Divers and Medical Professionals Combine Work and Passion for Scuba Diving Through Fiji Project

Most people think of Fiji as an island paradise, but there are many children in villages in tremendous need of medical and dental care. Mark Fischer, owner of Keizer's Hydrosports Dive and Travel, wants to put together a team of "underwater ambassadors" and medical professionals to help those children. Learn how you can combine your profession, passion and also receive tax benefits as a result of participating in this medical mission.

When: 1/13/2010 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Where: 665 Winter St. SE Salem, 97301

Cost: Free

More Info: Mark Fischer

Divers and Medical Professionals Combine Work and Passion for Scuba Diving Through Fiji Project -- Events Salem MomsLikeMe.com

PADI and National Geographic Renew PADI National Geographic Diver Program

Two industry leaders continue to work together to promote scuba diving.

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, CA – 16 December 2009 -- Extending their commitment to the popular PADI National Geographic Diver program and support for PADI National Geographic Dive Centers, PADI and National Geographic have renewed the program agreement through 31 December 2011.

The PADI National Geographic Diver program combines the PADI Open Water Diver course with National Geographic specific content in special PADI National Geographic Diver course materials. Since 2003, PADI is the only international training organization to work closely with National Geographic to provide such training, as well as a network of PADI and National Geographic Dive Centers around the globe.

“We’re committed to continuing this relationship with National Geographic,” said PADI President and COO Drew Richardson, “because the PADI National Geographic Diver program establishes an explorer-scientist mindset. It’s a great way to start out in diving, it gives people reasons to keep diving, and it brings new faces into PADI National Geographic Dive Centers.”

Besides renewing PADI National Geographic Diver, National Geographic also recently invited PADI, DAN and other dive industry entities to participate in their National Geographic Live Speaker series. The series features key photographers, naturalists and speakers in high profile venues throughout the US, with participants helping publicize the events.

“It’s gratifying that National Geographic thinks enough of diving to call on our industry to participate,” said Richardson, “This speaker series will definitely get the attention of divers and potential divers, so it’s to everyone’s benefit to participate.” Richardson also noted that PADI National Geographic Dive Centers will particularly benefit because those attracted to diving by the speaker series will be attuned to the “National Geographic” of their PADI National Geographic Dive Center status.

For more information about the PADI National Geographic Diver program, contact your local PADI office.

Others promise … PADI delivers.

Divenewswire: PADI and National Geographic Renew PADI National Geographic Diver Programe

Waitabu Marine Park Blog: Rückschau: Fidschi Rettung für Korallenriffs

Rückschau: Fidschi

Rettung für Korallenriffs

Sendeanstalt und Sendedatum: SWR, Sonntag, 22. November 2009

Weltweit lässt der Klimawandel die Meerestemperaturen steigen mit einem verheerenden Kollateralschaden: Die Korallenriffe sterben langsam ab. So auch auf den Fidschi-Inseln im südpazifischen Meer. Das kleine Dorf Waitabu stemmte sich als erste Gemeinde auf den Fidschis gegen die Folgen: Die vorgelagerten Riffe wurden als Naturschutzgebiete ausgewiesen, Touristen und Taucher dürfen nur nach einer ökologischen Einführung zu den Korallen, Fischer müssen ihre Fangtechniken umweltverträglich machen. Seitdem erholen sich die temperatur- und stressempfindlichen Korallen wieder sichtbar. Über 200 Dörfer sind inzwischen dem Beispiel von Waitabu gefolgt und haben Schutzgebiete angelegt – mit der Hoffnung, dass ein gesundes Riff der Erwärmung der Meere zumindest länger standhält.

Waitabu Marine Park Blog: Rückschau: Fidschi Rettung für Korallenriffs

Alert Diver

The new Alert Diver Magazine is online!

You will find, as usual, interesting articles on Dive Medicine and important information on Dive Safety.

Alert Diver Magazine, authoritative, reliable, unbiased!

Grab your copy here

Note: we are still working hard to optimize the transition from paper to digital. Our goal is to improve the quality of our magazine and make it more readable and intuitive. Y

Alert Diver

Matava - Fiji's Premier Eco Adventure Resort

Into the Drink with Aaron Faulls :: Produced by LiquidAssets.tv

LiquidAssets.tv, producers of the new dive travel television show called “Into the Drink,” will be debuting the first episode during next week's Diving Equipment and Marketing Association SCUBA trade show in Orlando, Florida.

