A silvery, sleek barracuda glides overhead watching the action from a distance. All too soon it is time to surface as you reluctantly drift upward and clamor into the boat. You dry quickly in the warm sunshine, enjoying a snack before donning wet dive gear and taking another giant stride into Fiji's fabulous underwater realm. Fiji encompasses over 300 islands ranging from tiny coral atolls to the mountainous rainforested islands of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, located 1,100 miles south of the equator. Upscale resorts in Nadi, along the Coral Coast, and on many of the outlying islands, offer a variety of accommodations and dive packages.
Scuba instruction is available at many resorts with full-service dive and water sports facilities.
The certification course including four or five open-water dives will take about five days. For those not ready to scuba dive, or children under 12, snorkeling trips are also offered. Most resorts have good snorkeling right off the beach. Visit Nai'a and the Fiji Aggressor on the Web. Fiji is known for its incredible beauty and diversity, above and below the sea.