The Fiji archipelago is at the cross roads of the South Pacific. In the days of sailing ships it was known as The Cannibal Isles and carefully avoided by mariners because of its fierce warriors and treacherous waters. However, in the age of jumbo jets and global travel. Fiji has become the central hub of the exotic South Pacific.

The Fiji islands are situated in the South Pacific, midway between Melanesia (Solomons, Vanuatu, New Caledonia and Papua New Guinea) and Polynesia (Tonga, Samoa, the Cooks and French Polynesia). They are south of the equator, just north of the Tropic of Capricorn and west of the International Dateline. The territorial limits enclose an area of 1.3 million sq km (half a million sq mi), but only 1.5% of this is dry land. About 300 islands make up the nation.

Viti Levu at 10,400 sq km and Vanua Levu at 5587 sq km are the biggest islands. Almost 80 percent of the population live on these two islands. The majority of the population live in the rural areas and the outer islands. Only about 40 percent of the population live in urban areas.

Taveuni and Kadavu are also substantial islands, but the rest of the country is made up of small islands divided into the Lomaiviti, Lau, Moala, Yasawa, Mamanuca and Rotuma Groups. Many of these islands are relatively untouched and there are many beautiful reefs, lagoons and harbours, as well as natural vegetation.

The vast majority of Fiji's land mass is volcanic in origin, with some reef-formed limestone and coastal sedimentary formations. The major islands are generally mountainous in the interiors which creates a rain shadow effect. The western sides of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu are drier and less thickly vegetated than the eastern areas. The difference in the rainfall between the two sides is striking. The eastern side of Viti Levu, where the capital city of Suva is located, averages 300 cm in precipitation whereas in the western side where Nadi International Airport is found, averages about 165 cm. Thus on any given day, your chances of getting wet are much greater on any of the larger islands' eastern sides, rather than in the west. Plan your vacations accordingly.

The ocean environment includes coral reefs, lagoons and deep pelagic areas all of which team with fish. As many visitors can attest to, Fiji's reputation as a world-class dive destination is well deserved. In Fiji's rich reef system one may find a multitude variety of marine life all within a few square meters.