Viti Water Sports - Nadi

Fiji has earned its nickname as the "soft coral capital of the world," and Viti Water Sports sits right in the middle of it. Operating out of Port Denarau in Nadi, this PADI 5 Star IDC centre welcomes everyone from the complete novice to the highly experienced Master Scuba Diver, with two PADI Instructors on hand and English spoken throughout.

Warm water, big biodiversity

Water temperatures here average 27ºC (88ºF), and the fish life ranges from huge to small and everything in between. Clear blue water moves gently past the more than 300 islands that make up the group, and divers can encounter sharks, whales, turtles and ocean fish among the riot of colours. The sheer variety and number of dive sites is a large part of why Fiji is considered a diving mecca.

The signature outing is a full day aboard Captain Cook Cruises' tall ship to Kadavu Lailai, where the team runs Discover Scuba Diving, Refreshers, Diving and Mermaiding — roughly seven hours, from USD 286. An annual Instructor Development Course runs from the Denarau base, and the centre backs it all up with an onsite classroom, air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, a retail shop, a dive boat, air fills, Nitrox and a full rental range including kids' and freediving gear.