Tuesday 19 January 2010

Mad Fish Dive Centre @ Matava Unveils New Dive Boat


New boat MV "DIVE ME" provides even more versatility for divers visiting Kadavu, Fiji


On December 27th 2009 Mad Fish Dive Centre's new boat, "DIVE ME", arrived at Matava's dock!

Both guests and staff were very excited tosee the first glimpse of the custom designed alloy dive boat on the horizon along The Great Astrolabe Reef next to Waya Island.

The new boat is completely innovative and new to the scuba diving industry in Kadavu, and indeed the Fiji Islands. This dive boat hasroom for 12 divers on a 2-tank dive,as well as 2 PADI Divemasters and a captain. It has everything on board that a diver needs like rinse buckets, a camera table, a shaded area, and easy entry twin platforms for both going in and out of the water.

With this new boat Mad Fish Dive Centre @ Matava will be the first and only resort on Kadavu that is able to dive the entire length of the Great Astrolabe Reef. This opens up never before dived areas and divesites. We are excited about diving never before seen reefs and offshore pinnacles in the coming year!

In addition we are going to offer a 3-tank boat dive trip to the Northern Astrolabe Reefs north of Ono and as far as Solo Atoll. This will be combined with a BBQ lunch on the beach cooked by our very own chef, Kuki, before your 3rd dive!

DIVE ME was custom designed for the specific diving done in Kadavu, Fiji Islands. Based on a proven hull design by NAIAD Designs from New Zealand, the boat was further developed by Bluewatercraft in Navua, Fiji Islands to allow a dry, safe ride, while allowing easy access to the water from the back twin dive platforms.

In keeping with Matava's policy of 'buying Fiji' and supporting local community capacity building, Mad Fish Dive Centre made the decision to build the vessel in country. This has allowed many of the tradesmen in the boat building industry once more gain advanced technological skills required to build a high end alloy vessel.

DIVE ME is fitted with the newest state-of-the-art twin 4 stroke SUZUKI 140hp Outboard Engines. 4-strokes are the cleanest outboard engines currently available. Suzuki 4-stroke outboards are noted for the low fuel consumption, low exhaust emission, low noise and outstanding reliability. When compared to conventional 2-stroke engines, 4 strokes:
  • Improve fuel efficiency (25-45 percent).
  • Reduce hydrocarbon emissions by 75-90 percent.
  • Reduce smoke smell.
  • Are quieter.
"With the addition of this new state-of-the-art dive boat we have placed Matava as the premier dive resort in Kadavu." said Matava Director, Mr Richard Akhtar. "Adding a vessel of this advanced calibre to our other dive boats in our fleet solidifies Mad Fish Dive Centre as the only PADI 5 Star Dive Centre on Kadavu".

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 dive resort and we look forward to exciting times ahead diving the Great Astrolabe Reef from DIVE ME."

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