Best Diving Months: Fiji's winter May through September.

Water Temperature: 78F to 80F year round.

Underwater Visibility: Visibility in Fiji is generally between 50-150 feet and especially good in the winter. Soft corals require plankton for feeding, so there will always be plankton where the corals are the lush. Visibility is superb on the outer reefs.

Air Temperature: From June to October is winter in Fiji and the air temperature ranges from 68°F- 73°F. In the rainy summer months from November to May, air temperatures range from 73°F to 86°F.

Official Name: Republic of Fiji.

Location: The Fiji islands are located in the Pacific Ocean about 1750 miles northeast of Sydney, Australia. The archipelago is comprised of over 300 islands scattered across 80,000 square miles. The two main islands are Viti Levu and Vanua Levu. Only a third of the Fiji Islands are inhabited, leaving 200 islands and their waters untouched by civilization. The Fijians are among the friendliest and most hospitable people in the world, greeting with a warm Bula!

Getting There: The airlines that service Belize are American Airlines with a daily flight from Miami, Florida and Dallas, Texas, Continental Airlines with two flights daily from Houston, Texas, US Air with a daily flight from Charlotte, North Carolina. TACA Airlines also services Belize with connecting flights through San Salvador, El Salvador and Guatemala City, Guatemala.

Passport and Visa Requirements: A passport is required of U.S. citizens as well as a round-trip or onward ticket. Holders of Passports from visa exempt countries are granted visitors visas valid for 4 months on arrival. Extensions can be made up to 6 months on condition that they hold a valid passport (valid for 3 months) beyond the intended period of stay in Fiji, outward ticket and sufficient funds to facilitate duration of stay. What countries are exempt from acquiring visas for entry into Fiji? Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Columbia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Estonia, Germany, Micronesia, Finland, France, Gambia, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Kiribati, Latvia, Liechtenstein,Lesotho,Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand,Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Pacific Islands, Paraguay, Peru, the Philippines, Poland,Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Romania, South Korea, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand,Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, USA, Uruguay,Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Additional passport information: www.fiji.gov.fj/publish/fiji_faqs.shtml

Airport Information: Nadi (nahn-dee) on the west coast of the main island of Viti Levu.

Quarantine: The following items must be declared: Food of any kind. Plants or parts of plants - live or dead, including seeds, bulbs, nuts and wooden articles. Earth, rock, soil or mineral samples. Animals or parts of animals - live or dead including coral, shells and goods made from protected wildlife. Equipment used with horses or other animals. Biological specimens or tissues - human or animal.

Geography: Fiji is a land of blue-green lagoons, lush rainforests, pine forests, mountains and a 1000 miles of white, sandy beaches. There are 330 pieces of land big enough to be called islands scattered across 200,000 square miles of ocean, and several thousand others considered too small for human habitation. Of the 330 islands, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu make up 85% of the total land mass, and only just over 100 of the islands are actually inhabited. The larger islands are mainly of volcanic origin with high rugged terrain. The smaller islands are coral, limestone, or sand cays, with small pockets of tropical vegetation. Many islands have surrounding coral reefs and lagoons.

Getting Around: Inter-island air is available for flights to other islands, as well as high-speed hydrofoil service.

Language: English is the official language although Fijians speak Fijian and Hindi.

Population: Fiji's population of 818,000 people is made up of indigenous Fijians (50%), Indians (47%) with Europeans, Chinese and South Pacific Islanders making up the remaining 3%.

Dress: Casual for both night and day. Pack t-shirts, shorts, light cotton dresses and swimwear. Jeans will be too hot and uncomfortable. For cooler evenings or for out on the water, a jacket is a good idea. Sunscreens and hats are a must and joggers or sandals are good protection for walking and swimming around coral. If you do happen to cut yourself on coral, lemon or lime juice will relieve the pain - as will hydrogen peroxide. "Sulus" (known also throughout the Pacific as pareau, lavalava or sarong) are a must for both men and women. The wrap-around sulu is Fiji's most distinctive and versatile form of dress. For women there at least ten different ways it can be used, even for evening wear. Ask your resort staff for hints on tying and wearing your sulu. Visitors are asked to be careful not to offend local sensibilities. Wearing bikinis and ultra-brief swimming costumes is fine at a resort but not when visiting villages or shopping in town. This is where a sulu comes in handy.

Religions: Christians, Hindu, others.

Capital City: Suva (177,000).

Land Area: 7,054 square miles (118,270 sq. km.).

Latitude/Longitude: 18 00S, 175 00E.

Highest Point: Mt. Victoria, 4341 ft. (1323m).

Government: A republic governed by a prime minister and divided into 16 regional ministries.

Electrical Current: The current in Fiji is 240 volts AC 50Hz with three-pin power points - the same as in Australia and New Zealand. Leading hotels and resorts offer universal outlets for 240v or 110v appliances, or 110V adapters. Many island resorts generate their own electricity, and sometimes when the generators kick in and out, the bedside digital clocks will reset back to 12:00. If you think you'll need a reliable timepiece to make connections etc, it may be wise to pack a travel alarm clock.

Time: GMT+12. Travelers from North America will cross the International Date Line.

Credit Cards: All major cards accepted at most resorts.

Official Currency: The Fijian Dollar.

Tipping: Tipping is not encouraged anywhere in Fiji. Tip with a smile and 'vinaka', which is Fijian for 'thank you'. Though tipping is not local custom, you may see examples of what looks like tipping. Fijians ritually exchange gifts of food, clothing, kerosene, and even money during important social occasions but it's more an act of sharing.

Current weather: www.wunderground.com/global/stations/91680.html

Current Time: Atomic clock. Comprehensive list of over 380 time locations in order of country name:
www.worldtimeserver.com

Currency Converter: www.xe.com

Traveler's Health: www.cdc.gov/travel/austspac.htm