New NAI'A Family?

Twenty-five years ago we launched NAI’A in Fiji and she quickly became one of the most well-respected liveaboard dive boats ever. We had a magnificent time exploring Fiji and beyond and we got to know thousands of keen divers, many of whom have become good friends. We raised our family in a beautiful, stimulating and safe environment. But now the NAI’A family is ready for new challenges.

Cat’s and my girls are just beginning their teenage odyssey while Todd and Alexx’s kids are well and truly launched and building their own lives in Fiji. After such a glorious run with NAI’A, it pains us to offer her for sale, but we realize that she, her crew and her many return passengers would all benefit from the energy and vision of a new NAI’A family. If you or your adult children or friends are considering a sea change, this is an opportunity to step into an exciting and profitable turn-key business in a gorgeous, peaceful nation in the South Pacific.

We rebuilt the ship in Suva in 1992 and again in 2010 and have operated her in Fiji ever since. A strong Dutch-built steel ship, NAI’A has proven herself as Fiji’s ultimate liveaboard experience but her success is even broader. She’s already voyaged to the Kingdom of Tonga for 21 extremely popular humpback whale swim seasons. She did the first exploratory expeditions to the Phoenix Islands and has been back several times to support the World Heritage Marine Protected Area we kick-started there. We have also dived Vanuatu and New Caledonia on our extended adventure itineraries.

NAI’A is well respected in the liveaboard scuba diving niche. The company is profitable and always has been despite the many obstacles the world has thrown out. We have forward bookings for Fiji into 2020 and our whale swim charters in Tonga are full through 2021. NAI’A is at the top of her game. If you are intrigued by the possibilities, please contact me for more information.

Best fishes,

Rob Barrel, founder   
Todd and Alexx Edwards, co-founders  
NAI’A Fiji
rob@naia.com.fj 

Top Ten Scuba Destinations

#2 Scuba Dive Fiji Islands, South Pacific

Fiji offers an incredible scuba diving experience. It is the "Soft Coral Capital of the World", the home of the "Great White Wall", the "Yellow Tunnel" and other famous underwater marvels, scuba diving conditions and visibility are unrivalled year-round.

Because of its clear water and dazzling coral Fiji is a favorite hangout for professional underwater photographers.

Top Ten Scuba Destinations

DDNet Trip Report: Garden Isle Resort

DDNet Trip Report

Where: Taveuni Fiji When: 05/02/2004 - 05/16/2004 By: Tortuga

Type: Land based Accomodations: Garden Isle Resort Dive operator: Aqua Trek / Swiss Fiji Divers Overall photography friendliness: Excellent Camera tables/prep area: Not applicable Camera rinse tanks: Average Charging facilities: Not applicable Voltage: 220-240 AC

So many new things. I’d never been below the equator. Never crossed the dateline. Never seen soft coral in such abundance. The 2004 Digital Shootout was held on the island of Taveuni in Fiji. This was a chance for me to do these things, meet a couple of DNNers and hopefully learn something about using my camera. Success!

We stayed at the Garden Isle Resort on Taveuni, which was fantastic. The people that worked there knew every one of our names by the second day and would great us with a “Bula!” and a bright smile every day. They had never had a group of this size visit before. There were 50 attendees and maybe 10 staff. A few too many for the resort to handle evidently since one guy had to stay at a resort up the road and they had to borrow 2 boats and crew from Swiss Fiji Divers to handle the diving. But they did it well and with smiles on their faces.

Rand and I were there almost a week early so we were able to experience the resort and dive sites with and without the Shootout crowd. Both were exceptional.

When we arrived there was a full moon, so we experienced the currents at their strongest. Good news for the spectacular soft coral exhibitions – they open to feed during the strong currents - but difficult for photography. As our 2 weeks sped by, the currents lessened until it was relatively non-existent by the last days.

The entire reef we were diving was called Rainbow Reef. Individual dive sites on the reef had names like Great White Wall, Yellow Tunnel, Blue Ribbon Eel Reef, and Jack’s Place. The Great White wall was the most famous and with good reason. Right off the boat, you drop to about 40fsw, and enter a tunnel that lets you out at about 75-80fsw. Here you are on a wall that is totally covered in white soft coral. When the current is strong here, it’s all you can do to just drift and marvel until it takes you around to another tunnel that will return you to the boat. When the current is weak, the top of the reef near the boat is a fun place to explore the hard and soft corals and plenty of little macro critters.

I alternated between shooting still and video on the dives. I tried to access the conditions of the dive and take the video when I thought the currents were strong. I wasn’t real successful at that.

It didn’t take long for the DMs to realize 3 things: We were all pretty good divers, we moved slowly, and we all were basically solo and just wanted them to be spotters. They were very accommodating. The briefing quickly became a sketch of the reef and the direction of the currents and maximum depths. We pretty much dove where we wanted and came up when we were done. Most of the time, we would stay in areas protected from the current and then do a safety stop at full current – 2001 space odyssey style. It was a little disconcerting at first to be tumbling alone in space in the open sea for 3 minutes or so but as I got used to it, it was fun. Once you came to the surface, the current was gone, and the boat would travel around picking up the divers scattered all over the ocean. There were never any swells, so it was easy enough to see the divers.

Another fun thing was going to a beach for our surface intervals. We could walk the beach, play with splits, snorkel, or eat cookies, papaya, and oranges. We usually did a little of each.

My only regret was that I didn’t bring a good laptop. Had I thought more seriously about the contest, I may have invested in one but as it was, I only had an old beater that had no screen resolution to speak of so I couldn’t even see my pix well enough to tell the good from the feeble. We were allowed to enter 12 and I only entered 5. Of those, there were three that embarrassed me when I got home and saw them on a real computer. But what do I know. One of those won an honorable mention. Go figure.

Here at home, when I load my kayak on the beach, I often have people see my camera system and ask if I am a professional photographer. On the boat at the Shootout, when the DM asked which camera was mine, I would have to mumble meekly, “It’s the little one in the corner.” Everything is relative. At first, I was asking everyone about their fancy dSLR rigs and contemplating a new purchase. Then, after a few days of seeing and hearing about the equipment problems they were having with those complicated buggers, I felt a little better about my 4 year old, simple Ikelite system with the ancient compact G2 inside. When I took a 2^nd place with it, I was feeling a lot better. Not that I don’t still want a dSLR, I just feel better about waiting for them to get the bugs out and bring the price down.

Bottom line: Great time. Learned a lot. Wonderful locals. Helpful Shootout staff. Interesting group of photographers. As soon as I can afford it, I’ll do it again!

Welcome to DigitalDiver.net!

ScubaRadio-The worlds first radio show devoted to diving with Greg The Divemaster. Powered by NavQuest.Com.

ScubaRadio is radio talk show with a diving theme. Pictures are painted of the underwater world as listeners and guests share their diving adventures.  

Every diver has a story about the perfect dive, destination, or encounter with some amazing sea creature. ScubaRadio provides the forum. It's like hanging out at a Tiki hut and sharing fish tales with friends. 

The presentation is light hearted and entertaining as to not alienate non-divers from joining our little on-air dive club. Listeners have compared hearing ScubaRadio to watching "Shark Week" on the Discovery Channel. It's compelling entertainment whether you're a diver or not. 

