Travel Agent Dive Specialist - March 31, 2008 - (Page DS12) pacific-asia: An Ocean of Discovery Fiji Visitors Bureau Diving Diversity Defined Fiji and French Polynesia are among Scuba Diving magzine’s top five Pacific dive destinations for 2008 and rank one-two for having the “Healthiest Marine Environment.” Fiji also made the top five for marine life, shore diving, wall diving and as a spot for beginners. Tahiti and Beyond In the middle of the South Pacific, the jagged green islands of French Polynesia rise out of glittering blue seas. Tahiti, a lush volcanic island with exhilarating underwater topography, is surrounded by a lagoon and then a drop-off into incredible depths. Recreational diving is done on the inside of the wall, which is peppered with small caves and overhangs full of snapper. For many divers, especially the more adventurous and experience ones, the real attraction is sharks. In Bora Bora, divers are often visited by numbers of gigantic manta rays gliding gracefully within arm’s reach, while schools of black-tip reef sharks maneuver through the sunlit waters. Fish feeding is common in Moorea, and divers are often surrounded by schools of small and large marine life. With a lack of strong currents, Moorea is perfect for beginners while its deeper canyons attract the more experienced divers. Diving in Fiji Most divers know Fiji for its large, brilliantly colored soft coral as well as the diversity of fish and invertebrates that live among their branches, the dramatic changes they undergo in rhythm with the tides and currents, and the many types of underwater environments in which they thrive. The lush colors of Fiji’s undersea world have been lauded in the pages of Sport Diver magazine, among others. Some 1,200 species of fish and 12 species of whales and dolphins call the waters around Fiji home. The Fiji archipelago, comprising 333 islands, is encircled by a huge reef. Within its protected waters are shallow lagoons, steep drop offs, and thousands of scuba dive sites. Most areas are easy to get Malaysia Tourism Authority to with plenty of resorts offering scuba diving scattered around the islands. Sea temperatures are incredibly warm — averaging 77 degrees Fahrenheit in winter (May to Nov.) and up to 86 in summer at depths of 16 to 17 feet. Visibility is also excellent with depths of 130 feet not unusual. The best diving conditions are early morn- Tourism Authority of Thailand ing before the winds pick up. Heavy rainfall in the summer can obscure visibility off the main islands with river run-off. There are plenty of specialist scuba diving resorts and live-aboard dive charters available. Air Pacific, which offers non-stop service from Los Angeles and Honolulu to Fiji, also offers special offers through its partnerships with tour operators and other suppliers; for details, visit www.airpacificusa.com/partners. For more information on diving in Fiji, visit www.bulafiji.com. More Pacific Paradises Some other South Pacific highlights include: The Galapagos: This renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site, most notably the islands of Santiago, Bartolome and Floreana, offer some of the most exciting diving in the world. In different areas of the Galapagos, clients can practice deep or shallow diving and get close to coral reefs, sea lions, whales, 12 DIVE SPECIALIST A TRAVEL AGENT UNIVERSITY PROGRAM http://www.airpacificusa.com/partners http://www.bulafiji.com
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