Fish, fish and more fish. A few turtles, the odd shark, a couple of eels and lots of coral. Both Upolu and Savai'i have fabulous dive spots, sporting around 900 fish species, including spinner dolphins, stingrays and whales.

For an animal encounter with a unique twist, head to the wetland sanctuary at Savaii’s Satoalepai village and swim with green turtles.

Savaii is third largest Polynesian island after Tahiti and New Zealand. With a population of about 42,000, it’s also one of the few places on earth where you can truly experience the simple pleasures of life.

Take a step back in time. Manono Island is one of the best places to sample the simple pleasures of Samoan life, mingle with the locals and learn how they plant, fish, weave and spend their free time.

Both Savai'i and Upolu are dotted with surf breaks and get good swells year round – northern swells from November through April, and southern swells in from May to October.

Indulge yourself in a Samoan spa. Samoa is blessed with a myriad of therapeutic plants, and the traditional healers, the taulasea, have long used their juice, bark, leaves and roots to help treat many ailments.