What do we talk about?
ScubaRadio covers all aspects of diving, including the best dive sites, dive gear, live-aboards, shark diving, and much more.

Each week you'll hear interesting people known throughout the dive industry, such as Jean-Michel Cousteau or Captain Slate, a Key Largo-based character who has a knack for feeding fish with his face!

We lean on a wealth of information provided by guests, sponsors, and callers to entertain and inform ScubaRadio listeners. Plus we give away more stuff than just about any other show on the radio...from CD-ROMs and dive gear to free scuba lessons and exotic dive vacations!

How did we come up with the idea?
While programming a sportsradio station in Orlando, Diver Dick and Greg The Divemaster had a conversation about one of the perks of their managerial positions....free golf! Unfortunately, Greg doesn't golf and said, "wouldn't it be nice if we could dive free instead?" Dick looked to Greg and said, "let's do a dive show!" So ScubaRadio was literally started as an excuse for Greg and Dick to go diving on company time. 

Shortly thereafter, the DEMA (Diving Equipment and Marketing Association) trade show took place in Orlando. They attended the event and discussed their idea with exhibitors. The response was extremely positive. Many felt this would be a unique new way to promote the sport and encourage current divers to stay active. After realizing that ScubaRadio could do more than just get them a few free dives, Greg and Dick adopted this noble concept as their mission statement. They also discovered that no one had ever attempted a radio show of this type before. Hence, ScubaRadio...the world's first radio show devoted to diving, was born.

How long has ScubaRadio been around?
ScubaRadio began airing on the last Saturday in March of 1997. (the anniversary is celebrated every April Fools day) Dick and Greg had over 30 years of radio experience at the time and knew they had the skills to pull it off. However, they really didn't know how listeners would respond. The answer came quickly as the positive reviews poured in from all over Central Florida. They had definitely tapped into something special and ScubaRadio was taking on a life of its own.

Within a couple weeks, Skin Diver magazine, DAN, and PADI signed on as official sponsors of ScubaRadio. Their passion for diving (and hope of getting a few free dives) had transformed an hour on Saturday mornings into the one of the most profitable hours on the entire radio station.

To say Greg and Dick were pleasantly surprised would be an understatement. They were 30 days into a new radio show and sold out on advertising! No free dives yet, but they were making contact with some truly unique characters within the dive industry, the same people Dick and Greg had read about in the dive magazines for years.

While ScubaRadio's first focus was fun, Greg and Dick felt a responsibility to make the show a successful promotional vehicle for the dive industry as well. Besides, what could be more fulfilling than turning people on to this wonderful activity.

After a few months, they began approaching their radio station management about doing broadcasts from a various diving events/destinations. Unfortunately, the management wasn't very enthusiastic about giving them the flexibility to accomplish these goals.

After a year and a half, changes were made at the radio station that left Greg the option to produce ScubaRadio full time or be re-assigned within the company. He decided to take ownership of the show and quickly began syndicating ScubaRadio to other stations throughout Florida. In about a year, 8 Florida radio stations were airing ScubaRadio. Radio networks were beginning to take notice and shortly thereafter, ScubaRadio was added to a weekend line-up of lifestyle programming available on the Business Talk Radio network. This meant clearance on about 25 radio stations throughout the country!

Things had been going very well and then lighting struck in February of 2000 when Diver Dick was diagnosed with a rare form of stomach Cancer. He passed away on October 9th, 2000. Obviously, this was a major blow to the show and the future of ScubaRadio was uncertain. However, Greg persevered knowing the friend he had lost wanted ScubaRadio to continue. Greg credits the amazing support he received from listeners for getting through a very difficult time and making ScubaRadio the success it has become today.

Where are we now?
Listeners can hear ScubaRadio via radio, satellite, and the Internet.

Approximately 50 news/sports talk radio stations currently air ScubaRadio throughout the US. This translates to an estimated reach of 500,000 radio listeners per week.

ScubaRadio can also be heard on the Sirius Satellite Radio Network (Channel #122)...this provides quality sound to over 7 million subscribers nationwide. The Sirius signal extends over 200 miles off shore as well making it an ideal listening option for boaters/island destinations.

In addition to the radio and satellite broadcast, we also cybercast worldwide over the Internet at www.ScubaRadio.com. You can listen live or to archives of past ScubaRadio shows. ScubaRadio.com is evolving into one of the largest on-line communities for divers on the web.

While reaching a over a million listeners per week may sound impressive, it's truly just the beginning. ScubaRadio is still in the infancy stage of it's growth process and the future looks very bright.

ScubaRadio-The worlds first radio show devoted to diving with Greg The Divemaster. Powered by NavQuest.Com.

DDNet Trip Report: Jean Michel Cousteau Resort

DDNet Trip Report

Where: Pacific Fiji When: 07/07/2007 - 07/15/2007 By: otarala

Type: Land based Accomodations: Jean Michel Cousteau Resort Dive operator: L'Aventure Dive Shop Overall photography friendliness: Good Camera tables/prep area: Not applicable Camera rinse tanks: Good Charging facilities: Good Voltage: 220-240 AC

(with thanks to Gilligan whose trip report Ive nicked as a template)

Arrival Point
Nadi, Fiji. Stayed overnight, then took small plane connecting flight in morning to Savusavu on Venua Levu, where a van from the resort picked us up and took us straight to the resort. We flew with Air Pacific with the flights arranged via travel agent. Air Pacific has recently taken over the domstic airline ‘Sun Air’. This means your weight allowance is identical for both the international flight and internal, previously the domestic flight was limited to a 15kg baggage allowance, maiing for surprised upon arrival. So weight limit for all flights was arranged as 20kg+5kg hand luggage. I was able to take my camera, housing and laptop on in my Lowepro bag as hand luggage for the international flight, but had to check it for the small plane flight, where we each got weighed individually.


Hotel
Jean Michele Cousteau offers packages that include room and meals, which we did. Diving is purchased separately at their in-house dive shop ‘L’Aventure’ – it seems to be a separate operation but operates from inside the resort, its 30 feet from the restaurant/pool area. All ‘rooms’ are standalone bures. Rooms have fans, mosquito nets on request, mini fridge and hot water, and were quite beautiful in my view. The child care options are outstanding (ie nannies and club) and the child care staff were excellent. The area has separate pools for toddlers and older children, and a separate pool that’s ‘adults only’ in front of the main eating/socialising area.

The food there is outstanding, particularly for Fiji, where it can often be pretty uninspiring in my experience. Service in general was great, people very friendly.

Diving

Normally they do two dives per day at approximately 8:30 and 10:30am, but are very flexible, I did a few afternoon dives. Night dives are based on request and are just counted as a single dive– I did one as the only participant, would have done another but ran out of time. Business was pretty quiet, it might be a bit more structured at other times of the year, but manpower availability seemed to be the only limit on what was possible. A significant number of dives had me as the only participant, for no extra cost, including two shore dives where I puddled around the snorkelling area at ~5m for a few hours.

