Good news from science for one: corals show increased ability to withstand heat

Ocean warming is one of the most urgent threats to coral reefs (1–3).



Some taxa may migrate in response to changing environmental conditions (4), but corals and other sessile organisms only migrate through larval movement (5).

This is viable for coral species with planktonic larvae, but not for the many coral species with crawl-away larvae that cannot migrate far.



Adult corals must therefore adapt evolutionarily or acclimate physiologically to survive warming.



On page 895 of this issue, Palumbi et al. (6) show that tabletop corals (see the first photo) can both acclimate and adapt to elevated temperatures in American Samoan back-reef pools (see the second photo), where high-temperature extremes are common.



If the result holds for other species and locations, it provides hope for coral reefs under global warming.

REPORTMechanisms of reef coral resistance to future climate change

• Stephen R. Palumbi, 
• Daniel J. Barshis, 
• Nikki Traylor-Knowles, 
• and Rachael A. Bay

Science 23 May 2014: 895-898.Published online 24 April 2014

• Abstract
 
• Full Text
 
• Full Text (PDF)
 
• Supplementary Materials

Lamarck was partially right—and that is good for corals

Roots to Happiness Trailer

PADI supports Fiji Dive Expo

For the past nine years PADI Asia Pacific has supported the Fiji Dive Committee through sponsorship of the Fiji Dive Expo to assist the country’s diving industry.

Ian Cumming, PADI Regional Manager for the South Pacific and Marketing Executive, Sheridan Hatcher attended the event which took place in the Coral Coast from 20 – 21 February, 2014 at Warwick Fiji Resort & Spa.

The annual expo provides an opportunity to share information about PADI’s diving services and support with local visitors and PADI Professional Members in Fiji.

PADI’s support was recognised and published in the Fiji Times – see here for the full Fiji Times article.

PADI supports Fiji Dive Expo

Amazing GoPro Edit: Freedom in Fiji - OutsideOnline.com

Amazing GoPro Edit: Freedom in Fiji | Travel | OutsideOnline.com:

Divers transform lives - Fiji Times

PADI instructors, dive centres and resorts help transform lives through education, experience, equipment and environmental conservation.

In Fiji, there are 60 PADI certified dive shops and about 270 PADI affiliated dive masters and instructors.

And to assist the business of diving in Fiji, PADI Asia Pacific has supported the Fiji Dive Committee through sponsorship of the Fiji Dive Expo over the past nine years.

Ian Cumming, the regional manager for PADI in the South Pacific, was at the Warwick Resort and Spa event to share information of the various support and services provided by PADI.

He said he saw great value in having close links with their Fijian counterparts as it ensured members were kept up to date.

"We are also able to provide support to the PADI professionals in Fiji that assists them with recreational diver training for visitors who come to Fiji to enjoy the tropical waters of this beautiful country," Mr Cumming said.

He said the forum was important as almost all dive operators attending the expo were PADI resort and retail association members.

Also present was PADI marketing executive Sheridan Hatcher.

He focussed on assisting members with their own marketing and social media efforts including Facebook, YouTube, Blogs, Twitter, social media advertising and graphic design assistance.

Divers transform lives - Fiji Times Online

Margaret Wise
Saturday, February 22, 2014

Professional dive buyers explore Vatu-i-ra passage - Fiji Times Online

FOR the first time, the Dive Fiji EXPO focused on the Central Division and dive live aboards.

This allowed 13 visiting professional dive buyers to spend an entire week exploring the Vatu-i-ra passage and waters surrounding the Lomaiviti Group.

Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association dive committee chairman Stuart Gow said Bligh Waters was highlighted along with islands in the East, the excursion co-ordinated by Tourism Fiji, Alexxis Edwards of Nai'a Cruises and Nick Darling from Volivoli Beach Resort & Spa.

Mr Darling also represents the West in the FHTA Dive Committee. "The week culminates in the expo, an event that creates the opportunity for the entire Fiji Dive Tourism industry to showcase itself to all the invited international buyers," said Mr Wong.

This year the expo was on Thursday and Friday at the Warwick Fiji Resort & Spa in the Coral Coast.

The Fiji Siren, operating out of Volivoli Resort in Rakiraki, enjoys high end dive clientele from around the world. Picture: Supplied

"There are 20 Fiji dive operations and resorts showing, with a total of 45 attendees. They are from all over Fiji, from Taveuni, Savusavu, Kadavu, Beqa, Coral Coast, Nadi and Mamanucas. The cruise ships and dive live aboards — Fiji Siren and Nai'a — also participated.

"Once more the FHTA Dive Fiji EXPO is supporting emerging markets highlighted by Tourism Fiji, and this year we have attendees from both Mainland China and Taiwan."

The annual event is sponsored by marine conservationist Coral Reef Alliance, PADI, the largest dive teaching agency in the world, AirTec NZ, a suppliers of dive compressors from New Zealand and Splash Watersports, a water sports equipment supplier from New Zealand.

Professional dive buyers explore Vatu-i-ra passage - Fiji Times Online

Diving in Fiji a 'drawcard' - Fiji Times

A South African tourist with about 40 years of dive experience declared he would never retire exploring the underworld the first time he ventured out on the Fiji Siren.



Catering to high end dive clientele from around the world, the 40metre luxury live aboard vessel is the Volivoli Beach Resort owners' newest business in Fiji.



