Two Free Group Comps to Fiji WITH AIR offered by Scuba Travel Ventures

DEMA Booth #1754
Four different Fiji Dive Resort Options to choose from – don’t be left out!

Scuba Travel Ventures has announced an incredible program for dive travel professionals offering dive trips to Fiji. According to Ernie Arellano, this offer includes TWO free spots INCLUDING AIRFARE for every 10 booked.

“It’s never been offered before – not one but TWO free spot that includes air. We know times are tough and this is an unmatched value for dive travel professionals. Through our partnership with Air Pacific, we believe this is a Fiji opportunity that has NEVER been offered in the past.”

The participating resorts include:

· Garden Island Resort

· Paradise Taveuni Resort

· Waidroka Beach Resort

· Matava Resort on Kadavu

Package prices begin at just $850 and are available exclusively through the Scuba Travel Ventures group desk. Arellano adds that dive retailers wanting to book smaller packages could consider the book 5, one free option at select resorts.

For more details, contact Scuba Travel Ventures at 800-298-9009 or via email at Info@scubatravelventures.com

Divenewswire Two Free Group Comps to Fiji WITH AIR offered by Scuba Travel Ventures

Australia or Fiji? October 2010 - ScubaBoard

I have been to Fiji and absolutely loved it. I compare Fiji to the Caribbean as diving in color vs. black and white. We stayed at Beqa Lagoon Resort and had a great time.

The diving was great, there was a great shark dive, and there are above water activites in the afternoon or you could dive the house reef from shore. If you click on my "photos" link to the left you can see some of my photos. In fact we have booked a return trip to Beqa Lagoon Resort in 2010.

Here is a link to traveler reviews of the resort on tripadvisor.com: Beqa Lagoon Resort (Beqa Island, Fiji) - Hotel Reviews - TripAdvisor.

Regards,

Bill

Australia or Fiji? October 2010 - ScubaBoard

Fiji,_al_otro_lado_del_mundo

(21-09-09) Todo el exotismo soñado de los Mares del Sur, se concentra en las lejanas islas de Fiji. Naturaleza exuberante, cálidos lugareños y un mundo submarino espectacular.

Una típica pregunta de colegio era dónde estaban las antípodas de España. ¿Anti… que? Podía ser la respuesta clásica de muchos niños. Con este término nos referimos a la parte del planeta que se sitúa justo en el extremo contrario de donde estamos, pues bien, en el caso de la península ibérica las antípodas se localizarían en las proximidades de las islas Fiji, situadas en medio del Pacífico.

Este lejano y pequeño archipiélago se encuentra a 1.770 km al N de Nueva Zelanda, presenta todos los ingredientes clásicos de los mares del Sur, y por supuesto un buceo de primera, que lo convierte en un destino soñado por todos los submarinistas del mundo.

la isla de kadavu

En esta ocasión vamos a descubrir una de las zonas más remotas del archipiélago. Se trata de la isla de Kadavu que se encuentra a unos 90 km al sur de la isla principal, Viti Levu. Allí se viene realizando desde hace algunos años un interesante fenómeno de turismo ecológico, con la creación de una reserva de pesca “privada”, gestionada por las propias poblaciones locales y en la que el buceo adquiere especial importancia.

A cambio de una autorregulación de los pescadores, éstos cobran un pequeño impuesto a los buceadores que garantiza la buena conservación de los arrecifes. Aquí no son bienvenidas las grandes flotas asiáticas, que siembran de muerte los mares de la región.

El buceo en la zona se articula alrededor del Gran Arrecife Astrolabio que recorre durante más de 120 km toda la costa sur-suroeste de la isla. Grandes extensiones coralinas se alinean como una gran barrera que protege la exuberante costa de las tormentas y tempestades. A la vez que se abren varios pasajes y bajos, que son los más interesantes para la exploración submarina. La fauna es abundante y, sobre todo, espectacular.

Full article here: Fiji,_al_otro_lado_del_mundo

Ultimate Eco Escapes - Sport Diver Magazine Sept 2009 - FIJI SCUBA DIVING - Dive the best of Fiji Diving with Mad Fish Dive Centre, Kadavu, Fiji Islands

Matava named as an Ultimate Eco Escape in Sport Diver Magazine

Sport Diver Magazine - September 2009

Matava - Fiji's Premier Eco Adventure Resort is pround to be named as one of the world's Ultimate eco Escapes by PADI Diving Society's SPORT DIVER Magazine in September 2009.

Ultimate Eco Escapes - Sport Diver Magazine Sept 2009

We recommend Foxit Reader for pdf reading.