Diving can be done as a prearranged package, but they were happy to combine dives into the cheapest package after the amount of dives were totalled up rather than deciding beforehand. They separately charged me $10 a dive for the two shore dives I did, but I might have got lucky there. I am not sure the listed charges on the hotel site are current, I was charged in Fiji dollars rather than US making comparison difficult, but this worked well for me personally as the Australian dollar skyrocketed in the week I was at the resort. It seemed pretty close in practise but Im not sure it would have been without the dollar change.

A rinse/soak tub was provided for me on the boats for my camera. There were also rinse tubs at the shop, but I generally just used the tub in the boat. The dive guides, boat operators, hotel staff and tank/gear crew were all very attentive and efficient. Photographers arent their main trade, but they made me feel extremely welcome, rather than a pain. Their marine biologist 'Johnny' in particular tried very hard to find me interesting subjects, and does photography himself.

All your gear is locked up overnight. Most of the rental gear seemed fine, but the regs looked a bit long in the tooth, and I didn’t like the look of the first stage metal wool, it was awfully green. My own reg had problems (first stage pressure too high, making it slowly freeflow out of occy and primary), and the staff tweaked it free of charge, but weren’t able to completely fix it – they had parts for common makes (Scubapro etc), but not mine. Serves me right for having something a bit unusual (Cressi).

The limit on dive time was generally what people lasted to, I was allowed to noodle around at 5 m several times, once for about 90 minutes – the only limit was if too many other finished divers were waiting above. Nitrox was available but I didn’t use it, so don’t know the price.


Dive Sites

Approximately twenty dive sites are within fifteen minutes or less of the resort, and very easy dives as they were well sheltered by the island/bay, the only site I dived twice was the one I did as a night dive as well. There was little or no pelagic life at most of these sites, although a couple of Manta rays were seen on some of the wall dives, invariably while I was somewhere else, and one very fast turtle. All of these dives were done from a smaller boat, with a basic cover. Most of these dives were fairly vanilla Fiji, most coral OK, with some beautiful soft coral, although some looking pretty bleached/battered. Given we were pretty close to Savusavu, and a lot of fishing goes on, I wasn’t too surprised.

Trips to Namena Island are arranged once or twice a week depending on numbers, there is a one off marine park fee of $25 that is valid for 12 months. The trip takes approximately 60 minutes one way by their large boat ‘L’Aventure, and two dives are done while at the island. There are both wall dives and bommie dives at the site. There is one wall dive in particular that I found fairly spectacular, where you follow the wall with a 300m dropoff until it opens into a large amphitheatre area. At this site, I saw a large Groper, Barracuda schools, Grey reef sharks, batfish, trevally schools, an Oceanic white tip was seen while I was taking a picture of the groper (grr!), the biggest coral trout Ive ever seen (as in I thought it was another groper at first), and abundant other fish life.

The island was only made a marine park 6 years ago. One of the people diving it was someone who used to work as a dive guide in the area 8 years ago, he says the amount of recovery since then has been immense, so presumably it will be even better in future years.

While visibility is fairly high, there was a fairly high amount of large white particles in the water at times, making wide angle photography a bit tricky at times. It was also quite cloudy in the sky during most days we were there, which given this is ‘winter’ isn’t too surprising.

Sightseeing

You can go into Savusavu, but theres not much to do. There are also waterfalls, river kayaking, village visits and a variety of other activities available, arranged via the hotel. Many of them felt pretty expensive for what they offered, and my focus was on the diving, so there were probably other options I never found about.


Miscellaneous:

Marine Life
Overall marine life was very similar to what I saw in the Mamanuca’s. Coral close to the resort was pretty variable, with more damage and bleaching obvious, given we were so close to the mainland and town, hardly surprising. There is a pier to snorkel off that I got to do shore dives off as well. I found some of my favourite pictures there, thanks to having lots of time to noodle around.

Baggage Limits
If you’re not travelling with Air Pacific, you might want to check your baggage limits for any domestic travel. I'm not sure what they do if you’re not doing the entire trip with them – they’ve only recently acquired the domestic airline so things might be a bit up in the air.

Electricity
Fiji is on the 240-volt system.


Overall had a great time, but it was ultimately a 5 star resort with a dive shop in it, not a ‘dive resort’ in my view. Great for going to with family who aren’t divers, but there are other more dive dedicated resorts in Fiji, ie Tavanui etc. Given its that though, it was great in my view, if pricy.



Welcome to DigitalDiver.net!

Wananavu Beach Resort, Fiji - For the Well Pampered Diver

Wananavu Beach Resort, Fiji - For the Well Pampered Diver

Location: Fiji
Date: 5/27/2008 1:23:00 PM

If you are looking for a destination that combines plush accommodations and world class diving, Wananavu is a great choice.

My wife and I recently returned from a one-week stay at Wananavu Beach Resort on the island of Viti Levu, Fiji. We are 40-something divers on an ongoing search for the perfect balance between plush accommodations and world class diving. (As you pampered divers know, you often must sacrifice one for the other.) Young Island Resort on the Caribbean island of St. Vincent previously held the top spot on our list. It now ranks second behind Wananavu.

This was our first trip to the South Pacific. We chose Fiji because of its reputation for great diving, and because of the relatively easy access from the States (10-hour non-stop flight on Air Pacific from LAX to the Nadi airport). We chose Wanavu because of the price (package price lower than comparable properties), its location on the main island (no need for an additional inter-island flight), and its access to diving on the "outer passage" in the Bligh Waters (otherwise accessible only by liveaboard).

The resort was wonderful. This is an authentic island resort, with true island character; not a place that was merely built to look like an island resort. Our beachfront bure was not extravagant. However, it was more than comfortable. I typically would not pay extra for a beachfront unit (it was included as part of our package). In this case, however, I believe the spectacular ocean views and serene setting justify the extra cost. The resort is built on the side of a relatively steep hill, with the beach and marina at the bottom and the front desk/bar/dining room at the top. The grounds are well maintained and beautiful, with a wide variety of flowering tropical plants and palm trees. The beach is not extensive compared to some "beach" resorts. However, there are plenty of lounge chairs and hammocks, both in and out of the sun. You will have no trouble getting your "tropical paradise" fix during your visit. Our package included all meals. Drinks were extra, though quite affordable (about $1.50 US a soda and $3.00 US a beer). The food was very good, if not spectacular. I would give it a 7 on a scale of 1 to 10 (1=White Castle, 10=Le Cirque). The staff was wonderful. We noticed a little bit of the "island time" phenomenon, but not as much as at other destinations. I highly recommend taking a village tour. Also be sure to drink lots of kava.

The diving made the trip. We dove five days with Kai Viti Divers, the operator based at Wananavu. We dove one day with Ra Divers, the operator at a nearby backpacker resort. We enjoyed both operators. However, we preferred Kai Viti. The staff was extremely attentive and really knew their stuff. They have larger, better equipped boats. This made the 60+-minutes-each-way trip to the outer passage quite bearable. They also seemed to cater to a more experienced group of divers. (On the other hand, Ra seemed to cater to a much more colorful and rowdy crowd. If you prefer to spend your surface intervals dancing and sunbathing with 20-something Aussie backpackers, go with Ra.)