“Into The Drink” is a travel show like no other: Imagine if Jacques Cousteau and Hunter S. Thompson adopted a wayward orphan. Host Aaron Faulls is part fish, part rock star, taking viewers past the known and into the unknown.

This adventure has a twist that keeps us interested and informed. Aaron takes us all into the drink on an intoxicating celebration of exotic destinations near and far, experiencing and touring local breweries and distilleries and diving into eclectic nightlife in regions shared by some of the most mystifying creatures in the ocean.

The syndicated show will begin airing coast-to-coast in January 2010, as well as internationally. Primary distribution will be on the newly-launched Tuff TV network. For information about where and when to tune in, and to view episode trailers, go to www.intothedrink.tv/watch.

The sights, the sounds and even the smells from the sometimes unique local spirits to the poshest vineyards; from the tide’s ebb to the wrecks, whales and adrenaline-pumping marine life in the middle of the deep blue sea. Who says drinking and diving don’t mix? It is all about the order of life that allows you to live it. If Anthony Bourdain has no reservations, then Aaron Faulls has no limitations.

LiquidAssets.tv is filming the first season of “Into the Drink” in 2009, and what makes them unique is that they’re inviting divers to join them on-location in destinations including Guadalupe Island, Mexico to film great white sharks aboard the MV Nautilus Explorer, Sunset House on Grand Cayman, Wakatobi Resort and Pelagian Live-aboard in Indonesia, and Qamea Resort and Spa in Fiji. For more information about these trips and how you can join them, please visit www.intothedrink.tv/travel. NOTE: Book any one of these trips and you'll automatically be entered to win a complete set of Scubapro gear!

The newly-launched “Into the Drink” fan web site includes features such as show trailers, a message board, blog, online store, information about where and when to watch the show, bio of the host Aaron Faulls, sponsors, and much more. Visit www.intothedrink.tv for more information.

Into the Drink with Aaron Faulls :: Produced by LiquidAssets.tv

X-RAY Mag #32 | X-Ray International Dive Magazine

Our friends at X-Ray Mag have released a new issue, available for download.

Some of the main feature and hightlights in this issue include

Sabah, Malaysia. A joint production by Andrea and Antonella Ferrari, Tim Hochgrebe of underwater.com.au and Peter and Gunild Symes.

Reefs & Rainforests by A & A Ferrari :: Pulau Lankayan - Sugud Islands Marine Conservation Area - Sepilok Orangutans - Kinabatangan River - Danum Valley Conservation Area.

Sipadan revisited. Tim Hochgrebe and Peter Symes takes a closer look at Sipadan, Mabul and Kapalai and check out the latest developments in the region.

Profile: Clement Lee. X-Ray Mag asks Borneo Divers' CEO, Sabah Tourism board member and multiple award winner Clement Lee some questions about the past, present and future.

Kids Love Scuba: Reaching out to a new generation of divers. Gunild Symes talks to Syed Abd Rahman, director of Kids Scuba in Malaysia.

You can download the new issue here

X-RAY Mag #32 | X-Ray International Dive Magazine

New DivePhotoGuide.com Launching Next Week at DEMA! :: DivePhotoGuide.com - The Underwater Photo & Video Portal

Hang on to your hats folks, you're going to be in for a treat next week.

The team at DPG has been working feverishly for months on a bold new website. But this isn't just a new website, this is a major overhaul with a number of new features that we have been dying to add to the site for over a year or so.

In fact we are totally reinventing DPG. So much so that we have decided to retire the DPG turtle. Yes that's right, the world's most successful turtle underwater photographer is retiring. He's worked really hard for us for the last few years, and we're sending him off in style. He'll be doing what we all do when we retire - spending more time diving and shooting underwater photography. It's hard work being a logo! Surely you'll see him pop back up here and there.

The new website incorporates the feedback from you, our readers, and the industry. We are super excited about it, and really look forward to hearing what you think!

In the meantime, please bear with us as we will not post much content until the new launch during DEMA.

New DivePhotoGuide.com Launching Next Week at DEMA! :: DivePhotoGuide.com - The Underwater Photo & Video Portal

New signs ready to be distributed to all supporting marinas, resorts and fishing boats in Fiji.

