Divers transform lives - Fiji Times

PADI instructors, dive centres and resorts help transform lives through education, experience, equipment and environmental conservation.

In Fiji, there are 60 PADI certified dive shops and about 270 PADI affiliated dive masters and instructors.

And to assist the business of diving in Fiji, PADI Asia Pacific has supported the Fiji Dive Committee through sponsorship of the Fiji Dive Expo over the past nine years.

Ian Cumming, the regional manager for PADI in the South Pacific, was at the Warwick Resort and Spa event to share information of the various support and services provided by PADI.

He said he saw great value in having close links with their Fijian counterparts as it ensured members were kept up to date.

"We are also able to provide support to the PADI professionals in Fiji that assists them with recreational diver training for visitors who come to Fiji to enjoy the tropical waters of this beautiful country," Mr Cumming said.

He said the forum was important as almost all dive operators attending the expo were PADI resort and retail association members.

Also present was PADI marketing executive Sheridan Hatcher.

He focussed on assisting members with their own marketing and social media efforts including Facebook, YouTube, Blogs, Twitter, social media advertising and graphic design assistance.

Divers transform lives - Fiji Times Online

Margaret Wise
Saturday, February 22, 2014

Professional dive buyers explore Vatu-i-ra passage - Fiji Times Online

FOR the first time, the Dive Fiji EXPO focused on the Central Division and dive live aboards.

This allowed 13 visiting professional dive buyers to spend an entire week exploring the Vatu-i-ra passage and waters surrounding the Lomaiviti Group.

Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association dive committee chairman Stuart Gow said Bligh Waters was highlighted along with islands in the East, the excursion co-ordinated by Tourism Fiji, Alexxis Edwards of Nai'a Cruises and Nick Darling from Volivoli Beach Resort & Spa.

Mr Darling also represents the West in the FHTA Dive Committee. "The week culminates in the expo, an event that creates the opportunity for the entire Fiji Dive Tourism industry to showcase itself to all the invited international buyers," said Mr Wong.

This year the expo was on Thursday and Friday at the Warwick Fiji Resort & Spa in the Coral Coast.

The Fiji Siren, operating out of Volivoli Resort in Rakiraki, enjoys high end dive clientele from around the world. Picture: Supplied

"There are 20 Fiji dive operations and resorts showing, with a total of 45 attendees. They are from all over Fiji, from Taveuni, Savusavu, Kadavu, Beqa, Coral Coast, Nadi and Mamanucas. The cruise ships and dive live aboards — Fiji Siren and Nai'a — also participated.

"Once more the FHTA Dive Fiji EXPO is supporting emerging markets highlighted by Tourism Fiji, and this year we have attendees from both Mainland China and Taiwan."

The annual event is sponsored by marine conservationist Coral Reef Alliance, PADI, the largest dive teaching agency in the world, AirTec NZ, a suppliers of dive compressors from New Zealand and Splash Watersports, a water sports equipment supplier from New Zealand.

Professional dive buyers explore Vatu-i-ra passage - Fiji Times Online

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

Dive Fiesta geared up for this week

The pristine Vatu-i-Ra passage will play a central role in showcasing the best of Fiji’s diving industry at the Tourism Fiji Dive Fiesta this week.

The Fiesta ends on Friday with the 12th Fiji Hotels and Tourism (FHTA) Dive Fiji Expo at the Warwick Fiji Resort and Spa.

This will provide an essential platform for international industry media and wholesalers to meet local sellers following site inspections.

Stuart Gow, chairman of the FHTA Dive Committee said: “for the first time, we have focused an entire week on the Central Division and the dive liveaboard

“The buyers are heading for the first time to the Vatu-i-Ra Passage and Lomaiviti.”

This site visit will highlight the Bligh Waters and the islands in the East and is co-ordinated by Tourism Fiji alongside committee members from Nai’a Cruises and Volivoli Beach Resort and Spa.

Twenty local operations and resorts are participating at Friday’s expo, which is expecting close to 50 attendees.

“These are from all over Fiji from Taveuni, Savusavu, Kadavu, Beqa, Coral Coast, Nadi and Mamanucas. The cruise ships and dive liveaboards are also showing,” Mr Gow said.

‘’We have 13 international professional dive travel agents and travel wholesalers who specialise in the diving niche travel sector from all over Fiji’s source markets.”

The expo is also supporting emerging markets and will be attended by agents from mainland China and Taiwan.

Dive Fiesta geared up for this week | Fijisun.com.fj