South Pacific adventure - Military Off Duty, Air Force Travel, hottest destinations - Air Force Times

South Pacific adventure

NUKUBATI ISLAND, Fiji — Stationed in the Pacific and looking for adventure? It doesn’t get much better than Fiji, situated about 3,000 miles from both Hawaii and Guam with affordable flights leaving from both.

Adrenaline galore, with friendly locals and stunning resorts, Fiji can be as relaxing or heart pounding as you want it to be.

Fiji comprises more than 300 lush, green South Pacific islands, many of which are sparsely inhabited and boast postcard-perfect beaches. They’re so remote that missionary influence was minimal. Fijians are so friendly, in fact, it’s hard to believe cannibalism was once prevalent here.

In addition to the warm hospitality, Fiji also lays claim to some of the world’s best scuba diving and snorkeling; water sports such as fishing, sailing, kayaking, jet skiing, wakeboarding and surfing; hiking; zip-lining; and unique island rituals such as fire walking and drinking ceremonies involving the potent kava root.

Diving

Fiji boasts some of the best soft-coral diving on the planet. The sheer abundance of life and terrain means you’ll meet dive junkies from all over the world. Most resorts offer daily scuba diving or snorkel expeditions, but Beqa Lagoon Resort is one of the best values you’ll find. Every employee, including the dive masters, grew up on the island and knows the surrounding ocean better than anyone. They’re also expert fire walkers — which they demonstrate each week — and hiking guides.

Most resorts cater to both serious and novice divers. At Namale, the resort of self-help guru Tony Robbins, divers have encountered schools of hammerhead sharks. At the eco-friendly Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort, the onsite marine biologist led me on morning snorkel expeditions past sharks and brilliant-colored schools of fish, and on hands-on evening excursions with some of the most bizarre animals in the ocean.

For visitors interested in learning SCUBA diving, most resorts offer instruction and basic courses allow you to see plenty of marine life.

Sport fishing

While staying at the Nukubati Island Resort, a tiny getaway that draws many return visitors, I hopped on a boat left there by a New Zealander. Over the nearby Great Sea Reef, the third-largest barrier reef in the world, our day’s haul included tuna, giant trevally, barracuda and a whale-shark sighting.

Nukubati, with its off-the-grid charm, has a tiny fleet of catamarans for when the wind comes up. From November to March, the nearby reef produces stunning surf waves. Each week, a traditional dinner is served on the beach — a Fijian barbecue with fish, shellfish and local root vegetables, all cooked over hot coals in the sand and eaten by hand.

Kava

Fijian resorts are all-inclusive, meaning meals and many activities are included in the price. But any visit to Fiji must include taking part in a kava session. The drink, served in coconut-shell cups, is made from mixing the pulverized root of the plant with water.

The mild narcotic tingles your lips, numbs your tongue and is incredibly relaxing.

Accommodation

Because they’re often secluded, resorts provide nearly all of the activities you’ll encounter. Morale, welfare and recreation offices might offer discounts or tips to get the best deal, especially if you’re stationed in Guam or Hawaii.

Strangely, because of all of the activities that keep visitors busy during the day, resort nightlife is practically nonexistent. Cities such as Suva, the capital, and Savusavu offer a few club options, but are almost exclusively Fijian.

Other activities

Like many Pacific islands, Fiji’s national sport is rugby. Fields are everywhere, if you want to catch_have any interest in catching a game. Fijians are passionate about the rugby and are happy to explain the rules to visitors.

Ziplining can be found on the main island. ZIP Fiji offers shuttles to and from its site.

For additional water sports, most resorts offer sea kayaks, but Namale also has a jet ski available to speed around its bay, along with a motorboat the staff will pilot while you wakeboard.

If you go

Air Pacific, Fiji’s national airline, offers flights to and from Samoa, Hawaii, and Los Angeles, as well as within the Fijian islands. In November, Continental Airlines began flying between Fiji and Guam, Hawaii and Japan. At press time, round-trip flights from Guam to Fiji were advertised for $760. Check with your recreation office for specifics.

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Adam Elder is a San Diego-based freelance writer.