Manta rays feed using ricochet separation, a novel nonclogging filtration mechanism Raj V. Divi1, James A. Strother2,* and E. W. Misty Paig-Tran1,* See all authors and affiliations Science Advances 26 Sep 2018: Vol. 4, no. 9, eaat9533 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aat9533 Article

http://advances.sciencemag.org/content/4/9/eaat9533?utm_campaign=toc_advances_2018-09-28&et_rid=17045989&et_cid=2397960

Scuba Diving Fiji - Savusavu

A short teaser of whats to come, I had a couple of amazing dives while I was in Savusavu. Thank you so much Andy from Jean-Michel Cousteau's for having me on your boat.

Scuba Dive In Fiji [HD] in 2018

Leveraging PADI Travel for Your Group Trips by PADI Asia Pacific

You already know that travel and scuba diving go hand in hand. You probably also know that the majority of scuba divers will take multiple international dive trips during their lifetimes. Using this fact to your advantage and offering group travel opportunities to your customers can spell success for your business.

Benefits of Organizing Group Trips

Embedding travel into your business is a proven way to engage new divers and to keep certified divers active. The promise of getting to use new skills and explore new places encourages divers to enroll in more courses and buy more equipment. Successful PADI Dive Centers sell group trips to fascinating scuba diving destinations to leverage their customers’ desire for adventure. Group trips fuel engagement by building a community of travelers who are loyal to your business. This makes dive travel a win-win for everyone involved.

Why Organize Group Trips Through PADI Travel?

Luckily, you don’t have to go it alone when it comes to booking group travel. Partner with PADI Travel for your trips and get access to:

• Unbeatable group discounts – PADI Travel offers the best prices and terms around. As a global, wholesale travel agency with significant reach and purchasing power, PADI Travel is able to pass on competitive rates and terms to you when you book group trips. You have access to unbeatable group discounts (a.k.a. commissions) through PADI Travel that you can decide to pass on to your customers or to increase your margins.

• Special deals – The PADI Travel team negotiates special deals that may include anything from free enriched air nitrox fills to significant overall discounts. You can save big by securing available special offers on your next trip.

• Extra spots – One of our most popular promotions for group trips booked through PADI Travel is extra spots. Sometimes there are free cabins, rooms, equipment or other special terms for large group bookings. Again, you can decide how to manage these extras – increase your margins or pass spots on to your customers or staff.

• Diver medical insurance – Every diver in your group will benefit from the complementary diver medical insurance offered with each booking. This means reduced extra costs and more savings for your group.

Additional Benefits

If you end up with unfilled spots on your trip, PADI Travel can help you fill them. The future PADI Travel Marketplace will have global reach and help divers connect with you in order to fill your trips.

As an added benefit, PADI Travel acts as your personal tour operator. If any problems should arise prior to departure or after your customers are on the ground, the PADI Travel team will be in charge of handling issues. The 24/7 world-class customer support team is on hand not only to help you organize and fine tune your group trip, but also to deal with any problems or questions that may occur at any point. This essentially removes many of the hassles associated with organizing travel and reduces your personal workload.

You also can take advantage of the PADI Travel team of scuba travel experts to improve your knowledge of the world’s top dive destinations. Use this information to advise customers and increase your bookings. PADI Travel can help you organize, market and run successful group trips across the globe. Simply ask for a nonbinding quote the next time you organize a trip and discover new ways to thrill your customers.

PADI Asia Pacific | September 7, 2018 at 4:54 pm | Categories: PADI Travel | URL: https://wp.me/p2w81B-1DE

Fiji Instructor Development Course (IDC) and Instructor Exam (IE) Febuary 2019

Instructor Development Course (IDC) and Instructor Exam (IE) - Febuary 2019

PADI Open Water Scuba Instructors and PADI Assistant Instructors are the most sought-after dive professionals around the world because they’ve completed the program that sets the standard for training dive professionals.

You earn a PADI Instructor rating through hard work and commitment, but you’re rewarded with a job that lets you share incredible underwater adventures with others – transforming their lives for the better and enriching yours.

Who should take this course?

What is the IDC

The Viti Water Sports Instructor Development Course (IDC) is made up of two parts –

1. the Assistant Instructor (AI) course; and 
2. the Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI) program. 

Most dive professionals complete the entire IDC and go on to attend an Instructor Examination (IE), which is the final step to earn a PADI Instructor certification.

