Fiji Recommendations Please

[RikRaeder]

Hoping to get to Fiji at the end of this September for five days in the water. We've never been, but heard that it's pretty nice.
For those of you who've been there, what island do you recommend? This trip is mainly for my girl, and she's into coral, fishies, and visibility. We don't want to hop around and would prefer to stay in one place. Also, we are NOT interested in sitting on the bottom watching a guide feed sharks. Shark encounters are way so cool, but sitting around is not, in our book. We don't mind seeing sharks, but would prefer to be a bit more mobile during our dives.
Also, I've heard that water temperatures will be around 22-24C at that time, should I pack a 3mm or a 5mm (definitely 5mm if it's that cool).
If anyone has had good or bad experiences recently with hotels or dive ops, I'd also appreciate hearing about that as well as post-diving activities or don't miss Fijian stuff. I saw the recent video of the sub-surface volcano that went off in Tonga. Any effect on Fiji conditions? I guess that covers it, so I'm looking forward to hearing from those who have been. Thanks.

[ParrotheadDiver]

there are a lot of islands anyone in particular are you interested in??

I have stayed most recently on the "big island" Viti Levu at Wananavu Beach Resort Accommodation Fiji it was a nice resort on the northside of the island....try to dive Bligh waters it is some of the best diving I have seen....all though....that trip most of my diving was done off of a liveaboard The Nai'a

I have also stayed on the island of Taveuni at Maravu Plantaion Maravu Plantation - Beach Resort & Spa - Taveuni - Fiji Islands

and Nakoro resort which is called Jean-Michel Cousteau Fiji Islands Resort

Taveuni is a beautiful island...I wish I could have spent more time there...

[gee]

I did a lot of diving on both the Fiji Aggressor and at the Matava Resort on the island of Kadavu. I wore a 5 mm and was very comfortable. Coral, fish and viz was incredible, so your girl will be in paradise!

[azdiver]

I have been there twice so far... the main island and Taveuni and never wore anything warmer than a 1.5 mil. First time was in March and the other time was in June/July.

Aquatrek is a great operation to use... while they do offer a shark feed (optional).. the other dives they do in the lagoon are well done. Also, in between dives they usually go to a little island that's great for shelling and playing in shallow water.