Ultimate Eco Escapes - Sport Diver Magazine Sept 2009 - FIJI SCUBA DIVING - Dive the best of Fiji Diving with Mad Fish Dive Centre, Kadavu, Fiji Islands

Matava is Fiji's first Resort member of The International Ecotourism Society - Matava - Fijis Premier Eco Adventure Resort

Matava recognised as TIES first ever resort member in the Fiji Islands

Matava - Fiji's Premier Eco-Adventure Resort is proud to announce that we are Fiji's first Resort Business member of The International Ecotourism Society (TIES).

As the world's oldest and largest international ecotourism association, TIES seeks to be the global source of knowledge and advocacy uniting communities, conservation, and sustainable travel.

A common question asked is what EXACTLY is ecotourism? Ecotourism is: "Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people." (TIES, 1990)

TIES promotes ecotourism, which is defined as "responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people," by:

• Creating an international network of individuals, institutions and the tourism industry;
• Educating tourists and tourism professionals; and

• Influencing the tourism industry, public institutions and donors to integrate the principles of ecotourism into their operations and policies.

• 
  

"Uniting conservation, communities and sustainable travel, TIES promotes responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people."

To achieve and maintain membership of TIES Matava must abide by all the Principles of TIES and Ecotourism.

Principles of Ecotourism:

Ecotourism is about uniting conservation, communities, and sustainable travel. This means that those who implement and participate in ecotourism activities should follow the following ecotourism principles:

• Minimize impact.
• Build environmental and cultural awareness and respect.
• Provide positive experiences for both visitors and hosts.
• Provide direct financial benefits for conservation.
• Provide financial benefits and empowerment for local people.
• Raise sensitivity to host countries' political, environmental, and social climate.

"At Matava, we are of course both happy and proud to be a Resort member of TIES, the world's oldest and largest international ecotourism association." said Matava Director, Mr Richard Akhtar.

"We also see this as a great step forward and opportunity for all Fiji resorts, both on Kadavu and in the Fiji Islands, to move forward in their standards to achieve truly world class service and capabilities required for this membership level and to do it in the true spirit of ecotourism."

Mr Akhtar finished by saying "We would like to thank all friends and clients of Matava and Mad Fish Dive Centre past and present who have contributed to the success of our eco resort and we look forward to exciting times ahead."

The International Ecotourism Soceity (TIES) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting ecotourism. Founded in 1990, TIES has been in the forefront of the development of ecotourism, providing guidelines and standards, training, technical assistance, research and publications. TIES' global network of ecotourism professionals and travelers is leading the efforts to make tourism a viable tool for conservation, protection of bio-cultural diversity, and sustainable community development. Through membership services, industry outreach and educational programs, TIES is committed to helping organizations, communities and individuals promote and practice the principles of ecotourism. TIES currently has members in more than 90 countries, representing various professional fields and industry segments including: academics, consultants, conservation professionals and organizations, governments, architects, tour operators, lodge owners and managers, general development experts, and ecotourists.

Matava - Fiji's Premier Eco Adventure Resort, is an eco adventure getaway offering you a fun and unique blend of cultural experiences and adventure activities in the environmentally pristine and remote island of Kadavu in the Fiji Islands. Matava - Fiji Premier Eco Adventure Resort is a PADI Dive Resort as well as a Project AWARE GoEco Operator. Matava offers accommodation for up to 22 guests in lush tropical surroundings in traditional thatched Fijian 'bures' with hardwood polished floors, louvre windows and private decks offering privacy, comfort and superb ocean views.

Matava is Fiji's first Resort member of The International Ecotourism Society - Matava - Fijis Premier Eco Adventure Resort

Matava Resort- das Tor zum Great Astrolab Reef - Review of Matava - Fiji's Premier Eco Adventure Resort, Kadavu Island, Fiji - TripAdvisor

Wir verbrachten auf eine Empfehlung eines Freundes hin über Weihnachten 10 Tage auf Matava - und dies war etwas vom besten was wir je erleben durften!

Das Resort besteht aus etwa 10 im tradtionellen fijijanischen Stil gebauten Hütten mit zum Teil herrlichen Ausblick auf die kleine vorgelagerte Insel und das Meer - alleine auf der Veranda sitzend und den Ausblick genießend könnte man Stunden zubringen. Weiters gibt es eine Gemeinschaftshütte, wo die Mahlzeiten gemeinsam mit allen Gästen eingenommen werden. Auf jeden Spezialwunsch, ob Vegetarier oder Allergien, etc. wird Rücksicht genommen. Das Verhältnis zwischen Gästen und Mitarbeitern ist herrlich entspannt und freundschafltich, alle sind wahnsinnig freundlich, hilfsbereit, immer lächelnd und zu Scherzen aufgelegt.

Die Tauchcrew ist sehr professionell und versucht auf alle Wünsche einzugehen, zum Teil waren wir nur zwei bis drei Taucher plus Guide. Wir hatten dort unsere besten Tauchgänge und wirklich sehr viel Spaß zusammen.

