Stunning fish life, Humpback Whales breaching in the distance, dolphins, lush rainforests, flowers in bloom, romantic resorts, and rainbows over waterfalls are images that come to mind when the topic is a Hawaiian vacation. Hawaii offers a perfect blend of an exotic vacation getaway and hassle-free familiarity.

The chain of Hawaiian islands extends for more than 1,000 miles from the big island of Hawaii in the southeast to Kauai and Niihau in the northwest, with Oahu, Molokai, Lanai and Maui in between. This vast expanse of water is legendary for its clarity, brilliantly colored fishes, cathedral like caves and lava chambers and big animal encounters. “Must see” hotspots include the Cathedrals off Lanai, lava formations aglow with shimmering shafts of sunlight, and Molokini Crater, a site well known for its black coral trees and resident reef sharks. The wreck of the 165-foot-long Mahi is a favorite dive off Oahu, and few dives anywhere in the world are as rewarding as night diving with feeding Manta Rays in the waters off Kona, on the Big Island of Hawaii.

The Midway Islands, 1,200 miles northeast of the northern extreme of the Hawaiian chain are well known to history buffs for intense air and sea battles between U.S. and Japanese forces during World War II. The remnants of those battles have become a diver’s playground. Add in coral atolls, lagoons and barrier reefs that teem with captivating invertebrates, rare Monk Seals, tropical fishes and encounters with a variety of reef sharks, and you have an idyllic setting for adventurous divers.