Scuba

  • Aquatic Adventures has a trip to Fiji (March 13-22; $3,195, includes airfare from Los Angeles). Classes start at $295. 7700-B Richmond Hwy., Alexandria, 703-619-1500, http://www.learn2dive.net.

  • Adventure Scuba Co. has open spots for a trip to Cozumel, Mexico (April 12-19; $999 plus airfare). Classes start at $375. 13901 Metrotech Dr., Chantilly, 703-263-0427, http://www.scubava.com.

  • SPE Dive School heads to Grand Cayman Island nearly every month (upcoming departures include Feb. 8 and March 7; $410 plus airfare). Classes start at $295. 4600 N. Park Ave., Suite 111, Chevy Chase, 301-657-2266, http://www.scubaedu.com.

    For more dive schools, visit http://www.midatlanticscuba.org.

    Water Parks for the Winter

    Admit it. Your family’s annual trek to the water park at Six Flags America in Prince George’s County is one of your favorite events of the summer. So why not go zipping down some water slides in the winter, too?

    Great Wolf Lodge in Williamsburg has a 70,000-square-foot water park with nine slides and a 200,000-gallon wave pool, and the water is 84 degrees year-round. Closer to home, a host of indoor pools also boast spectacular slides.

    And if cavorting in a wave pool with 8-year-olds isn’t your thing but an overnight at a cozy lodge is, book one of the four suites with an in-room whirlpool and order room service (bathing suit optional).

    Great Wolf Lodge allows only its guests to visit the water park. 549 E. Rochambeau Dr., Williamsburg, 757-229-9700, http://www.greatwolf.com.

    Chantilly’s Cub Run RECenter has a stunning 205-foot-long tube that exits and reenters the building before gently emptying into a trough. Fairfax County residents: $6.50, ages 5-24 $5.25. Nonresidents: $8.70. 4630 Stonecroft Blvd., Chantilly, 703-817-9407, http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/rec/wcrec.htm.

    Germantown Indoor Swim Center has a nearly 200-foot-long slide that is suspended from the ceiling, twisting and turning more often than a public slide has a right to before emptying into a splash pool. Montgomery County residents: $6, ages 1-17 $4. Nonresidents: $7.50, ages 1-17 $6.50. 18000 Central Park Cir., Boyds, 240-777-6830, http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/rec (choose "Aquatics" from the pull-down menu).