The diving was spectacular. The sites we visited were grouped in two areas. One was approximately 30 minutes from the resort. The other, the outer passage sites, was more than 60 minutes from the resort. Kai Viti makes the trip to the outer passage when the divers request it, and when the weather permits. The outer passage trips are 3-tank trips. The outer passage sites were wonderful. That being said, the sites closer in are also spectacular (so much so that on our last day the divers on the boat agreed that it was not necessary to make the longer trip to the outer passage).

Kai Viti and Ra appear to be the only operators in the area. As such, none of the sites appear to get an overwhelming amount of use. There was enough small stuff to overwhelm a couple of dedicated critter divers like my wife and me (e.g., 5 to 10 different varieties of nudibranches each dive). There was also plenty of interesting big stuff. The diving was primarily wall and pinnacle diving, with breathtaking canyons of soft coral and plenty of nooks and crevices to explore. I only had two things on my official "wish to see" list for the trip: lionfish and ornate ghost pipefish. We saw both by the third day. I can't say enough good things about Kai Viti and the diving.

As noted, this was our first trip to the South Pacific, after a 10+ years of diving throughout the Caribbean. We loved it. It was well worth the extra expense and travel time. If you are thinking about Fiji, do it! If you are considering Wananavu, you will love it!

SDcubaDiving Magazine Trip Report: Wananavu Beach Resort, Fiji - For the Well Pampered Diver

Scuba Diving Trip Report : Fiji and the Bula Bowls

Fiji and the Bula Bowls

Author: Richard Salkin
Location: Fiji
Date: 5/27/2008 1:23:00 PM

Some concepts just elude me. Like the International Date Line. Sure, I can grasp its significance at some levels but still cant quite wrap my brain around it completely. If you look at a map, one thing is clear: the people who decided where the IDL should go wanted to give the island nation of Fiji a break. If not for a deliberate shift to the east and back again, parts of Fiji would be in the future while other parts would be in the past. Which still just blows my circuitry.

On June 27, with this conundrum weighing on my mind, I boarded a 56-minute flight from Jacksonville to Atlanta, the first leg on a 20,000-mile journey to Fiji and back...

Our grand arrival at Makogai

Along the way there would be whole operas to listen to, whole books to read, whole bowls of kava to drink and underwater colors I hadn't seen since my psychedelic college days. On June 30, on the other side of the planet, with one day unaccounted for, after crossing both the IDL and the equator, I joined 8 of my bestest dive buddies plus a new guy who would quickly take his place among a pantheon of cool dive friends. We met up at the Tradewinds hotel just outside the capital city of Suva.

Our group: Angie and Chuck, Judy and Dave, Jamie and Robbie, Wendy and Mary, Mike (the new guy) ....and me, your humble narrator. When a mere ten people charter a liveaboard it feels a little more intimate than usual, the opposite of a cattleboat. Taking meals together in the salon felt like we were at the kids table and the imaginary adults were in the main dining room. Ten is a good number.

Our boat, the Fiji Aggressor III, (formerly Sere-Ni-Wai) was built for 10 divers and 5 crew and was docked next to the much larger FA2 (formerly Tahiti Aggressor), a lavishly appointed dual-hull that holds 18 and was idle that week. Our crew: Captain Ned, Captain/Instructor James, DM Mosese, Chef Deo and Engineer/Hottie Clinton. I'm not sure how many liveaboards I've done--between one and two dozen--and this particular crew ranks at the top. Excellent at what they do, attitude-free, beyond helpful and, let's face it, easy on the eyes.

After some refreshments at the Tradewinds, we boarded in mid-afternoon and off we steamed out of Suva, near the Southeast corner of Fijis biggest island, Viti Levu. Suva is protected by a reef so big it took us 90 minutes to get past it into open water. The crossing to Wakaya lasted about 6 hours in heavy seas that left us feeling a little tentative despite meds. Deos delicious roasted chicken dinner with baked pumpkin went largely unconsumed. By 10, we were in calm water and woke to sunshine in a place called Vatu Vai.

With only a few exceptions, the diving in Fiji is mostly of a single pattern. The water is not gin-clear, with viz averaging 40 to 60 feet, due to an abundance of nutrients which in turn make the sea life so prolific. Its a fair trade-off. Most sites are pinnacle coral Canadians call them bommies which are shaped like, well, like columns rising out of the sand. (Work with me, I'm trying to avoid gratuitous references that only a hack would use.) A few pinnacles were on or near a wall but most were in 70-90 fsw.

So generally you start at the bottom, work a slow leisurely spiral upward until you get to the top at about 20 fsw. And then something magical happens. At the top of each of these plateaus is a coral garden so vividly colorful, dancing in the sunlight with such exuberance, that you think you must be tripping. It's like you're diving inside a forgotten scene from Disney's Fantasia. It's like the moment in Wizard of Oz when it goes from b&w to color. The bommie tops are loaded with soft and hard corals, with anthias everywhere, expanding and contracting like a mechanical ball, and tiny orange and bright purple who-knows-whats scattering and schooling in every direction. Each site is a color tableau gone wild, pulsating to its own rhythm.

We saw all the tiny critters that make photographers go gaga and use their macro lenses. Did we mention nudibranchs? And countless varieties of microscopic crabs and ittybitty blennies? Not that you don't encounter all this life further down toward the base. You do. But up top where there's all that sunlight plus minimal light refraction it is hypnotic. Sometimes there would be one pinnacle with cool rubble off to the side, sometimes 2 or 3 in a single site.

At Wakaya we dove Vatu Vai and Blue Ribbon Eel before heading to Namena Marine Park for dives at Black Forest, Canses (Kansas), Chimneys, Keenans and Ned's Head. Then Makogai, home to Christines Place, Half Pipe, PNO and Rick's Rock. One of my favorites was Jim's Alley, off the island of Gao (pronounced now) and named for the late photographer Jim Church. This was really a miniature mountain range of 4 sharp mounds, one with a swim-through, in about 75 fsw.

Chuck and I were the only ones looking more for the big guys, and we weren't disappointed either. At one point I looked up to see Angie abandoning all pretense of self-control, pointing at a pair of mantas overhead. OMG. Other notable sightings during our week included a whole field of red anemone, plus banded sea snakes, blue ribbon eel, pygmy seahorse, napoleon wrasse, grey reef sharks and one ornery potato cod named Leroy. A potato cod is basically a jewfish, I learned.

Which brings us to the FA3's signature dive. Two signature dives in one, actually. The site is called North Save-a-Tack Passage, and for our group it was both a shark-feeding and a high-voltage current ride. The passage is a break in the outer wall of a huge bowl thats miles across. The bowl at one time was a volcanic mountain that collapsed in on itself over time, leaving the surrounding reef as an almost-levee. Since the reef rises to near the surface, it constricts the tidal flow without preventing it. Except in this one narrow passage, which is like a break in the levee. So with each tide the water flows either inward or outward through the passage with some degree of force. To dive it, timing is everything. Ned, Mo and James did this dive with us. Each had a plastic container with a huge fish head in it.