What are the Pre-requisites

• PADI Divemaster or equivalent rating
• 18 years old
• “Medical clearance to dive, without restrictions or conditions” signed by a physician within the previous 12 months
• EFR Primary & Secondary Care course completion within the last 24 months
• Documentation of all qualifying certifications for entry level, advanced, rescue and leadership level.
• Diver for at least 6 months
• 100 logged dives (proof required)

What is the schedule

• Tues 12th Feb 2019 Enrolment & EFR update (if required)
• Weds 13th Feb 2019 & Thurs 14th Feb 2019 : EFR Instructor Course
• Fri 15th Feb 2019 to Tues 19th Feb 2019 : Assistant Instructor Course
• Thurs 21st Feb 2019 to Thurs 28th Feb 2019 : Open Water Scuba Instructor Course
• Sat 2nd Mar 2019 & Sun 3rd Mar 2019: PADI Instructor Examination

What will it cost?

The cost of the entire course is $4995 FJD which is fully inclusive of:

• PADI Instructor Crew Pack
• PADI EFR Instructor Crew Pack
• PADI Dive Theory Online
• AI registration fee
• EFR instructor registration fee
• IE Entry Fee
• Transfers between training sites.
• Boat fees
• Tanks & weights

It does not include:

• Food
• Accommodation
• Equipment rental
• Additional Required Materials

How do I book?

• Spaces are limited so book now to secure your place.
• A Deposit of $1500 FJD will secure your place and can be paid at the
• Viti Water Sports office in Port Denarau.
• Deposits to be paid by 31st October 2018
• Balance to be paid by 14th January 2019 

Once I`ve booked, what`s next?

Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance.

Once enrolled and the deposit paid, we will send you pre IDC preparation information so you can start preparing now, and we will order you PADI IDC Pack and your elearning login. (which may take 2 – 4 weeks to arrive).

• Complete the Dive Theory online - This is mandatory for the Viti Water Sports IDC.
• Go through all the core course exams (OW, Rescue, DM exams, etc) and ask an instructor or any of your IDC staff if you have any questions.
• Check you have all up to date materials especially your PADI Instructor Manual.
• Ensure you have all the required equipment. See the attached list.
• Become familiar with your PADI Instructor Manual this is vital for an Instructor.
• Make sure you get your medical done.
• Practice all 24 in-water skills with an instructor and make sure your comfortable with all of them. Demonstration videos can be found on YouTube.

Contact 

Email: idc@vitiwatersports.com 

Phone:

Andrew Redfern - Course Director - 9233865
Mike Agnew - IDC Staff - 9998305
Trev Neal - IDC Staff - 9929474

Save Money When You Stay At Fiji Paradise Resort

Do you want to escape to paradise? Then explore Paradise Taveuni Resort for your next dive vacation in Taveuni, Fiji. Combining luxury facilities with the personal touch of a small island resort and now offering you new Dive Specials.

Taveuni is the perfect spot for you to drift dive with leopard sharks, taking in the orange, pink and brown soft coral blooms opening up to their most enchanting as they feed on the nutrients brought by gentle currents.

Or if you prefer, soak up the sun while sipping on a cocktail at the stunning beach front Paradise Taveuni Resort.

Dive The World has the following special offers for you:

Book a 7 Night stay at a discounted price:
Valid if you make a reservation for travels between now and 30 June 2018 and subject to resort availability!
8 Days / 7 Nights
Oceanview Bure price: Was USD 6 490 (FJD 13,025) per diver
Now USD 3 245 (FJD 6,512) per diver

Book a 5 Night stay at a discounted price:
Valid if you make a reservation, for travels between now and 31 March 2018 or between October and December 2018 and subject to resort availability!
6 Days / 5 Nights
Oceanview Bure price: Was USD 5 940 (FJD 11,925) per diver
Now USD 2 970 (FJD 5,962) per diver

Resort diving includes: Dives (as detailed in the packages above), unlimited self-guided shore dives, boat rides to sites, experienced English-speaking divemaster (maximum 5 divers per DM), tanks, weights and weightbelts, drinking water, hot drinks, snacks, scuba tax.
Diving excludes (mandatory, unless customer provides own): Scuba equipment (BCD, regulator and wetsuit, approx. USD 20 per day). Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival (cash or credit card).
Optional extras: Diving computer, nitrox fills for enriched air certified divers, dive insurance. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival.

Resort accommodation includes: All meals – full cooked breakfast, 1 course lunch and 2 course dinner, return Taveuni Airport road transfers and Fiji taxes of 25%. Free internet in the Main Bure + Fijian floral lei (Salusalu) & Welcome foot rub on arrival + Fijian sulu + tea, coffee& cookies + snorkeling gear + a large selection of complimentary activities.
Accommodation excludes (mandatory): Single supplement on single travellers only, payable in advance.
Single Supplement: This is a compulsory additional charge on single travellers for the sole occupancy of double/twin accommodation.
Optional extras: Alcoholic drinks, internet access. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival.

Do you want your dive vacation in Fiji, to simply be … paradise? Contact Dive The World to find out more about Paradise Taveuni Resort, send us an email or call us on +66 (0)94 582 7973 / (0)83 505 7794.

