Naviti is the largest island in the Yasawa chain, and the waters around it offer some of the best snorkelling and diving in the group. The main draw is the Drawaqa Passage between Naviti and Drawaqa Island, where manta rays gather during the dry season. The mantas arrive on an incoming tide, typically in the morning, and snorkellers can enter the water to observe them at close range — the rays are accustomed to people and show no particular alarm.
Several resorts on Naviti and Drawaqa Island offer guided manta snorkel trips, including Botaira Beach Resort and the well-regarded Barefoot Manta Resort on Drawaqa itself. The guides know the timing and the specific spots where the mantas are most reliably found. Outside manta season, the reef here is still worth exploring: the coral has recovered well from past bleaching events, and the fish diversity is high.
Naviti also has a number of villages where guesthouses are run by local families, offering a more authentic experience than the resort-only options on smaller islands. The Somosomo and Gunu villages on the western coast are the main ones, and a cultural visit combined with a snorkel or dive day makes for a well-rounded experience.