First we backrolled off a panga and made negative entries into the stiff current. Someones tank hit me in the head. Great. I'm on a shark feed and there's probably a gash in my head. But no worries, it was fine. We dropped down and aimed for a pre-established area in the side of the channel. Then we settled into the sand behind a large rock at about 65 fsw and waited for Ned, Mo or James to tie his fish head to the rock. The place was suddenly swarming with grey reef sharks, red vampire fish (now there's a charming thought) and the aforementioned Leroy. I think there was also a smaller unnamed potato cod cousin with him.

For most shark dives I've been on, the actual feeding lasted about 30 seconds, and then you could spend the rest of your dive admiring the animals. For this one, the feeding lasted an incredible 25 minutes. Camera shutters were a-clickin fast and furious as our bubbles blew sideways in the current. The guests feasted right in front of our noses, oblivious to us (and the current) but very mindful of the fish heads.

Finally we ran out of goodies, and at a sign from one of the DMs we rose up out of our crouched positions behind the rock and let the current grab us. As you glide through the channel, the bottom slopes gradually upward, increasing the current. It was definitely an E-ticket ride, especially when we found ourselves hanging onto a rock waiting for the dive leader to catch up. Even with my mask strap placed under my hood, I thought the mask was gonna blow off. Then Mo or James flew by and we followed. Definitely a thrill ride. Suddenly, the current just stopped, and when we surfaced we were drifting directly toward FA3 at a leisurely pace.

Even *I* had no trouble navigating my way back to the boat that time. Despite this success, I am sorry to report that my navigation skills have not improved much. Usually the boat would be anchored just off the edge of a pinnacle. But with viz at about 50 feet and the boat swinging on the down line, the ladder was usually just out of visual range. You could hear the engine and if you swam even close to the right direction, you would see the ladder before long. Big if. If current was involved, as it occasionally was, the chances of being blown off the reef and taking the ride o shame increased. If all those conditions were present and you were me, well, you can see where this is going. One time James pointed me toward the boat and then watched me unwittingly swim in a wide arc as if one of my fins was longer than the other. Actually I took only two rides o shame all week, but I prefer to call them rides of privilege.

I was, after all, a tribal chief. Say what? On Wednesday, the Fourth of July (at least on our side of the IDL), we visited a tribal village at Makogai. In a briefing the day before, we were told that our group was expected to elect its own tribal chief who would participate in the upcoming kava ceremony on the island. Despite trying to blend in with the wall, I was elected. Not emperor or queen, I was the chief. And the next day my subjects and I came bearing gifts: a bundle of kava, plus school supplies for the little school they run in the village. (Quick aside: we'd known for months that bringing school supplies was appreciated. I brought stickies and glitter pens.)

In the briefing, Ned asked us to observe a few rules. 1. Please wear a sulu. (Judy brought me a hot pink number she had lying around.) 2. No touching anyone on the head. Thats a major insult punishable by death. 3. And no making a nasty face when you drink the kava. (Another aside: Kava is a root that is aged, then mashed up and strained through a cloth to make a muddy-tasting liquid. Its active ingredient is a beta-blocker chemically related to blood pressure meds like Tenormin which makes your tongue a little numb. In sufficient quantities it gives you a buzz. I had strange dreams that night but cannot be sure they were from the kava.)

On the panga, dressed in my hot pink sulu and carrying the kava bundle like a torch, I tried to look like either the Statue of Liberty or Washington crossing the Delaware. No one thought this was funny. On the beach we were greeted with fragrant leis, coconut milk and singing and dancing. While our dinner was slow-cooked in an open-pit fire, we toured the village with Sophie, who runs the school. The village, which does limited aquaculture, is on the site of a former leper colony that closed in the late 1960s.

At sunset we gathered with the villagers in a community hall for the traditional kava ceremony with lots of ritual dancing by the villages two dozen kids. By doing these dances, the kids learn and pass down the collective history of Fiji and the village.

Every few minutes we would take a kava break. When handed the bowl, which is basically half a coconut shell, heres the ritual: 1. Clap your hands hollowly. 2. Shout Bula. 3. Drink the bowl dry. 4. Hand the bowl back. 5. Clap your hands again 3 times. After the first bowl, you can accept or decline more. If you want just a little, you ask for low tide. If you want a bigger portion, you ask for high tide, and if you want it full to the rim, you ask for a tsunami. I love being able to write this next sentence: I consumed several bowls that night.

The next night, after crossing to Gao, we were visited onboard by the chief of the village there, who brought his retinue and more kava with him. A few of us hung out on the back deck, doing bowls with the locals. One begins to notice certain parallels.

On Friday we did one more pinnacle dive at a site called Anthias and steamed back to Suva, where we spent the afternoon. While the countryside in Fiji is magnificent, Suva and Nadi, the two main cities, are not really very touristy. Still, the country serves as a playground for Australians and New Zealanders in the same way the Bahamas does for east-coast Americans. Fijis tourist-dependent economy is hurting after the latest in a series of political coups. As a result, salespeople in shops, more desperate than ever, are annoyingly pushy. Maybe if they did a few more bowls they might relax. Just before our trip, Fiji and New Zealand expelled each others ambassadors. Maybe they should do a few bowls, too, and settle their differences.

While the trip was one of the best I've ever done, I have to say FA3 could use an overhaul. The cabins were spacious but often lacked hot water. Some divers noticed a foul taste in their breathing gas nothing harmful but still unpleasant. The dive deck doubled as the dive platform, so it got a little crowded. Some things I especially liked: Tank fills were plentiful, averaging about 3000 psi, with mixtures reliably at about 31%. The cabins had individual climate controls. Food was good and fresh without attempting to be froufrou. Before your first dive you could pre-order a hot breakfast choice which would be waiting for you when you came back. This was after the toast, coffee, juice, cereal and fruit available before the first dive. The wines and beers were good.

The coffee onboard warrants a whole paragraph. It was simply outstanding and never ever ran out. Unlike the coffee machines built mostly for volume and convenience, FA3 uses a simple French press, and Deo managed to keep it filled 24/7. The franchisee also owns a coffee business, which probably accounts for the bricks of Fijian coffee waiting for each of us on our bunks. I haven't tasted mine yet but will be using my French press when I do.

The trip home took longer than the trip out because of scheduling problems with Air New Zealand. It took 37 hours from the time we left Suva to the time I walked in my front door. Thank goodness for my new monster iPod, those dumb-looking neck pillows and Halcyon. Still, it takes awhile to reset your internal clock after a trip like this. Maybe a few bowls would help.

Thanks and acknowledgements: First, to Angie for organizing the whole trip and keeping the dastardly airlines reservations people from running roughshod over us. Thats no easy feat. Some of their antics had us baffled and livid. Second, to the crew, who were a pleasure to dive with, hang with and have the hots for. Third to the gentle and genuine people of Fiji, who deserve a more stable government and a better economy. Last, to my cabin-mate, Mike, who despite being the last-minute addition, managed to endear himself to all of us immediately and effortlessly. I hope you'll be hearing a lot from him.

