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
Monday, 31 August 2009
Tuesday, 25 August 2009
PADI Partners With The Underwater Channel for Online SCUBA Videos
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 VideosTuesday, 18 August 2009
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. Thailand2. Fiji
3. Australia
4. Vietnam
5. Philippines
CoralWatch - Home
Saturday, 8 August 2009
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 Private sandy beaches, world-class diving with mantas, “The Critter Junction” • 3 nights Oceanview Bure accommodations for two (2) at Matava - Fiji's Valid for travel between: September 30 – December 6, 2009 or | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dive Zero :: Win a Dive Trip to Fiji
Ocean in Focus Conservation Photography Contest 2009: win a trip to Fiji
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
Monday, 3 August 2009
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."
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
Tuesday, 28 July 2009
Dive-a-Thon 2009 (Now in July!)
Dive-a-Thon is SDOF's largest fundraiser of the year, with the goal to "get divers diving" - while spreading our message of ocean stewardship. Similar to a walk-a-thon, divers seek financial pledges from friends and family to support their diving goal during the month of July. Divers choose to set fundraising goals and compete to log the most minutes underwater. ANY diver in the world can register for this event, and registered divers can get credit for dives completed ANYWHERE in the world during July.
Whether you are newbie, a professional, or not a diver at all, you can help SDOF and win great prizes in the process! You can choose to be in either the Competitive, Social, or Non-Diver category.
Prizes are awarded based on points: Each $1 raised earns you 2 points. Each 1 minute logged earns you 1 point. The tax-deductible registration fee is $25 and includes a FREE event t-shirt. Registration opens on June 1st! Fundraising begins July 1st - runs through August 9th at 11:59PM
FREE AIR FILLS for all Dive-a-Thon participants! Register/Login to learn more!
Click Here to Register
Already registered? SDOF DAT Portal Log In
Click here if you do not see a list on the left of participants
Ways to Donate:
Click on the names in blue link on the left
or send a check with the participant's name in the memo section to:
SDOF - 1875 Quivira Way C-5, San Diego, CA 92109
Prizes include:
| |
Fiji Dive Vacation for 2! Including roundtrip airfare from LAX, 7 nights / 8 days, 5-days of 2-tank diving, unlimited shore diving & all meals Sponsored by Air Pacific & Matava Fiji’s Premiere Eco Adventure Resort |
Many thanks to our generous sponsors:
Air Pacific, Matava Fiji’s Premiere Eco Adventure Resort, Whites Diving, Baja Expeditions, Ocean Enterprises, Pinnacle Aquatics, Underwater Kinetics, Atomic Aquatics, Waterhorse Charters, Aqua Lung, Marissa Dive Charters, Chammyz, Stahlsac, SeaWorld San Diego, Hornblower Cruises & Events, Roddenberry Dive Team, Sempra / SDG&E, California Dive News, Outdoor Travel Adventures, DiverWire, Renegade Designs.
Tuesday, 21 July 2009
Major first for resorts - Fiji Times Online
DIVE students of Matava Resort will not only learn how to dive but given an opportunity to participate in conservation projects.
This is after the Kadavu-based resort became the first in the Asia Pacific region to sign up for Project AWARE C-Card scheme.
Project AWARE Foun-dation works in partnership with divers and water enthusiasts to combat challenges facing underwater environments.
The project inspires conservation by incorporating its messages in dive training materials as well as creating awareness and education campaigns.
The AWARE certification card scheme ensures that all of the resort's PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) students, whose cards are processed online, automatically receive one of the three new Project AWARE versions of their PADI certification card.
"The donation will be paid for out of Matava's profits, and not be charged to the student.
"The student will be given the chance to further donate to Project AWARE at the end of their course, as is normally offered on every PADI course worldwide.
"This effort shows Matava's support for underwater conservation by issuing Project AWARE's limited edition c-card as every PADI certification or replacement card." Matava director Richard Akhtar said.
The donations will support underwater and shoreline clean-ups and marine debris prevention, coral reef monitoring and conservation, shark protection, research and education improved resource management, environmental education for divers and children.
"This year marks the 20th Anniversary of Project AWARE and they depend on support from divers and dive centres such as us to enable them to continue with ongoing projects that are essential for the long term protection of the underwater environment." said Mr Akhtar.
Major first for resorts - Fiji Times OnlineSaturday, 18 July 2009
Hold onto your dive buddy's hand in Fiji | Stuff.co.nz
In the silent blue depths of the Fijian coral reef, having my hand grabbed by the diver next to me was the tactile equivalent of a shout in the ear.
The diver happened to be my husband and the signal he was urgently passing on was the presence of a green turtle swimming just metres away from us.
The turtle lazily crossed our path and glanced at us with glassy black eyes before disappearing around the corner of a coral-covered outcrop. But my hand was not released from the vice-like grip my appointed dive buddy had chosen to apply.
Instead, it was yanked and pumped even harder as another creature had been spotted gracefully gliding across the sea floor below us.
It was a black-tipped reef shark moving with effortless guile some 10m away. The slow sway of its lithe grey body was enough to propel it through the water at a far greater speed than we could muster with the collective thrashing of our fins; an indication of the coiled power it held in perpetual anticipation.
