The reefs of the world’s tropical islands are loaded with colorful creatures and exotic sights, but don’t miss out on colorful local customs happening topside. Here are five of our favorite experiences from dive spots around the world.

The Ultimate All-Nighter at the Trini Carnival
Carnival is celebrated almost everywhere in the Caribbean, from the Virgin Islands to Belize, but regional festivals happen at different times of the year, and each island celebrates in its own way. Trinidad’s Carnival is largest in the Caribbean, the gold -standard by which others are measured. If two full days of calypso, costumes and revelry sound like your bag, then this is one party you can’t miss.

Temazcal on the Riviera Maya
On the Riviera Maya, many resorts and spas are keeping alive the ancient temazcal tradition. Aztecs and Maya used domed sweat-lodge-style steam huts as a form of meditation and healing. You too can experience the ritual steam bath, scented with indigenous herbs, as the perfect way to wind down from a week’s dive vacation — just be warned: It’s hot in there.

Baining Fire Dance in Rabaul, PNG
The waters of Rabaul Harbor, on the east end of Papua New Guinea’s New Britain Island, are littered with World War II-era shipwrecks, but travel inland to the Baining Mountains for a far more ancient historic experience. The Baining Fire Dance is a coming-of-age ritual for men of this secluded tribe, wherein they don eerie, painstakingly crafted masks while dancing around — and upon — a blazing fire, occasionally kicking showers of red coals among the onlookers.

Kava in Fiji
An integral part of any village visit in Fiji is the communal kava ceremony. The mildly narcotic root is ground and steeped into a tea before coconut-husk bowls are passed around the circle. You might be asked if you prefer high tide (full cup) or low tide (half cup). When a bowl is proffered, first clap and yell “bula” before draining it in one gulp, then clap three times when you’re done.

Cremation Ceremonies of Bali
In contention as the most elaborate and exuberant displays of any dive island are the joyous cremation ceremonies of Bali. Open to all visitors, these ceremonies are actually celebrations of life, in which endless food, music and offerings circulate as the deceased is placed into a ceremonial bull and set alight on a blazing pyre amid the crowd.

Looking for more topside diversions? Check out these other guides to a Divers Day Off:

Divers Day Off: Riviera Maya
Divers Day Off: Bonaire
Divers Day Off: Greenland