From
http://www.scubadiving.com/tr_artmarticle.aspx?p_PageAlias=Article&p_ArticleID=8561

FIJI - WHAT TO DO - Sportdiver.com

FIJI – WHAT TO DO

While vacationing in Fiji, there are numerous activities in which to participate during your surface intervals. With more than 300 islands to explore, you probably won't be staying in one spot for very long. Fiji prides itself on being as active a destination as possible with adventures available by land, air and sea. If you'd rather kick-back during your topside time, however, activities like guided tours through national parks, museums and villages, or lavish cruises along the islands are available.

For more information on what to do in Fiji visit sportdiver.com/fiji, bulafiji.com and fijivision.com.

Thrills
Trekking
Fiji offers a variety of natural wonders including volcanic mountains, rainforests and waterfalls; as well as a locally famous cave called Naihehe. There are also archaeological sites to visit as well as sugar cane and vegetable farms. The hiking in Fiji is fairly mild and low-impact.

Aerial Tours
The view of Fiji and her islands can only be appreciated fully when taken in from high above. There are many seaplane and helicopter options for touring the islands from a bird's-eye vantage point.

Sky Diving/ Parasailing
For the serious adrenaline junkies out there, Fiji's Nadi Airport offers the experience of a lifetime –jumping out of a plane at 10,000 feet above one of the world's most beautiful tropical locations. If you're not quite ready to take the plunge, try parasailing. Experience the thrill and sail high above this tropical paradise for up to 60 minutes, with options for a solo, tandem or even triple parasail.

Water Sports
Enjoy the warmth of the sun while staying cool on the water. In Fiji the options are endless with opportunities for surfing, kayaking, snorkeling, fishing and jet-skiing. For the adventurous, try a rollicking white-water raft trip down the Navua River's conservation area that passes through many traditional Fijian villages.

Culture
Meke
Enjoy the show as Fijian men and women perform traditional storytelling in song and dance. A good place to experience the cultural side of Fiji is the Arts Village located in Pacific Harbor.
Lovo
Indulge in this traditional Fijian feast known for offering food wrapped in banana leaves and slow cooked in an earth oven. A whole pig is usually the main attraction of this feast.
Firewalking
Watch as local Fijians and Indians participate in this fascinating traditional performance.

Cruises/Charters and Sailing
Feel the ocean breeze, watch the sunset or simply feel the soothing rock of the ocean beneath you. There are opportunities to do it all, including a relaxing cruise around the islands to take in the beauty of the crystal-blue waters of the Pacific.

FIJI - WHAT TO DO - Sportdiver.com

Industry Pros, Divers Invited to Sign Up for SCUBA STAR NET

Scuba divers have a new way to help one another and themselves: It’s called the

Scuba Safety, Tracking and Reporting Network.

The Scuba STAR Network is an independent organization with a twofold purpose: it’s dedicated to improving safety for divers; and it seeks to increase awareness of procedural and equipment issues within the diving community as a whole.


The Scuba STAR Network also works closely with Divers Alert Network to gather safety data and to bring safety concerns to the attention of the diving public. The Network publishes a regular safety column in DAN's Alert Diver magazine to assist in this effort.


The goals of the network are to:

• • promote dive safety through education;
• • collect data regarding diving incidents and safety issues;
• • provide safety-related reports for the diving community; and
• • support research in the field of scuba safety.

How does it work? It’s powered by the dive community itself. Through diver input, the network can provide needed safety information about specifics in scuba diving. 

For a taste, log on to http://www.scubastarnet.com/11822.html to check out the results of recent surveys. You’ll be surprised at some facts you read, and you’ll likely have some “aha” moments as well when you see your viewpoints strengthened on matters.


How can you participate? The primary means the network collects information is through an anonymous incident reporting system. Modeled after NASA’s Aviation Safety Report System for pilots, the network’s Diving Incident Reporting Form provides a mechanism through which divers can report incidents, near-misses, and other safety concerns. 


How can you find out more? When you log on to the home page at http://www.scubastarnet.com/ you find an easy-to-use directory for finding the reporting forms, viewing survey results, participating in the most current survey and reading about product recalls. The site is growing, so look for more features to arrive.

If you’d like more information, go to http://www.scubastarnet.com/878.html.


THIS JUST IN: The Scuba STAR Network’s first annual safety report is in production. Keep your sights here for more information on how to get your copy.

Scuba STAR Network

Scuba dive adventures to Fiji with Wet Cat Scuba

Fiji is one of the truly under-discovered gems of the Pacific. This archipelago of 300 islands has some of the most beautiful reefs, friendliest people and greatest values for travelers anywhere.

Foreign currencies remain advantageously exchanged for the Fijian dollar, versus the Euro exchange in Tahiti by comparison.

Our motto is "Why Hula when you can Bula!" with all-inclusive facilities allowing meals, water toys, and other activities literally included, you can save hundreds $$ by comparison to Hawaii resort stays! Enjoy the hospitality that has not yet seen the results of full commercial development.

Each island group has its own special allure and your destination specialist can help you choose that perfect spot for your dive vacation or tropical escape.