Our dive trip seemed to have turned into a dive safari but without the ability to zoom off at top speed if things got hairy.
Thankfully the reef shark is virtually harmless to divers, and spotting one is just part of the pleasure of exploring the underwater world which divides and surrounds the Fijian archipelago.
Spread out across a geographical area more than twice the size of Tasmania, the islands which together form Fiji far from contain the country's natural beauty.
A greater part of the nation's bounty is to be found submerged beneath the oceans and channels which separate the beaches, forests and occasional towns of the land.
Turtles, sharks and other creatures are only a part of Fiji's marine treasures, as there is far more to explore in the pale blue light of the deep.
Spectacular coral reefs with deep canyons and natural swim-through tunnels also abound in this corner of the Pacific – plus a number of shipwrecks.
We had arrived at Matangi Private Island Resort, in the country's north-east, hoping to see just some of these marine marvels in the time we had.
As it turned out, we only needed a single day of diving. The island, located off the mainland of Taveuni, has its own dive shop and a daily program of diving for visitors who want to do more than just laze on the soft sand beaches or snooze in their traditional-style bures.
A resident Fijian divemaster accompanies guests to locally renowned sites such as the Great White Wall, and the remote location means divers are rarely sharing a site with others, which can be common to popular areas closer to Viti Levu.
We had headed out that morning with not one instructor, but two. Bale was the Fijian expert, while Ally was a training instructor whose family had acquired the island as a coconut plantation before tourism became a more lucrative business.Heading out into the open ocean, the neat rows of the trees on the higher hills had belied the island's history, and Ally had explained why so many divers were attracted to the resort.
"It's unusual for me to see any other dive boats in the places we go to – we say it's like going to your reef," she said. "We're very lucky to have all kind of reef here, with loads of soft corals, and even places where there are resident turtles."
Our marine encounter came just moments into our first dive, at a site called Broken Reef. We had descended to the edge of a circular reef with deep aisles of coral, which had been named after the fact that more exposed areas had been devastated by cyclones.
Despite its moniker, the deeper, sheltered coral was in pristine condition, and massive giant clams waited on the sea floor, like gaping mouths with iridescent gums.
After re-surfacing and changing tanks, we headed to The Wreck - a dive site with a unique tale to it.
The owners of Matangi Island had bought a boat with the idea of creating an artificial wreck by sinking it at a deep and sheltered location. They towed the boat to the island, mooring it near the shore until they decided exactly where it would be best sunk.
The only problem with the plan was that a vicious storm broke out, and the boat broke its moorings and drifted into the open ocean.
It then sank in a shallow and exposed part of the reef and has since been dismantled by a combination of strong tides and severe storms.
The engine is the only major chunk to remain intact, but sits at a depth of just a few metres – making it accessible for snorkellers as well as divers.
Other parts of the ship were strewn across the reef as we began an exploration of the site from a deeper corner. Some of it had already been covered with soft coral, which had tiny tentacles swaying in the swirling current.
We followed the trail of the wreck along the channel on a gradual incline, stopping when some piece of marine life intrigued us. There were pincushion starfish as big as footballs, a blue-spotted stingray and more giant clams.
As we reached the box-like engine in the shallowest part of the reef, the currents swirled more strongly around us. Inspecting the remnants was an ideal way of making the routine safety stop – a divers way of decompressing.
Glancing back into the deep channel, a swaying section of grey caught my eye, tipped with a corner of black. This time, it was my turn to grab my dive buddy's hand.
Hold onto your dive buddy's hand in Fiji | Stuff.co.nzThursday, 16 July 2009
Project saves reefs - Fiji Times Online
By ASHWINI PRASAD
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
+ Enlarge this imageDivers inject coral with Sodium Bisulphate to save it from dying.
TO prevent the reef system from degrading, Treasure Island resort has a program which has been successful.
Environmental Officer Katrina Masitabua said following a site survey for Crown of Thorns Outbreak (COTS) in May 2007 by Ocean Antics Consulting it was decided that a program be put together to try and reduce the overall number of COTS on the house reefs surrounding Eluvuka Island, more commonly known as Treasure Island.
Initially the program started out as a voluntary operation involving all staff who were paid $1 per crown, this then dropped to $0.50 per crown. This quickly degenerated and the program died down.
"This remained so for a short time before management decided there was a high chance that most of the reef system would be degraded and lost.
"Several divers were then employed specifically for COTS diving and the program in still on going today. Monitoring is conducted daily via surveys of frequented reef patches by the islands, she said.
The close proximity of the island's house reefs to other sunken reef patches is a possible means of migration of COTS populations from one healthy reef to the next making control efforts an ongoing occurrence that must be maintained for what would likely be years.
COTS divers on the island started out using injection guns injecting COTS with a solution of Sodium Bisulphate, which is the most inexpensive method apart from physical removal, she said.
In December of 2008, divers began removing them physically and records of COTS sizes ranging from 13cm to 40cm were kept.
In the month of June, 2009 a total of 403 COTS were removed from the surrounding reef, a lot less than the 862 individuals that were removed in May of the same year.
Project saves reefs - Fiji Times Online
Thursday, 9 July 2009
PADI and The Underwater Channel Launch Video Alliance
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