As someone who took up scuba diving later in life, I spent my earlier years—20s through 40s—traveling the globe and enjoying various water sports such as kayaking, paddle boarding, snorkeling, and tubing. However, scuba diving always seemed just out of reach for me. Given my history of frequent ear infections, I thought it simply wasn’t a viable option.

Upon reaching 50, I reflected on my travels to all seven continents and over 100 countries. I realized I was still yearning for a new experience. That experience turned out to be scuba diving. Gaining my certification revolutionized my travel experiences, allowing me to revisit beloved destinations and explore them from an entirely new perspective: beneath the waves.

Making Scuba Diving a Family Experience

Understanding what I had been missing, I was determined to get my family involved. My teenage sons, aged 13 and 15, were hesitant. It wasn’t that they were against scuba diving; as New York kids, they simply hadn’t considered it. I hoped to change their minds through an unforgettable family escape.

This family adventure came in the form of a summer getaway to Fiji. The boys agreed to give it a try and completed the advanced training coursework. My younger son achieved certification before our departure, while the older one chose to undergo his training during the trip. The plan was for my younger son and me to dive each morning, while my older son focused on his training. We would then spend our afternoons discovering Fiji with my husband, who wasn’t diving.

The Allure of Scuba Diving

Many people ask me about my passion for scuba diving. I believe it’s partly due to discovering it later in life. For three decades, I had traveled and listened to divers share their thrilling underwater experiences. I never felt envy as I created my own memorable surface adventures while snorkeling in the Maldives, Belize, and Tahiti.

I was unprepared for how significantly scuba diving would alter my approach to travel. For me, it isn’t about thrills or adrenaline; rather, it’s a serene escape. The real magic lies in being able to hear my own breathing underwater, devoid of cellphones, distractions, and a racing mind. Scuba diving compels me to focus solely on the beauty right in front of me—be it a shark, a seahorse, or vibrant coral.

Sharing the Joy of Scuba with My Kids

This calming aspect is precisely why I wanted my teenage sons to engage with scuba. Their lives are packed with school, sports, friends, and commitments, and I wanted them to experience moments of relaxation and connection with nature.

Additionally, I had a second motive for encouraging my boys to embrace scuba diving. As a mom of two active sons, I often felt like the odd one out while they bonded through their sporting activities with my husband. I envisioned scuba diving as a perfect opportunity to create shared memories and special moments with them.

To be completely honest, there’s a third reason as well. Traveling with teenagers can be tricky—there’s always some negotiation, resistance, and questioning. Scuba diving proved to be an ideal solution. We shared an experience underwater, where we couldn’t speak or argue, simply enjoying the moment together. Or so I hoped.

How Fiji Inspired Us to Become a Scuba Family

In choosing a location for my son’s scuba certification in Fiji, I opted for the renowned Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort. It’s not only one of the top family-friendly destinations in Fiji but also has some of the best scuba diving available.

The choice proved to be ideal, and this trip became one of our most memorable family vacations. We balanced our time spent scuba diving together in the mornings with quality family time in the afternoons and evenings.

Maximizing Our Days

The resort features an impressive youth program called Bula Buddies. However, any parent of a teenager knows getting them to join group activities can be a challenge, so I didn’t expect much. Fortunately, Sefa, the Bula Buddy assigned to teens, was an outstanding match. At just 26, he was lively, engaging, and naturally cool, making him the perfect big brother figure for my boys.

My kids took to scuba diving right away in the mornings, with my oldest managing to get certified in just a few days. However, they also enjoyed a lot of other fun activities with their Bula Buddy, such as fishing, tubing, hiking, and even creating and guiding their own rafts.

I was concerned that my husband might not find the vacation enjoyable since he didn’t dive, but he relished having some time alone in the mornings while we spent the rest of the day together as a family. The resort organized daily activities for families, including tours to a local village and school, a kayak journey to a salt lake, a hike to nearby waterfalls, and daily snorkeling sessions. Plus, since these activities were shared with other families, everyone made new friends.

Fiji was our family’s first scuba trip together, and I’m sure it won’t be the last. Maybe one day, I’ll convince my husband to dive in with us!

Becoming a scuba diving family in Fiji originally appeared on FamilyVacationist.com.

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