Scuba dive adventures to Fiji with Wet Cat Scuba

Top 100 Dives of the World

Top 100 Dives of the World
======================================================
Here are the top 100 dive sites as voted for by SCUBA Travel visitors. We asked for your top two dive sites and your comments on those that came close. We compiled the results by hand, with the runners-up coming into play where there was a tie for a position. For links to descriptions of the dives go to http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/topdiveslong.html
1. Yongala, Australia
2. Blue Corner Wall, Palau, Micronesia
3. Thistlegorm, Egyptian Red Sea
4. Barracuda Point, Sipadan Island
5. Shark and Yolanda Reef, Egyptian Red Sea
6. Navy Pier, Western Australia
7. Manta Ray Night Dive, Kailua Kona, Hawaii
8. Elphinstone Reef, Egyptian Red Sea
9. Great Blue Hole, Belize
10. Ras Mohammed, Egyptian Red Sea
11. Richelieu Rock, Thailand
12. Sha'ab Rumi South, Sudan
13. Liberty, Bali, Indonesia
14. Great White Wall, Tavieuni Fiji
15. Big Brother, Egyptian Red Sea
16. President Coolidge, Vanuatu
17. Sodwana bay, South Africa
18. Blue Hole, Dahab, Egyptian Red Sea
19. Poor Knights, New Zealand
20. Bloody bay wall, Little Cayman
21. Straits of Tiran, Egyptian Red Sea
22. Osprey Reef, Coral Sea, Australia
23. Manta reef, Mozambique
24. Tubbataha, Palawan, Philippines
25. Cod Hole, Northern Great Barrier Reef
26. Ulong Channel, Palau
27. Grand Central Station, Gizo, Solomon Islands
28. Darwin Island, Galapagos
29. Fish Rock, Off South West Rocks in NSW, Australia
30. Similans, Thailand
31. Wolf Island, Galapogos
32. Jackson Reef, Egypt
33. Puerto Galera, Philippines
34. Mnemba Island, Tanzania
35. Stingray City, Grand Cayman
36. Daedelus, Egyptian Red Sea
37. Protea Banks, South Africa
38. The Zenobia, Cyprus
39. Darwin Arch, Galapagos
40. Barra Reef, Mozambique
41. St Johns, Egypt
42. Blue Hole,Gozo, Malta
43. Cirkewwa, Malta
44. Pedras Secas, Noronha, Brazil
45. Holmes Reef, Coral Sea, Australia
46. Shark Alley, Grand Cayman
47. Half Moon Wall, Belize
48. Hin Muang, Thailand
49. Sipadan Drop Off
50. Dos Ojos (Los Cenotes), Playa del Carmen, Mexico
51. Peleliu Express, Palau
52. The Canyons, Utila, Honduras
53. Ghiannis D, Egypt
54. Booroo, Isle of Man
55. Pixie pinnacle and pixie wall, GBR, Australia
56. Wreck of the Bahama Mama, New Providence, Bahamas
57. Canibal Rock, Komodo, Indonesia
58. Gili air, Indonesia
59. The Point, Layang - Layang
60. Rainbow Warrier, New Zealand
61. Aliwal Shoal, South Africa
62. Turtle tavern, Sipadan
63. Los testigos islands, Venezuela
64. Gordon's Rock, Galapagos
65. Perpendicular wall, Christmas Island, Australia
66. Japanese Gardens, Koh Tao, Thailand
67. The Express, Kuredu, Maldives
68. Garuae Pass, Fakarava Island, French Polynesia
69. Blockship Tabarka, Scapa Flow, Orkney
70. Hanging Garden, Sipadan
71. Wakaya Passage,Fiji
72. Santa Rosa Wall, Cozumel, Mexico
73. Toucari Caves, Dominica
74. Joel's, PNG
75. Tiputa Pass, Rangiroa, Polynesia
76. Diamond Rocks, Kilkee, Ireland
77. Fujikawa Maru, Truk Lagoon (Chuuk Lagoon)
78. Sugar Wreck, Grand Bahama Island
79. Umbria, Sudan
80. Office, Mozambique
81. South Point, Sipadan
82. Chios island, Greece
83. Palancanar Bricks, Cozumel, Mexico
84. Bay of Pigs, Cuba
85. Tiputa pass, Rangiroa, New Zealand
86. Fish Factory, Vuna Reef, Taveuni, Fiji
87. Shark Fin Point, Fiji
88. Great Basses reef, Sri Lanka
89. East Timor
90. Cenotes, Playa Del Carmen, Mexico
91. Marbini Padre, Malaysia
92. Eddystone Reef
93. Malpelo Island, Colombia
94. Shark Point, Solomon Islands
95. Molokini Crater Wall, Hawaii
96. Flying Fish Cove, Christmas Island
97. Split rock, Kadavu Isle. Fiji
98. Raja Empat, Papua, Indonesia
99. Amed Wall II, Indonesia
100. Seal rocks, NSW, Australia

SCUBA News (ISSN 1476-8011): Issue 100

Scuba Diving Locations In Fiji

The islands of Fiji are famous for its spectacular scenery and a world class attraction for sea sports such as big game fishing, snorkeling, sailing and scuba diving. Fiji is a favorite scuba diving location for scuba divers from all over the world and its highlights include a fantastic variety of colorful soft corals, more than 1200 species of fish, 12 species of whales and dolphins.

There are also many scuba diving resorts in Fiji which cater to all kinds of budgets and divers. Alternatively divers can choose live aboard dive boats or if you are a tourist on vacation in Fiji do not know how to scuba dive, you can take up lessons there or simply go snorkeling off the pristine beaches.

Read whole article here: Scuba Diving Locations In Fiji

Major Training Agency Launches Universal Retailer Promotion

SIMPLE GIVEAWAY TO DRIVE TRAFFIC TO ALL RETAILERS

In an effort to increase Dive Center’s walk in traffic and create an opportunity for retailers to present product, travel and services to their diving consumers face to face, Scuba Diving International ™ (SDI) and Technical Diving International ™ (TDI) have unveiled this simple yet effective retailer traffic and business building promotion.

Divers will be asked to visit www.tdisdi.com/freewraps and simply fill out some very basic information about themselves as well as their favorite local Dive Center. As a special thanks for their commitment and dedication to the recreation of diving SDI/TDI will in turn send two FREE NITROX TANK WRAPS to the diver’s favorite facility.

The offer is truly FREE; there is no shipping, no handling or any fees applied. The consumer is asked to please allow 2-3 weeks for delivery to permit the anticipated volume of orders to be met.

The Retailer then has the opportunity to receive an “additional visit” from the dive consumer when they stop in to get their FREE NITROX TANK WRAPS!
This promotion IS OPEN TO ALL DIVE INDUSTRY RETAILERS (to receive consumer traffic) in a gesture of unity and dedication to the industry, as well as ALL DIVE CONSUMERS (to receive FREE Nitrox Tank Bands). Cris Merz National Sales Manager had this to say about the promotion, “It is a pleasure to be able to give something back to the diving public, after all this is a $14 value excluding any other related fees and it is absolutely FREE”. When questioned about the “wisdom” of making this available to ALL RETAILERS Merz further added, “A rising tide raises all ships, if we can do a small gesture that will better the retail environment then ultimately we all win”
Retailers can choose to participate absolutely FREE by helping spread the word via their blogs, store Newsletters and store signage by directing divers to www.tdisdi.com/freewraps giving the Retailer yet another opportunity to communicate with his/her customer. It is an easy way for any Retailer to take ownership of this promotion and capitalize on the good will that goes hand in hand with FREE!

For information about Scuba Diving International or Technical Diving International, contact International Training at (207) 729-4201 or b y visiting their website at www.tdisdi.com. Scuba Diving International™ (SDI) is the sport diving certification branch of the world’s largest technical diving agency, Technical Diving International™ (TDI). Also included in our family of training solutions is Emergency Response Diving International™ (ERDI), the only global public safety certification agency.


Others follow… SDI, TDI, ERDI leads

Scuba Diving In Fiji Islands

The islands of Fiji are well known for its spectacular scenery and world class attraction for sea sports such as big game fishing, snorkeling, sailing and scuba diving.

Fiji is a favorite scuba diving location for many scuba divers from all over the world and its highlights include a fantastic variety of colorful soft corals, more than 1200 species of fish, 12 species of whales and dolphins.

There are also many scuba diving resorts in Fiji which cater to all kinds of budgets and divers. Alternatively divers can choose live aboard dive boats or if you are a tourist on vacation in Fiji do not know how to scuba dive, you can take up lessons there or simply go snorkeling off the pristine beaches.

Read whole article here: Scuba Diving In Fiji Islands

Dive-Related Jobs Listed on ScubaJobsOnline.com

Scubajobsonline.com is a scuba career resource dedicated to employers and job seekers alike. We focus on all aspects of the diving industry, not only “fun in the sun” jobs. Diving positions that involve manufacturing, retail, product development, sales, instruction, commercial or government positions are also posted.

If you are a job seeker we have over 100 active employers registered on the site. Many applicants have been successful in finding their next dream diving job through us. Come check us out and see if there is a position for you. You can also post your resume, or sign up for the newsletter to keep abreast of all newly posted jobs. It’s all free, no cost!