Das Resort legt viel Wert auf Umwelt- und Naturschutz, Strom gibt es nur für die notwendigsten Dinge und man merkt bald, dass es auch nicht viel mehr bedarf um einen super Urlaub zu haben.

Ich kann das Resort und die Insel jedem empfehlen, der gerne abseits der Massen Urlaub macht, Einheimische kennen lernen möchte, es gerne ruhig hat aber auch die Gemeinschaft schätzt, tauchen oder schnorcheln liebt und kein Sonnenanbetender "nur" Strandurlauber ist (Strand auf der gegenüberliegendenen Insel, nur bei Ebbe)!!

Matava Resort- das Tor zum Great Astrolab Reef - Review of Matava - Fiji's Premier Eco Adventure Resort, Kadavu Island, Fiji - TripAdvisor
Matava Resort- das Tor zum Great Astrolab Reef - Review of Matava - Fiji's Premier Eco Adventure Resort, Kadavu Island, Fiji - TripAdvisor

PADI Partners With The Underwater Channel for Online SCUBA Videos

PADI and The Underwater Channel, which is powered by Babelgum, have announced a new partnership that will bring scuba diving and ocean conservation video content to a global audience on http://www.padi.com/scuba/video/

PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) is the world’s leading scuba diving organization and strongly supports oceanographic conservation efforts globally.

Kristin Valette, VP, Marketing and Communications at PADI Americas said, “We have had a successful partnership with The Underwater Channel for some time. They share our commitment to diving and to the future health of the world’s oceans. This distribution partnership with Babelgum, is both exciting for us and the dive community globally. We are particularly proud to be associated with a range of compelling programming being produced and acquired by The Underwater Channel from around the world. These include exciting diving and other inspiring films about the importance of marine conservation”

The partnership will result in the showing of a new and already acclaimed film: THE DROP ZONE, which is sponsored by PADI, Body Glove and Sport Diver magazine.

The partnership will also illustrate the commitment Babelgum and The Underwater Channel has towards education and ocean conservation through the medium of web video. The Underwater Channel is powered by Babelgum, an established destination for high quality environmental programming and major independent film releases.

“The Underwater Channel partnership with PADI provides us with an exceptional ally in our efforts to inspire and fascinate people with the wonders of the world’s oceans,” said Nicholas Claxton, Founder and Managing Director of The Underwater Channel. “This is a relationship I have been nurturing together with Terry Cummins, Vice President of PADI Worldwide, for over 2 years and there is so much potential for us to work together as internet video comes of age as a multi-cultural communication tool. Distribution via http://www.padi.com/scuba/video/ is only one application of this alliance, and we are looking forward to working with PADI for a long time to come.”

For more details, visit the PADI website at www.PADI.com or the Underwater Channel's site at www.TheUnderwaterChannel.tv

PADI Partners With The Underwater Channel for Online SCUBA Videos

Fiji one of the Top 5 Countries in CoralWatch

CALL TO ACTION :
Do you live, work or travel to the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico or Central Pacific?

Scientists from the Coral Reef Watch Program at the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA) predict coral bleaching is likely in those areas. You can take action. The CoralWatch data you report may be more important then ever.

Top 5 Countries where data has been reported

1. Thailand
2. Fiji
3. Australia
4. Vietnam
5. Philippines
CoralWatch - Home

Dive Zero :: Win a Dive Trip to Fiji

Win a dive trip for 2, to Matava, Fiji. See below for details.

Win the Grand Prize in the Dive Village Points comp to the South Pacific's #1 dive destination FIJI, at Fiji's Premier Eco Adventure Resort, MATAVA. Private sandy beaches, world-class diving with mantas, “The Critter Junction” colourful house reef on your doorstep, relaxation and year-round adventure! Just perfect for underwater photography! • 3 nights Oceanview Bure accommodations for two (2) at Matava - Fiji's Premier Eco Adventure Resort • 2 days of 2 tank diving for two • 2 days of unlimited shore diving for two • Roundtrip airport boat transfers for two Valid for travel between: September 30 – December 6, 2009 or January 9 – March 31 2010.

SO HOW DO YOU WIN?

1. Easy! Go to www.thedivevillage.com and sign up for a free profile. From there, you can post in the forum,

add youtube videos, blogs, comment on videos, add photos, etc...by doing so, you gain points. The points are kept

track of in "My Account" and on the homepage. The top point leader with the most points by

Sept 5th at 9pm Pacific Time, will WIN!

Click here to find out how to gain points

For more info, photos and videos on this dive trip, check out Matava.com, Scuba-diving-fiji.com, and for videos

check out Youtube.com/user/MatavaFiji

If you have any questions, please contact Dive Zero at info@divezero.com or Matava Resort at info@matava.com

www.matava.com

Dive Zero :: Win a Dive Trip to Fiji

Ocean in Focus Conservation Photography Contest 2009: win a trip to Fiji

SeaWeb’s Marine Photobank and Project AWARE Foundation are teaming up to bring you the 2nd Annual Ocean in Focus Conservation Photography Contest. Ocean lovers worldwide-- submit your most compelling marine conservation images to this one-of-a-kind photo contest.

