Sunday 23 February 2014

Diving in Fiji a 'drawcard' - Fiji Times

A South African tourist with about 40 years of dive experience declared he would never retire exploring the underworld the first time he ventured out on the Fiji Siren.



Catering to high end dive clientele from around the world, the 40metre luxury live aboard vessel is the Volivoli Beach Resort owners' newest business in Fiji.



This year Fiji Siren took part in the FIJI Dive Fiesta — and along with Volivoli Beach Resort — was a host to 12 hand-picked international agents who sell dive travel.



Resort managing director Nick Darling said the agents were in Fiji for a familiarisation trip to showcase what Fiji had to offer.



He said he hoped to receive an influx of reservations as "these agents have fallen in love with our wonderful country and what we can offer".



"Diving in Fiji is a major drawcard and contributes significantly to our country's tourism income," Mr Darling said.



"Our decision to make such a substantial investment into a live aboard vessel in Fiji is due to our belief in the diving Fiji has to offer and the potential for growth in this sector.



"We are overwhelmed with immediate success and occupancy."



He said Fiji Siren's main source markets were Europe, US and Australia.



"We offer seven and 10-day trip itineraries as a combo deal with Volivoli Beach Resort, venturing as far south as Gau to visit sites like Nigali passage and as far north as Taveuni to visit The Great White wall and Fish Factory.



"On both our itineraries we spend time diving in the Namena Marine reserve where we frequently view great hammerhead sharks, scalloped hammerheads, grey reef sharks, pigmy sea horses. We also visit Vatu-i-ra.



"Both Vatu-i-ra and Namena offer amazing colourful soft and hard corals teaming with pelagic life and reef fish species alike."



Diving in Fiji a 'drawcard' - Fiji Times Online



Margaret Wise

Saturday, February 22, 2014

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