If you are an employer looking for a great candidate we have hundreds registered applicants. It’s only $9.99 to post any employment ad. This is a special to celebrate our 1^st year anniversary and to say thank you to everyone that helped us get this site started. The candidates you will receive are all certified divers, experienced and initially screened. No bogus resumes or unqualified candidates!

Here are a few of the positions that are currently posted on the site. Click on the job description to take a closer look:

HotJobs

Monterey Bay Aquarium: – Program Instructor - Monterey, CA

The Underwater Explorers Program Instructor will be responsible for delivering Underwater Explorers programs to the public on our outside deck and in the Great Tide Pool. They are the primary response for water safety and rescue of participants while teaching children ages 8-13 about the natural history of our tide pools and ocean.

Other Monterey Bay Aquarium positions:

Underwater Explorers Assistant Supervisor

Underwater Explorers Team Leader

School for Field Studies : Dive Safety Officer – Turks & Caicos

Under the general direction of the Center Director, the Diving Safety Officer/Marine Operations Coordinator (DSO/MOC) is responsible for a variety of support duties associated with SFS/CMRS sponsored academic and scientific activities on and underwater in order to ensure these activities are carried out in an effective and safe manner in accordance with SFS and CMRS specific policies.

For our Land Lubbers

Diversified Clinical Services: Hyperbaric Chamber Technicians – USA, multiple locations

Under the direction of the Technical Director of the Hyperbaric Medicine Department, the Hyperbaric Medical Technician administers hyperbaric oxygen therapy to patients as prescribed by the Hyperbaric Physician. The Hyperbaric Medical Technician operates and maintains the hyperbaric chamber(s) and associated systems and equipment.

Sport Chalet: : Scuba Assistant Buyer – La Canada, CA

An assistant buyer is primarily responsible for assortment planning, product development, selection and promotion, vendor negotiation, gross margin and inventory control, develop store merchandising directives.

Are you an employer looking for great scuba certified candidates?

Click here: Scubajobsonline.com - Employers

For more information on www.scubajobsonline.com please visit us online

Exploring Fiji's underwater world Sunset

Exploring Fiji's underwater world Sunset - Find Articles:

Sunset, May, 1990

Rapidly gaining fame as one of the South Pacific's top diving and snorkeling spots, Fiji offers many lures to its diverse underwater world of coral gardens and reef fish. People are drawn to these islands by the proximity of barrier reefs to resorts with dive facilities--as well as the friendly, English-speaking people; the landscape's lush tropical beauty; and frequent air service from the U.S. Their nearness to shore is just one of the reef's virtues.

Great Sea Reef, off the north coast of Vanua Levu, is one of the world's largest, and Astrolabe Reef, north of Kandavu, one of the most colorful. The water is warm, and conditions are good year-round. Snorkeling or diving, you'll see hundreds of species of fish, including manta rays, batfish, moray eels, barracuda, whitetip shark--though you'll have a better chance of seeing larger fish if you dive.

Abundant soft and hard corals explode in a riot of reds, oranges, yellows, purples, and glowing neon hues. Over the past few years, several dive operations have set up around Fiji; all offer top-quality rental equipment, and expert instruction and guiding."

Fiji Scuba Diving - About Scuba Diving in Fiji

Fiji Scuba Diving - About Scuba Diving in Fiji

Fiji Scuba Diving Information

Fiji is famous for its beautiful terrain, tranquil sunsets, clear waters, and it's rainbow medley of soft coral. This tropical paradise has rightfully earned the nickname: 'Soft Coral Capital of the World'. No wonder snorkeling and scuba diving are popular throughout Fiji.

While diving Fiji, you'll discover over four hundred species of coral. The most famous being Dendronepthya Klunzingeri, which comes in a kaleidoscope of colors. The coral is found on reefs with moderate to strong currents and at deeper depths. With over 330 islands and 76,000 square miles of ocean, there's an abundance of coral environments for your enjoyment. You'll find drop-offs, swim-throughs, fissures, coral gardens, and the spine and groove type reefs."

Scuba Diving Vacations - Where to Vacation and Scuba Dive

Scuba Diving Vacations - Where to Vacation and Scuba Dive

"Top Places to Scuba Dive while on Vacation

Scuba diving vacation spots aren't hard to find. So, you've thought about taking a dive vacation, and you're having a hard time picking a scuba diving vacation spot. It isn't easy, with all the wonderful places to scuba dive and vacation at the same time. To make your decision a little easier, consider one of these locations.

...

#2 Fiji
Taveuni is probably the most preferred island for diving in Fiji, but there is no shortage of dive spots. Fiji is nicknamed "Soft Coral Capital of the World" because of the famous soft coral that thrives in the region. Naturally, the coral grows in strong current areas, so you should be thoroughly comfortable diving in those conditions. The Great White Wall is a thrilling attraction. Not only will you discover soft corals here; you'll also see tropical fish such as butterfly fish, parrot fish, and unicorn fish."

21st annual SCUBA Show, June 21st/22nd, Long Beach Convention Center

SCUBA Show exhibit space is 92% sold out

Don't be left out. Largest scuba event in the United States promises to be bigger than ever in 2008!

The 21^st annual SCUBA Show, taking place June 21^st and 22^nd at the Long Beach Convention Center, has already sold out 92% of its 76,000 square foot exhibit hall. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to connect with some of the most active divers in the nation.

Now the largest consumer dive expo in the United States, The SCUBA Show was created to give scuba businesses valuable face-to-face time with potential customers. Started by the publishers of California Diving News, the SCUBA Show has consistently brought in over 10,000 eager consumers from all parts of the west coast and the southwest.

Last years attendance was over 11,000, and the producers have begun a marketing campaign to capitalize on last year’s attendance. Next week, over 30,000 past attendees will receive brochures detailing the weekend’s activities and encouraging them to pre-register for the weekend. This will also coincide with the launching of a newly designed ScubaShow.com, which will include an interactive floor plan, links to exhibitor websites and complete details of the weekend.

In the coming months, consumers will read about the SCUBA Show in California Diving News, and begin to see advertisements in various scuba magazines throughout the country. Discount coupons will also be available through California, Arizona and Nevada dive stores and clubs. SCUBA Show has also purchased various billboards around Southern California’s busy freeways.

For more information about exhibiting please call 310-792-2333 or visit www.ScubaShow.com

Fabulous Fiji

Fabulous Fiji

"Ready for an exotic diving trip? Planning your next getaway and can't decide where to spend those hard-earned dollars? Let's go down under to experience the kaleidoscope of colorful scenery in Fiji's teeming underwater world.

Begin the day in a swimsuit, grab a quick cup of coffee, then slip on a wetsuit (usually still damp from the previous day's activity), and load pounds of gear onto your body. Air tank on, mask in place, you take a giant stride off the stern platform of the dive boat. It's such a relief to be in the water again; all the heavy gear becomes lighter as you slowly descend through the clear, warm water. Drifting down, you look around for any chance encounters with cruising sharks or manta rays. Once at the bottom or agreed-upon depth, you establish your buoyancy control and check in with your dive buddy that everything is OK.

If this is your first peek into tropical Pacific waters you won't believe the color and profusion of marine life. Fiji's reefs are some of the most diverse and untouched in"

Fabulous Fiji