Grand Prize!

• Seven nights ocean-view accommodations at MATAVA, a premier eco-adventure resort in Fiji. Package includes 5 days 2 tank diving for two and 6 days unlimited shore diving for two as well as roundtrip airport transfers.
• Carbon Offsets through NativeEnergy from your home and car for one year plus carbon offset for one round-trip air flight.
• A DVD copy of A Sea Change, The journey of a man and his grandson to uncover the hard science of ocean acidification.

1st Prize (for each category)

• A sterling silver coral-inspired necklace from Hannah Garrison's AZU studios, originally designed for SeaWeb's Too Precious to Wear campaign.
• Carbon Offsets through NativeEnergy from your car for one year plus carbon offset for one round-trip air flight.
• A DVD copy of A Sea Change.

2nd Prize (for each category)

• A 24"x32" autographed photo print by Bob Talbot.
• Carbon Offsets through NativeEnergy from your car for one year.
• A DVD copy of A Sea Change.

Deadline:

August 27, 2009

Submission Guidelines and Categories >>
Rules >>
Prizes >>
Ocean in Focus Conservation Photography Contest 2009: win a trip to Fiji

Matava announced as Fiji's newest PADI 5 Star Dive Centre - FIJI SCUBA DIVING - Dive the best of Fiji Diving with Mad Fish Dive Centre, Kadavu, Fiji Islands

Matava awarded Kadavu's first ever PADI 5 Star Dive Centre level for on-site scuba operation, Mad Fish Dive Centre

KADAVU, FIJI ISLANDS - 4 August 2009 - Matava - Fiji's Premier Eco-Adventure Resort is thrilled to announce that we have been awarded the PADI 5 Star Centre membership level for our Scuba Diving Centre Mad Fish Dive Centre.

This Prestigious PADI 5 Star Dive Centre status is awarded, on an annual basis, to progressive PADI Dive Centres that excel in providing dive consumers with a full range of diver education programs, equipment selection, and experience opportunities and that actively promote aquatic environmental awareness.

"We are extremely honored that PADI has selected us to become a 5 Star Dive Centre," said Matava Director and PADI Instructor Development Staff instructor Stuart Gow. "We have made a concerted effort over the past several years to create the best diver training program we could and have invested heavily in training, staff and facilities to do so. We want to thank PADI for acknowledging our efforts and now, with Kadavu's first 5 star rating, hope to bring even more people in the dive industry."

A PADI 5 Star Dive Centre is active in its community presenting a professional image consistent with, or better than, the norm of the marketplace.

These dive centers embrace the PADI System of diver education and are committed to providing customers with quality products, services and experiences.

"At Matava and Mad Fish Dive Centre, we are of course both happy and proud to be awarded this prestigious membership level." said Matava Director, Mr Richard Akhtar.

"By awarding Matava and Mad Fish Dive Centre the 5-Star certification, PADI is really saying we have achieved the best quality and performance rating possible. We have worked very hard to reach that level and will continue to do so."

Ian Cumming, Regional Manager, PADI Asia Pacific said "Congratulations to Matava - Fiji's Premier Eco Adventure Resort and their committed dive staff for reaching the level of PADI 5 Star Dive Resort. The prerequisites for this rating can only be achieved through delivering to their guests a high level of diver education, diving experience as well as offering great diving adventures with a sound conservation focus. Having dived with the Matava dive crew myself I know firsthand that their operation is what PADI expects of our 5 Star Dive Resorts!"

"Well done and I wish them all the best in their continued focus on diver education, marine conservation and amazing diving experiences along the Great Astrolabe Reef." he continued.

"We also see this as a great step forward and opportunity for all dive centres, both on Kadavu and in the Fiji Islands, to move forward in their standards to achieve truely world class service and capabilities required for this membership level."

Mr Akhtar finished by saying "We would like to thank all friends and clients of Matava and Mad Fish Dive Centre past and present who have contributed to the success of our PADI Dive Centre and we look forward to exciting times ahead."

Matava announced as Fiji's newest PADI 5 Star Dive Centre - FIJI SCUBA DIVING - Dive the best of Fiji Diving with Mad Fish Dive Centre, Kadavu, Fiji Islands

Trend Green and Grow Your Business - Matava - Fijis Premier Eco Adventure Resort

PADI Undersea Journal - 3rd Quarter 2009

Trend Green and Grow Your Business article

Matava highlighted in this recent professional diving journal for PADI Professionals.

We recommend Foxit Reader for pdf reading.

Trend Green and Grow Your Business - Matava - Fijis Premier Eco Adventure Resort