Note: All prices quoted are per couple sharing and are subject to availability and currency fluctuations. Currency 

Paradise Taveuni Fiji 2018

Fiji s 2018 Dive Fiesta Tourism Fiji

Tourism Fiji wants to revitalise the dive tourism industry to Fiji

I was lucky to be invited to sample seven resorts in a wonderful whirlwind tour of diving
and resort living in March 2018.

OUR group of eleven from NZ, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong and Germany met in Nadi and headed off to the massive Captain Cook Cruise boat early on day one. We heard about their 4, 7 and 11 day cruises. The eleven day one goes East to the Lau Group and looks like a grand adventure.

Captain Cook Cruises do one to two dives a day and lots of cruising including two mammoth cruises for eleven nights to the Lau Group of Islands in the far East and the Northern islands.

Our first dive was “Golden Dreams” at Voli Voli with Ra Divers on the North side of Fiji. We were promised five ghost pipefish and were lucky to find eight including one of the rare hairy robust ghost
pipefish. I had left my macro lenses at home and only took the wide angle set up.

The overcast conditions meant that there was limited light and so I tried to do close up wide angle photography.

Voli Voli is owned by the Darling family from Christchurch. They have rebuilt the resort to an even higher standard after Cyclone Winston and are also adding more luxury family units and accommodation for groups of six. There are beautiful gardens on each Vale. Nick, the manager says that it can accommodate a family or six friends in total privacy and luxury. They are still celebrating the Excellence in Tourism award for quality accommodation. That evening, we had drinks and some very fine dining at their new restaurant.

In the morning we set off for the famous Mellow Yellow dive site.  This site has stunning coral gardens and coral windows. The next dive was Chile. I found a coral Window of Dreams and took a few photos of Nick.

For keen underwater photographers, Chile is a dive to capture those stunning model photos. It has so much colour and fish life. It is a vivid reminder of the incredible underwater panoramas that Fiji has
been famous for. Of course, anyone who has dived at the Bligh Waters will know just how beautiful and photogenic these reefs are.

On day two we took the bus to Wananavu Resort a few kilometres away. This is a beautiful garden resort in the protection of a bay. Without taking a breath, we headed off for a dive even before the
resort orientation.

Fiji Scuba Diving Adventures

Fiji Scuba Diving - Taveuni Adventures!!! Just a short clip from this awesome trip to Fiji to meet dive centres around Taveuni and Savusavu. Thanks for all the hospitality, 3 more days in Savusavu meeting members and running a member forum then off to Pacific Harbour for the day... I will have to wait to get home to edit a full length Vlog of this epic adventure but in the mean time, enjoy the short clips and let me know if you like them :-)

Massive thanks to Garden Island Resort and their team for having me out on the boat to do the Rainbow Reef while I was there :-)

#PADI #WeArePADI #RainbowReef #Fiji #Scuba #Diving

Mai Dive Astrolabe Reef Resort Fiji 2018

Namena Marine Reserve Dive Tag Photo Competition 2019

Once again, Namena Marine Reserve would like to invite you to participate in their annual Dive Tag Photo Competition! The winner of the competition will have unique privilege of having their photo featured on the 2019 Namena Marine Reserve Dive Tags.

The deadline to submit photos is 15th August 2018

The winner of the competition will have unique privilege of having their photo featured on the 2019 Namena Marine Reserve Dive Tags.

Individuals from around the world are invited to submit up to five underwater photos from the

Namena Marine Reserve in Fiji, containing a solitary animal or fish (see below for examples of past Dive Tags). Clear credit will be given to the photographer.

As you may know, people travel from around the globe, at great expense, to dive in the Namena Marine Reserve with exclusive dive operators. When they leave, they keep their dive tag as a treasured token from their time in Fiji. Not only is this competition a great opportunity to highlight your art to an international audience, your participation means a lot to the native people of Kubulau, who take great pride in Namena and have made a long-term investment in the protection of their resources. 

The dive tag program has been very successful over the past 14 years and continues to show people from around the world that Namena is a special site.

We acknowledge and appreciate your commitment to the Namena Marine Reserve and hope that you will participate by submitting your photo(s) for consideration. The deadline to submit photos is August 15, 2018. Please email up to five original photos along with a signed photography license agreement (see below) to Peni Were at namenamarinereserve@gmail.com

If your photo is chosen, we will contact you to request a high-resolution version to be submitted by September 15, 2018. The winner will receive a free dive tag featuring their winning photo. 

Thank you in advance for your interest and participation. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. We look forward to seeing your spectacular photos.

Vinaka vakalevu,

Peni Were

On behalf of the Kubulau Resource Management Committee

Peni Were

Mobile: Vodafone: (679) 925-4564, Digicel: (679) 728-8855/7912257

Email: krbdaffairs@gmail.com

SKYPE: peni.werebanivau1

Bull Shark Diving - Fiji January 2018