Sau Bay Resort & Spa staff and guests taking part in a routine beach cleanup!