We did all classroom and pool work at the Peninsula Diving Center, then completed our certification on a referral basis at the Cousteau Resort in Fiji. This approach to certification worked great for us. By the time we got to Fiji, we were quite well prepared with all of the dive skill and knowledge basics, and were able to complete our certification program during the first two full days at Cousteau.
Some people go to Fiji via Hawaii, breaking the trip into two roughly equal-sized bites.
Most people spend the night at an airport hotel in Nadi, then leave the next morning for their final destination. This final leg will be between 30 and 60 minutes on a twenty-seater inter island plane. As noted above, you will lland in Nadi, on the western edge of Viti Levu. At the far eastern edge is Suva, the capital of Fiji. The other large island is located to the northwest and is call Vanua Levu.