This year Fiji Siren took part in the FIJI Dive Fiesta — and along with Volivoli Beach Resort — was a host to 12 hand-picked international agents who sell dive travel.



Resort managing director Nick Darling said the agents were in Fiji for a familiarisation trip to showcase what Fiji had to offer.



He said he hoped to receive an influx of reservations as "these agents have fallen in love with our wonderful country and what we can offer".



"Diving in Fiji is a major drawcard and contributes significantly to our country's tourism income," Mr Darling said.



"Our decision to make such a substantial investment into a live aboard vessel in Fiji is due to our belief in the diving Fiji has to offer and the potential for growth in this sector.



"We are overwhelmed with immediate success and occupancy."



He said Fiji Siren's main source markets were Europe, US and Australia.



"We offer seven and 10-day trip itineraries as a combo deal with Volivoli Beach Resort, venturing as far south as Gau to visit sites like Nigali passage and as far north as Taveuni to visit The Great White wall and Fish Factory.



"On both our itineraries we spend time diving in the Namena Marine reserve where we frequently view great hammerhead sharks, scalloped hammerheads, grey reef sharks, pigmy sea horses. We also visit Vatu-i-ra.



"Both Vatu-i-ra and Namena offer amazing colourful soft and hard corals teaming with pelagic life and reef fish species alike."



Diving in Fiji a 'drawcard' - Fiji Times Online



Margaret Wise

Saturday, February 22, 2014

Dive Fiesta geared up for this week

The pristine Vatu-i-Ra passage will play a central role in showcasing the best of Fiji’s diving industry at the Tourism Fiji Dive Fiesta this week.

The Fiesta ends on Friday with the 12th Fiji Hotels and Tourism (FHTA) Dive Fiji Expo at the Warwick Fiji Resort and Spa.

This will provide an essential platform for international industry media and wholesalers to meet local sellers following site inspections.

Stuart Gow, chairman of the FHTA Dive Committee said: “for the first time, we have focused an entire week on the Central Division and the dive liveaboard

“The buyers are heading for the first time to the Vatu-i-Ra Passage and Lomaiviti.”

This site visit will highlight the Bligh Waters and the islands in the East and is co-ordinated by Tourism Fiji alongside committee members from Nai’a Cruises and Volivoli Beach Resort and Spa.

Twenty local operations and resorts are participating at Friday’s expo, which is expecting close to 50 attendees.

“These are from all over Fiji from Taveuni, Savusavu, Kadavu, Beqa, Coral Coast, Nadi and Mamanucas. The cruise ships and dive liveaboards are also showing,” Mr Gow said.

‘’We have 13 international professional dive travel agents and travel wholesalers who specialise in the diving niche travel sector from all over Fiji’s source markets.”

The expo is also supporting emerging markets and will be attended by agents from mainland China and Taiwan.

Dive Fiesta geared up for this week | Fijisun.com.fj

Vote for Great Fiji Shark Count in Ocean Action Project 2013

Vote for Great Fiji Shark Count in Ocean Action Project 2013

Help us get the financial support we need to run the next Great Fiji Shark Count!

Voting is on for the Ocean Action Project 2013 and we need your vote for The Great Fiji Shark Count! Projects will be chosen by the Project AWARE community through a voting system via Facebook.

Now we need our supporters and community cast their vote for The Great Fiji Shark Count this November.

The search is on. Project AWARE Foundation is looking for innovative and results-driven projects to address two key focus areas: tackling marine debris problems and protecting critical shark and ray species.

With increasing threats facing our ocean planet, working globally and acting locally has never been so important. To empower ocean communities to take local conservation actions to a whole new level of change, Project AWARE’s Ocean Action Project 2013 is now open for voting.

The Ocean Action Project supports local ocean conservation initiatives that bring us a step closer to a clean, healthy and abundant ocean planet.

Project AWARE Foundation is interested in supporting work that is action-oriented and strategically addresses root causes of marine debris or shark and ray protection issues. These projects should be measurable, with an approach for change.

Now we need our supporters and community cast their votes for The Great Fiji Shark Count this November.

Project AWARE Foundation

Great uw footage from diving in Yasawa Islands around Tavewa Island, Fiji.

Some great uw footage from diving in Yasawa Islands around Tavewa Island, Fiji.

Featuring shallow and deep dives, a variety of coral, drift dives, and a shark dive.

Diving with Dive Yasawa Lagoon

Fiji Diving 

Looping mantas in Kadavu

Fiji featured on ScubaEarth

Fiji is world renowned for having some of the most friendliest and welcoming people on earth. It’s a culture that lives the word, bula, which literally means life, but is used as a common greeting expressing a feeling of sincere welcome. It’s a place that you could leave your kids at the local village for the day and know they’ll be well taken care of. It’s also romantic and full of exotic tropical adventure. And, underwater, it’s a place that explodes with color, especially of the soft coral variety, which gives Fiji its nickname as the soft coral capital of the world.

But, you might miss the multihued forests while distracted by such cool marine life as blue ribbon eels, sea turtles, tridacna clams and clouds of anthias. Most of the sites feel the rush of current, which keeps the soft corals nice and plump.

Above the water, you’ll want to end each day as the Fijians do, around the ceremonial kava bowl, a drink that has a great relaxing effect that will ensure each day ends with a smile. Bula!

http://www.scubaearth.com/dive-destinations/dive-destination-overview.aspx?divesiteid=196