From the album:

"Shark Free Marina Initiative in Fiji" by Fiji Shark Conservation and Awareness Project

New signs ready to be distributed to all supporting marinas, resorts and fishing boats in Fiji. Funding was provided by Project AWARE! The dock signs are printed and laminated on 0.080 Marine Grade aluminum to ensure resistance against the elements.
http://www.sharkfreemarinas.com/

Facebook | Fiji Shark Conservation and Awareness Project's Photos - Shark Free Marina Initiative in Fiji

Diving in Fiji: DIVE ME, new dive boat being built in Navua, Fiji for Mad Fish Dive Centre

DIVE ME, new dive boat being built in Navua, Fiji for Mad Fish Dive Centre
Originally uploaded by Matava - Fiji's Premier Eco Adventure Resort.

Diving in Fiji: DIVE ME, new dive boat being built in Navua, Fiji for Mad Fish Dive Centre

Diving in Fiji: Bryde’s Whales seen the other day off Solo, north of Kadavu

A pod of at least 8 Bryde’s Whales seen the other day off Solo, north of Kadavu...

Diving in Fiji: Bryde’s Whales seen the other day off Solo, north of Kadavu

3-day Super Sale Across Asia Pacific

http://www.accorhotelsasia.com/supersale

• One million hotel rooms at amazing rate across Asia Pacific
  Travelers will be able to take advantage of savings when they book on-line between 27 - 30 October 2009. Over one million room nights will be on sale, with rates starting as low as US$30 per night.
  
  Book your travel & holidays now for stays between December 09 to April 10
  
  The country list include Thailand, Korea, China, Japan, HK, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Fiji, Indonesia, Taiwan, India, Bali.
  
  Different rates apply for Accor's various brands, with Sofitel, Pullman, Grand Mercure, Novotel, Mercure, All Seasons and Ibis hotels participating, providing a vast range of affordable options.
  
  The Accor '3-day Super Sale' coincides with record-low air fares across the Asia Pacific region, allowing travelers to enjoy some of the world's most exciting cities at bargain rates.
  
  
• About Accor:
  Accor, a major global group and the European leader in hotels, as well as the global leader in services to corporate clients and public institutions, operates in nearly 100 countries with 150,000 employees. It offers to its clients over 40 years of expertise in two core businesses:
  
  - Hotels, with the Sofitel, Pullman, MGallery, Novotel, Mercure, Suitehotel, Ibis, all seasons, Etap Hotel, Formule 1 and Motel 6 brands, representing 4,000 hotels and nearly 500,000 rooms in 90 countries, as well as strategically related activities, such as Lenôtre;
  
  - Services, with 30 million people in 40 countries benefiting from Accor Services products in employee and public benefits, rewards and loyalty, and expense management

Country Name	Price	Currency	SGD	USD	EURO
Australia	99	AUD	123	87	60
Bali	75	USD	106	75	51
China	399	CNY	82	58	40
Ibis China	248	CNY	51	36	25
Fiji	99	FJD	72	51	35
Hong Kong	650	HKD	118	84	57
India	3,360	INR	99	70	48
Indonesia	490,000	IDR	72	51	35
Japan	9,990	JPY	157	112	76
Laos	48	USD	68	48	33
Malaysia	175	MYR	71	51	35
New Zealand	99	NZD	101	71	49
Singapore	98	SGD	98	69	47
South Korea	97,000	KRW	116	82	56
Taiwan	1,999	TWD	88	62	43
Thailand	1,700	THB	72	51	35
Ibis Thailand	1,000	THB	42	30	20
Vietnam	50	USD	71	50	34

SOFITEL FIJI RESORT & SPA

Subtle sophistication and laidback luxury awaits you at Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa.

Infusing Sofitel’s French influences with exotic Fijian customs, the resort blends tradition with the most modern technologies for a tropical retreat that really does offer it all.

A private waterfront location and the Pacific’s largest lagoon-style pool are a prelude to the sanctuary that is Sofitel Fiji’s stylish range of rooms and suites, each with a private balcony or terrace.

World class dining, a sublime International Day Spa, and an unsurpassed range of adrenalin pumping activities make for an unforgettable experience. The resort’s premier event and conference facilities, including a stunning ballroom and beachfront chapel, set Sofitel apart in a league of its own.

Click here for offer!